Young-stars converge for Champion of Champions at Coffs Harbour
Published on 04 October 2024
The World Game’s Gen Next will flash their wares in Coffs Harbour next week as hundreds of the most talented players and teams in Northern NSW community football go boot-to-boot.
The Champion of Champions event will attract 700 players and some 1200 spectators at the tournament which runs from Tuesday to Sunday, 8-13 October.
Hosted by the City of Coffs Harbour and run by Northern NSW Football, the spectacular will showcase rising talent from ages 12 to 16.
“It is free entry and the public is welcome to come along and watch some top notch football at the magnificent facilities we have here at the Coffs Coast Sport & Leisure Park,” City Planning and Communities Acting Director Ian Fitzgibbon said.
“We’ll be using our two synthetic fields which have been designed to FIFA standards as well as an adjacent natural turf pitch.”
The synthetic fields at the South Coffs sports precinct which includes the C.ex Coffs International Stadium have been in hot demand since opening in 2022, and have proven a godsend as an all-weather surface when rain has closed other venues.
The Champion of Champions festival includes teams from local clubs Northern Storm, Bellingen, Boambee, Coffs Coast Tigers, Sawtell, Woolgoolga and Coffs City United.
“This is a celebration of youth community football. It gives players an opportunity to challenge themselves,” Northern NSW Football’s Phil Andrews said.
“The teams competing at Champion of Champions have all performed with distinction in their local competitions. For some of our under 16 teams who have competed in the tournament previously, this is their final appearance at Champion of Champions, creating very strong competition.”
The event will see both girls and boys teams in action, with play underway from 9.50am on Tuesday.
The boys fixtures will run from 8-10 October and the girls from 11-13 October.
“Who knows you might just see the next Sam Kerr, Lionel Messi or Ronaldo lace up the boots next week,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
Participating sides include Maitland Junior and Nelson Bay to the south, North United from Armidale to the west and Alstonville, Byron Bay and Tumbulgum to the north.
Clubs were able to nominate teams for the event provided they competed in their member zone’s top division in 2024. Eligible member zones included the local North Coast Football, plus Football Mid North Coast, NNSWF Northern Inland, Newcastle Football, Football Far North Coast, Hunter Valley Football and Macquarie Football.
City of Coffs Harbour has hosted the Champion of Champions since 2018. Spectators will be able to purchase food and drinks from the Hub 2 kiosk.
Photo: The Champion of Champions football tournament will see six days of action at Coffs Coast Sport & Leisure Park. Image: Northern NSW Football