Boost in player numbers expected for Far North Coast Football season

The Hornets have a tough game first up against 2023 grand finalists Byron Bay while Rovers take on Alstonville.

Both teams played finals last season and should be thereabouts again this year.

Defending premiers Bangalow will play Mullumbimby Brunswick Valley with South Lismore to play Maclean.

There will be two Anzac Cup games for the men's premier league on April 2.

Alstoville will host Bangalow while Rovers are at home to Goonellabah with both games to start at 6.30pm.

Bangalow were also Anzac Cup and pointscore champions last year.

This year, clubs were asked for 2024 nominations to be sent by March 7 with teams now graded into various competitions.

About 89 teams were nominated and have now been graded across nine men's Leagues with 47 teams across five women's leagues.

Football Far North Coast general manager Steve Mackney said player numbers could exceed more than 7300 players this season.

The number of nominations is positive and sees a return towards the historical exceptional numbers of 2018 and 2021," he said.

"Player registrations are already more than 6000 and we anticipate potentially in excess of 350 MiniRoos teams to be nominated when we reconcile those team numbers at the end of March.

"Season 2024 is poised to be a massive time for football locally and I again extend an expression of appreciation to all volunteers, match officials and to every person who makes a contribution to sustain community football.

"It is very apparent, that we are again going to be desperately short of having enough referees, the recruitment and retention of match officials, is a challenge every year."