THE region’s best female footballers will now have the chance to play in their own new inter-regional competition.

The Coastal League One Women is set to launch in 2022, and will see North Coast Football’s top women’s clubs and those from Football Mid North Coast competing against each other on a weekly basis.

North Coast Football clubs who have confirmed their entry include Boambee, Coffs City United, Urunga, and Sawtell, while Football Mid North Coast is in discussion with potential clubs from Kempsey and Port Macquarie.

The new competition is expected to have six to eight clubs and play 20 or more rounds before finals take place in September, with the season kicking off in early April.

The new Coastal League One Women competition comes on the back of the introduction of the men’s Coastal Premier League in 2020, with the new women’s competition seen as a natural progression towards a Coastal Premier League Women league.

North Coast Football General Manager Andrew Woodward said the new league would be able to offer a higher-level competition for the female footballers of the region.

“There’s a strong desire for higher-level competition for females in the area, and players tell us they want more variety and better competition,” he said.

“With the new Coastal League One Women, we will be able to offer competitive top-level football for females and local park football for those who want to play socially.

“In the men’s competition, the Coastal Premier League has been an instant success, and we expect the same for Coastal League One Women’s.

“We expect the new competition will increase public, media and sponsor interest in the women’s game.”

 

By Aiden BURGESS