It was a full day of soccer as teams from outside the North West travelled to Tamworth for the Northern New South Wales Football Junior Development League Gala Day.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Northern Inland Academy of Sport Football Club played in the under-10, under-11 and under-12 age groups against teams from the Mid North Coast, Maitland and Newcastle.
With rainfall resulting in soggy fields at Gipps Street, the matches took place across three venues.
Each venue was modified to allow each team to play at least three games each, with most playing four.
NIAS FC kicked off with the NIAS Red under-10s playing West Wallsend at Gipps Street and the under-11s playing West Wallsend at Viaduct Park.
The under-12 NIAS Inverell team met West Wallsend at Riverside, while NIAS's under-12 Tamworth team confronted Edgeworth FC at Riverside.
The NIAS teams also played Cooks Hill and South Cardiff.
In attendance were Northern NSW Football representatives Peter Haynes (head of football), Kew Jaliens (the Newcastle Jets' technical director) and Craig Soper (NNSWF's girls technical adviser).
They also watched the under-14 Northern League One match, which NIAS FC lost 1-0 to Belmont Swansea FC.
The gala day concluded with clashes between NIAS Orange under-10s and West Wallsend, as well as the NIAS under-11s and Cooks Hill United.
The football development continued the following night, with Jaliens staying in Tamworth to pass on more knowledge to NIAS FC coaches.
Jaliens delivered a workshop before leading NIAS talent support program session with selected players.
Meanwhile, after being derailed by COVID last year, the National Primary Games has returned to Tamworth with Gymnasts from around the state competing in Tamworth on Saturday and Sunday.
The remainder of the sports take place this weekend.
Because of the pandemic, there will be no opening ceremony for the Games on Saturday. The other sports include netball, soccer and rugby league.
