NORTHERN Inland Football celebrated its 2015 season with an underwhelming support of its All Star weekend in Tamworth on Saturday.
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A small crowd turned out to watch the Rising Star and All Star matches between the Northern Inland Football’s Northern and Southern Conferences.
The Northern Conference Rising Stars rallied from a 2-nil deficit to win 3-2 in the first game before the Northern Conference All Stars won 4-2.
It was a good finish for the Northern Conference teams although Southern Conference Rising Star coach Gavin Thompson thought his young Rising Stars should have made the most of their good start.
“We led 2-nil at one stage,” he said.
“We had our chances to score a few more and put the game away.”
While beaten, he wasn’t disappointed.
“These games give the young kids a lot of experience in quality games.”
While he’s retiring as coach of the North Companions first grade side, he’s confident his young side will continue to develop.
That North Companions player Will Kam, who played in the Southern Conference All Stars, won the NIF player of the Year was a good reward for the young attacking midfielder and club.
Kam received his award at Saturday night’s NIF Awards presentation.
Oxley Vale Attunga won the NIF Club of the Year and Club Championship while their coach, Tim Coates, who also coached the Southern Conference All Stars, received coach of the year.
Inverell’s Joeys FC received the Griffith Family Fair Play Award, Tamworth FC’s Greg Bartlett was named the NNSWF Volunteer of the Year and Moree’s Terry-Anne Sharples received the Jan Johnson Memorial Award recognising outstanding contribution.
NIF general manager Steve Griffith also received the Services To Football, recognising more than 40 years of service as a player, coach, referee and administrator.
Sadly, he has resigned although he is in Inverell this week helping referee at the Mini World Cup as well as run a referee camp.
NIF PL ALL STARS: NORTHERN CONFERENCE 4 (James Thomson 2, Jackson Haussler, Mitch Wilson gls) d SOUTHERN CONFERENCE 2 (Adam Watson, William Webb gls).
NIF PL RISING STARS: NORTHERN CONFERENCE 3 (Louis Russoniello, Callum Dolby, Liam Georkas gls) d SOUTHERN CONFERENCE 2 (Brodie King, Matt Dunn gls)