NIF executive officer Steve Griffith confirmed 12 NIF clubs, not just Premier League clubs either, will have their entry paid into next year’s FFA Cup.

The FFA Cup is a nationwide knockout competition based on the English FA Cup. 

It began this year and has created some fairytale stories of club teams tackling A- League powerhouses.

Nominations for the 2015 FFA Cup are now being taken and it is open to all men’s premier competition clubs and senior zone member clubs.

 Griffith said 12 clubs from within NIF would have their entries subsidised by NIF.

“In the past we subsidised the entry of the top four teams from our two conferences in the old State Cup competition,” Griffith said.

“This year we have put the challenge out there to all clubs (within NIF). 

“We’ve invited clubs like Quirindi, Kootingal and TAS, to have a crack at our Premier League clubs as well.”

Griffith said nominating for the FFA Cup would be on a “first in best dressed” principle.

Northern NSW Football is responsible for conducting the preliminary rounds of the  FFA Cup and identifying two winners to represent Northern NSW in the round of 32. 

The two qualifying clubs will then be drawn against opposition from across the country, with the possibility of drawing an A-League club.

Due to travel distances and time restraints, the NNSWF preliminary rounds will be divided into two pools, the Northern Pool and the Southern Pool.

The Northern Pool will be split into four sub-pools: Football Mid North Coast, North Coast Football, Northern Inland Football and Football Far North Coast. 

Teams will compete within their zone sub-pool in a knock-out format, until one  team remains in each zone.

The four winners from each zone will then play off for two quarter final positions: Football Mid North Coast winner v Northern Inland Football winner, North Coast Football winner v Football Far North Coast winner

The winner of each fixture will progress to the quarter finals, representing the Northern Pool. 

The two Northern participants will be drawn against two Southern teams at the quarter-final stage. 

All semi-final fixtures will be drawn from the hat.

Member clubs will have the opportunity to experience the new “Home of Football” at Speers Point, with the quarter- finals being conducted at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on the all-weather synthetic pitches on June 20 by followed semi-finals on June 21.

The two semi-final winners will automatically qualify to represent Northern NSW Football in the  FFA Cup 2015 round of 32.

“We’re trying to encourage as many teams as possible to play,”  Griffith said.

“I know for a fact the Oxley Vale Attunga club (this year’s NIF premiers) is keen to be as successful as it can.”

OVA ended the NIF season on a high with a brilliant 6-2 grand final win over South Armidale Scorpions.

A hugely successful All Stars game then completed the season before a well-attended presentation night honoured its best players, teams and club officials.