The 2015 junior football season started across the Northern Inland region last Saturday with a massive increase, NIF general manager Steve Griffith said.

He said 15 centres had junior football competitions, with a total of 5500 players registered from Tenterfield and Glen Innes in the north to Moree, Narrabri and Wee Waa in the west, Quirindi and Tamworth in the south, Armidale, Walcha and Uralla in the north-east and Inverell in the middle of the Northern Inland Football zone, Griffith said.

“5500 is a massive increase in the juniors,”  Griffith said.

“Tamworth alone has 37 teams in the Under 6s. 

“That’s phenomenal when you think there are six to seven players in each Under 6 side. 

“That’s a helluva lot of young kids playing each Saturday.

“It’s been quite massive across all age groups in Tamworth, Inverell, Gunnedah and Narrabri. 

“They have all shown tremendous increases so far.”

North Companions president David Chmieluk said his club was experiencing good times.

“We’ve got 32 teams across the board – that’s an increase of 20 per cent. It’s been phenomenal really.”

He said the fact Tamworth Football Association has not only 37 teams in the Under 6s but 31 in the Under 7s is an enormous compliment for the sport.

It’s also only the fourth year of the women’s comp,” he said.

“They started with four to six teams playing six-a-side and now have 11 teams of full- sized squads of 15.

“That’s great for the sport and also says a bit about our club too.

“Numbers have been solid across the board for all clubs but we have nine senior teams too, three in third grade, two in first and second grade of the local comp, two women’s sides and the two Premier League teams,” Chmieluk said.

He said the Manilla Hornets were only in their second year but now have men’s and women’s teams as well as junior teams.

“They’re going forward as well.

“And that we are now going out to Quirindi and Gunnedah as well makes it even better.”