The Southern Conference and Northern Conference Rising Stars played out a 1-all draw before the Southern Conference All Stars struck a 3-1 win over their Northern counterparts.

The two games raised $3000 for Ronald McDonald House, said Northern Inland Football general manager Steve Griffith, before the festivities moved to the Armidale City Bowling Night for a night where North Companions coach Gavin Thompson was named NIF’s coach of the year.

It was a fitting tribute for the retiring North Companions  coach, who had combined with Gunnedah United’s Richard Grant to coach the Southern All Stars to a two-goal victory in the representative feature.

Griffith said 150 guests attended the presentation night to celebrate the achievement of clubs, volunteers and players during the 2014 season.

While Thompson received the coach of the year award, Tamworth referee Les Withers was named volunteer of the year for his contribution to the development of match officials in the region.

Kootingal and District Soccer Club had a big night too.

It was  named NIF Club of the Year whilst two of its officials, Craig Johnston and Noel Corney, picked up major awards.

Corney won the Jan Johnson Memorial Award, an award recognising outstanding contribution from a volunteer while Johnston won the Service to Football Award.

His award recognised 10 years of dedicated service to the development of the game with his efforts as club registrar contributing to the Kootingal Kougars becoming the largest club in the Tamworth District Football Association.

Tamworth FC also picked up a third and successive club championship and became the first Tamworth club to do that.

It also picked up the reserve grade minor and major premierships, with Oxley Vale Attunga winning the first grade major premiership.

Junior referee of the Year was Toby McVey and Referee of the Year was Travis Heffernan, who controlled the brilliant and recent grand final, won so impressively by Oxley Vale Attunga 6-2 against South Armidale Scorpions.

Two of OVA’s grand final heros, Luke Purcell and Brendan Fergie, were on the score sheet for the Southern All Stars too.

They both scored first-half goals for the Southern side to lead 2-1 after Josh Quaife had converted a penalty.

Kelly Nystrom then scored in the dying moments of the game to make it 3-1.

Harrison George (Southern) and Callan MacGregor (Northern) were the goalscorers in the Rising Stars game.