NORTHERN NSW Football (NNSWF) has announced the launch of its inaugural Northern NSW Regional Super League in 2025.

According to the association, the introduction of the NNSW Regional Super League will address identified challenges and create strategic opportunities for football development in regional northern NSW.

The competition was established to create more competitive opportunities for regional clubs and players, provide a sustainable pathway for talented regional players, and increase player retention and engagement.

NNSWF consulted interested regional clubs and its four regional member zones to gain feedback for the men’s and women’s leagues before creating the pilot competitions, which start in 2025.

Clubs from NNSWF’s regional member zones will be eligible to express interest to be part of the inaugural NNSWF Regional Super League next season.

The inaugural pilot competition will see the NNSW Regional Super League feature men’s and women’s leagues, each made up of eight teams.

The competitions will be split into two pools of four teams.

Each team will play three match days with the first played by 31 May 2025, the second by 30 June 2025 and the third by 31 July.

The top two teams from each pool will then advance through to a finals festival weekend in Coffs Harbour to be played in October 2025.

NNSWF CEO Peter Haynes was pleased to make the announcement.

“The establishment of the NNSW Regional Super League is an exciting development for football across northern NSW,” Haynes said.

“The NNSW Regional Super League aligns with NNSWF’s strategic pillars of talent development and to showcase our game.

“The competition will extend the pathways for regional players and clubs as well as create a platform for talented regional players to shine.

“We listened to and collaborated with interested clubs and member zones from regional northern NSW around the development of a regional premier competition concept and we thank them for their enthusiasm throughout the process to make the NNSWF Regional Super League a reality.”

Football Mid North Coast Chairman Lance Fletcher said the Regional Super League would create further opportunities for regional players.

“Football Mid North Coast are always looking for opportunities for our men’s and women’s players to challenge themselves at the highest level.

“We believe that the Regional Super League will allow our clubs to test themselves against quality opposition which will allow more exposure to higher opportunities,” Fletcher said.

North Coast Football President Wendy Schafer looked forward to the future of premier football across regional northern NSW.

“I believe the proposed format by NNSWF allows regional clubs to enter into an additional competition where regional teams have the opportunity to compete against each other without distracting from each member zone’s existing premier league competitions,” Schafer said.

The NNSW Regional Super League concept is supported by regional member zones Football Mid North Coast, North Coast Football and NNSWF – Northern Inland.