Campbell Town’s NTFA return will prevent player exodus: Robins president

Campell Town’s president says the return to the NTFA from the ODFA was vital to ensure their ‘young up-and-comers’ can get a game, and don’t have to move to other clubs.

Campbell Town Football Club president Liz Webber. Picture: Supplied

Campbell Town president Liz Webber says their move to the NTFA was vital to ensure their young talent don’t have to head to other clubs to play football.

It was announced last week the Robins would rejoin the league after being a member of the ODFA since 2009.

They went into recess in 2008 after previously being part of the NTFA, but will be back in the fold next year as part of a new-look division two competition.

Webber said the ODFA’s lack of a reserves competition meant some players were being overlooked, and they were in danger of losing several home grown youngsters to other clubs.

“We’ve had people dropping off because they weren’t getting a game, predominantly that’s our up-and-coming young locals,” she said.

“They’re the ones who were missing out, which we obviously don’t want to happen. Our community is growing, and we want to foster that.

“I’m a firm believer in the role sport plays in mental health. Why wouldn’t you want your young members getting the benefits of teamwork and camaraderie that comes with being in a football club every week?

“The last two years in particular as our numbers have grown and the community as well, it’s become a bit tricky for us to be choosing 23 out of nearly 40 players every week and having those young up-and-comers missing out.”

Campbell Town have jumped ship from the ODFA to the NTFA from next season.

Webber added getting members to help out on game days was also difficult in a southern-based competition given their other commitments in the Launceston region.

“Being a northern-based club in a southern-based competition has had its challenges as well,” she said.

“For instance with committee members all being northern based, it’s difficult on Saturdays to get helpers when a lot of our committee members may have daughters playing netball in Launceston, or our players have other commitments in Laucneston as well.”

Webber said the ODFA had played a massive role in helping the club get back on its feet after its 2008 hiatus.

“We’ve really appreciated the relationship with the ODFA and it was a crucial part of our rebuild,” she said.

“The standard is quite high and the grand final on the weekend was quality, for us it’s more about the one team (system) and the travel.

“We’ve been really transparent with them, and our time with them has been crucial in our rebuild. We couldn’t have done it without that competition.

“I think it’s timely for us to move in there (NTFA) with the restructure. I know the NTFA board has taken a lot of consideration into the way they’ve structured it and are looking at the sustainability of all clubs.”

Next year’s NTFA ivision two features seven teams with Campbell Town joining Perth, Meander Valley, UTAS, Bridport, East Coast and Evandale.