THEY are the future of Northern Inland Football and they were on show at Armidale’s Doody Park on Saturday.
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Around 25 of the best young players in the NIF competitions battled out a 1-all draw in a Rising Stars clash between the Northern and Southern Conferences played as a curtain-raiser to the All Stars clash and before that night’s NIF presentation night at Armidale City Bowling Club.
Harrison George scored for Southern and Callan MacGregor nabbed the equaliser for the Northern Rising Stars in a bright rep game reflecting the talented teenagers on show, NIF general manager Steve Griffith said.
“It was a bit of an arm wrestle,” Griffith said.
“It was a pretty even match that everyone contested and played some good football.
“We do have some great young players and they will be starring for many years to come.”
Griffith said one club, South Armidale Scorpions, who lost the first grade grand final to OVA 6-2, had some outstanding young players coming through.
“They had a number of 15 and 16-year-olds playing first grade this year and in the grand final,” he said.
“They are going to be very strong with those young players developing further.”
He was delighted with the way the season finished and hopes to make the Rising Stars and All Stars fixtures permanent features at the end of the season.
He also said the Kootingal club was something of a rising star too after it carried off three of the major awards at the presentation night.
The Kougars won the NIF club of the year award as well as carrying off individual awards to dedicated club members Noel Corney (Jan Johnson Memorial Award for outstanding contribution by a volunteer) and Craig Johnston (Service to football).
Les Withers was named NNSWF Volunteer of the Year and he also presented Toby McVey with his Junior Referee of the Year Award.