Football Far North Coast


Football Far North Coast is the governing body controlling association football on the Far North Coast of New South Wales, Australia. The name of the organisation was changed in late 2005 from Soccer Far North Coast in line with the national governing body which changed from Soccer Australia to Football Federation Australia.
FFNC is governed by Northern New South Wales Football, which is one of two organisations governing state level association football in New South Wales. There are nine senior men's leagues, from the Premier League to League Seven and six senior women's leagues – Women's Premier League to League Five. The top league controlled by Football Far North Coast is the Premier League, of which 10 teams currently compete. The team who finishes last in the Premier League is usually relegated to the men's Championship League.

All participating clubs in Football Far North Coast - 2024

In 2024, there are currently 25 clubs registered through Football Far North Coast. These clubs, and the highest league they participate in, are located below.
FFNC Clubs 2024Highest League 2024
Alstonville FCPremier League
Ballina SCPremier League
Bangalow SCPremier League
Burringbar FCLeague 1
Byron Bay FCPremier League
Casino RSM Cobras FCChampionship
Dunoon United FCLeague 3
Eureka FCLeague 5
Goonellabah FCPremier League
Kyogle FCLeague 3
Lennox Head FCPremier League
Lismore Richmond Rovers FCPremier League
Lismore Thistles FCLeague 1
Lismore Workers FCLeague 6
Maclean FCPremier League
Mullimbimby Brunswick Valley FCPremier League
Nimbin Headers FCChampionship
Pottsville Beach FCChampionship
Shores United FCLeague 2
South Lismore Celtic FCPremier League
Suffolk Park FCLeague 1
Tintenbar East Ballina FCLeague 2
Tumbulgum Rangers SCLeague 2
Uki Pythons FCLeague 6
Woodburn Wolves FCLeague 3

Men's Premier League/First Division history

2021 — The COVID-19 season take 2

Like 2020 the 2021 season was impacted by COVID-19 with the number of fixtures reduced and finals cancelled.
In April South Lismore won their first ANZAC Day Cup, defeating Byron Bay 3-1 in the final. It was an emotional win for South Lismore as Cameron Hyde their much-loved former coach had died in the week leading up to the game. Goalscorers for South Lismore were Murray Towner and Bodhi Estreich with Diego Vazquez slotting home a late penalty for Byron Bay. Harrison Armstrong was named player of the match.
Also in April Byron Bay won the Callan McMillan Memorial Shield, defeating Lennox Head 2-0 in the final. Ali Dean was named player of the match.
In August the men's premiership was postponed due to COVID-19, and in September following advice from the NSW government that community sport wouldn't be able to recommence it was announced that the season had concluded. Given the circumstances it was a miracle that 16 of the 18-game season was played, although the finals were cancelled meaning there were no grand final winners.
It was a triumphant return to coaching for Brian Bugden, former Richmond Rovers coach and player who led the rejuvenated club from last in a COVID-shortened 2020 season to their 10th Premier League premiership. Bugden was named Premier League coach of the year.

2021 Men's Premier League final table

PositionClubPlayedWonDrewLostForAgainstGoal DifferencePoints
PremiersRichmond Rovers1610243721+1632
2ndSouth Lismore1610153420+1431
3rdBangalow168533521+1429
4thByron Bay168443117+1428
5thLismore Thistles166371929-1021
6thAlstonville165563118+1320
7thGoonellabah164572130-917
8thMaclean1642102540-1514
9thLennox Head1623111347-349

2020 — The COVID-19 season

The commencement of fixtures for the 2020 season was delayed until July by the COVID-19 pandemic and the season reduced to 10 games, with clubs playing up to 3 games per week to fit in the shortened season.
In December 2019 Byron Bay announced Belinda Wilson, former Brisbane Roar W-League and Young Matildas coach would coach the Byron Bay Premier Division side for the 2020 season. This was the first time a female coach had been appointed to an FFNC Premier Division club.
Maclean made a return to Premier League after last playing in FFNC competitions in 2007.
In September Goonellabah won their 5th ANZAC Day Cup, beating Alstonville 2-1 after extra time in a dramatic game at Crawford Park, Alstonville. For Goonellabah Chris Clarke slotted home a penalty in the first half. Jesse Fryer equalised for Alstonville with a brilliant strike from 25 metres with 10 minutes of normal time remaining. Just 3 minutes into extra-time, Reggie Sharp scored to give Goonellabah a 2–1 lead, and despite sustained Alstonville pressure, Goonellabah held on to win the ANZAC Cup.
South Lismore won their second Premier League premiership, losing just once to Bangalow. South Lismore's previous premiership was in 1993 when they won the premiership-Cyril Mayo Cup double. The seasons quiet achievers were Alstonville who made the finals for the first time since 2014 and by coming 3rd achieved their highest-ever placing, surpassing their 4th place in 1986.

Men's Premier League 2020 final table

PositionClubPlayedWonDrewLostForAgainstGoal differencePoints2020 Cyril Mayo CupResults & venuesGoalscorers
PremiersSouth Lismore107212210+1223Semi-final South Lismore 3 defeated Bangalow 1 @ Caniaba Street, South LismoreSouth Lismore – Ezra Frost, Murray Towner, Patrick Kable
Bangalow – own goal
2ndByron Bay107122615+1122Semi-final Byron Bay 3 defeated Alstonville 2 @ Byron Recreation GroundByron Bay – Diego Vazquez, Oliver Stautner
Alstonville – Joel Perkins, Eli Gambley
3rdAlstonville105142218+416Grand finalByron Bay 2 defeated South Lismore 0 @ Caniaba Street, South LismoreByron Bay – Lisandro Luaces, Diego Vazquez
4thBangalow105142016+416----
5thGoonellabah104242019+114----
6thLismore Thistles104061619-312----
7thMaclean103072034-149----
8thRichmond Rovers101181227-154----

History of association football in Northern NSW

1911 – first evidence

There is evidence of "soccer enthusiasts" from the Oakland area meeting at Muldoon's Hotel in June 1911 to form a football association.
The first known game played under the British Association rules saw Oakland defeat Coraki on Saturday 8 July 1911.
The first football club formed in the Lismore area was the Lismore Athletic Football Club which was formed at the Lismore School of Arts in May 1914. The first game of football featuring a side from Lismore was played in June 1914 when students from the Wollongbar Experiment Farm played Lismore Athletic Soccer Club at the farm. The Lismore Athletic team was:
  • Goalkeeper – Blackmore
  • Backs – Newman and Caley
  • Half-backs – Cochrane, Manning, Alcock
  • Forwards – Marshall, Stewart, Hope, Thomas & McBeth
The officials for the game were Mr Priestly and Mr R Hatt.

1932 – first Lismore club & competition

The first Lismore club was established in April 1932 at a meeting at the Golden Globe rooms. At that meeting, it was noted the club had 34 players and "the support of prominent Lismore citizens, including representatives of two churches"; Canon Moore and Reverend Parker. The club adopted club colours of red and blue shirts and white shorts, and decided to enter a team in Bangalow's Association premiership competition that was initially supposed to include 6 teams:
  • Bangalow
  • McLeans Ridges
  • Federal
  • Mullumbimby
  • Lismore
Only 3 teams nominated for the initial competition of the Northern Rivers Soccer Football Association with additional teams from Lismore, Ballina and McLeans Ridges being invited to compete in the end of season knockout competition:
  • Bangalow Rangers
  • Lismore AFC
  • Federal
In May 1932 Lismore announced they had rented "An area of land at the corner of Diadem and Magellan streets" for use as a home ground.
The first game in the competition was played at Bangalow on Saturday, 14 May 1932 with Bangalow defeating Lismore 3–1. The teams were:
  • Bangalow: Morrison, Graham, Hunt, Ramsden, W Turner, Macdonald, Jeffert, A Carter, Davies, Eldridge, J Carter
  • Lismore: Fender, Williamson, Green, Daly, Holmes, Gilmour, Kinch, G Wightman, McCredie, Simpson, Temperley
New clubs were formed in Lismore in May and Casino in July 1932. The new Lismore club was probably called Lismore City.
In July 1932 an Association Cup competition attracted 6 teams: Bangalow, Lismore City, Casino, Dyraaba, Lismore & Federal.