When Tamworth FC started in 2008, the club had just three teams.
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Since then FC has steadily grown. The club now boasts 21 teams from under 6s through to the Northern Inland Premier League and now has a Northern Inland Football club of the year award.
Tamworth FC’s Greg Bartlett and Wayne May received the award at NIF headquarters on Wednesday after the presentation night was cancelled due to a low response to invites to the awards night.
“It’s really special,” premier league coach Bartlett said.
“We’ve got a small committee but it’s a hard working committee.
“We’ve been pretty successful this year with our junior teams. 12s and 14s were minor and major premiers and our two ladies teams were the same.”
May – who coaches the women’s side – said the committee along with the founding players were to thank for the club’s success.
“We took [premier league] on in our second year of being formed. We had 18 players playing two games every weekend and we’ve built up pretty well over the years,” May said.
“As Greg said, you need a good committee and we do. They all put their hands up to do things.”
With no best and fairest award this year for the NIPL – the association decided to instead have a golden glove award for the best goalkeeper – two grand finalists picked up the main individual NIPL awards.
The golden glove award went to Oxley Vale Attunga’s Troy Keyte while the golden boot award was won by North Companions’ Brodie King.
The referee of the year went to Daniel York.
The award capped off a stellar year for the youngster which included being an assistant referee for the Newcastle Jets match against Northern Inland at Scully Park.
“It feels pretty good,” York said of winning the award.
“I went out this year with the goal of getting the reserve grade premier league grand final and I was lucky enough to get that.
“I’m happy with how it went this year and looking forward to getting back into it next year.”
Northern Inland Football president Tim Coates said York was just one of many promising officials on the up.
“I think the highlight was we had some fantastic young referees come through,” Coates said.
“It’s been a big problem we’ve had for a number of years and we’re very fortunate to have a number of young fellas coming through.”
Coates also said it was great to be able to acknowledge people like May, who won the service to football award, and North Companions’ Chris Adams, who was named NIF coach of the year.
“The recognition of people like Chris, people like Wayne May [is good to see],” Coates said.
“Chris has put a lot into North Companions. He’s coached all levels – juniors, seniors and he even pulled the boots on when they were short last year. He’s an absolute club-person.”
2017 NORTHERN INLAND FOOTBALL AWARDS
NIPL - reserve grade premiers: North Companions FC
NIPL - reserve grade minor premiers: North Armidale United FC
NIPL - first grade premiers: North Companions FC
NIPL - first grade minor premiers: Oxley Vale Attunga FC
NIPL - reserve grade golden boot: Jordan Watts (Demon Knights)
NIPL - first grade golden boot: Brodie King (North Companions FC)
NIPL - reserve grade golden glove: Stephen Tanner (North Armidale United FC)
NIPL - first grade golden glove: Troy Keyte (Oxley Vale Attunga FC)
NIPL - club championship: North Armidale United FC
NIPL - coach of the year: Tim Coates (Oxley Vale Attunga FC)
NIF - volunteer of the year: Samantha Crebert
NIF - coach of the year: Chris Adams (North Companions FC)
NIF - referee of the year: Daniel York
NIF - Jan Johnson award: Trent Froud (Kootingal FC)
NIF - service to football: Wayne May (Tamworth FC)
NIF - club of the year: Tamworth FC
Acropolis Cup: Tamworth (coached by Tim Coates)
Acropolis Shield: Tamworth (coached by Wayne May)
ADFA - reserve grade premiers: TAS
ADFA - reserve grade minor premiers: TAS
ADFA - first grade premiers: TAS
ADFA - first grade minor premiers: TAS
Namoi League - premiers: Moree Services FC
Namoi League - minor premiers: Narrabri FC