The Southern Tablelands Football Association recently announced that it will host the Girls' Under 14s and Under 16s Country Championships during the October long weekend.
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It will mark the first time that Goulburn has hosted the event in at least 30 years, and is the result of tireless campaigning by the STFA committee.
"We had to chase it and express that we were really keen to host it," STFA football manager, Craig Norris, said.
"Having the new facility built was something that caught the eye of Football NSW, and they said it's a good way to say thank you for the local support, so they were on board."
In recent years, the STFA's stature as a regional hub of football has grown, and Norris sees the opportunity to host the Country Championships as recognition of the association's position in the community.
"With the sheer amount of land we've got for the fields, we're a regional hub," he said.
"We just needed those extra facilities and the like, and obviously people think we do a good job."
With roughly 15 regional associations throughout NSW, Norris said there could be as many as 30 sides in Goulburn during the tournament.
With the potential for so many teams to descend on the town, the STFA believes the championships will also benefit the local economy.
"It'll be a huge event for Goulburn on that weekend," Norris said.
"I daresay associations have already started booking hotel rooms out now, when dates are released everyone starts planning pretty early."
As the STFA's Under 14 and Under 16 Girls' sides have historically been strong, the association hopes to continue that tradition of success in October.
"The 16s have always been a strong squad for a long time, and the 14s went to the Country Championships last year and made the semi-finals, so they're a strong side as well," Norris said.
"They're two of our strongest squads, and they're definitely two of our better chances."
The Country Championships will be played throughout the year across all age groups in the boys and girls' divisions, and will be hosted by associations across the state.
The STFA is looking to field teams in every division, with high hopes for their players.
"We've got the boys championships in the June long weekend, and they're in Albury and Griffith and the like," Norris said.
"We're trying to get teams in most, if not all, age groups. We've already got teams lined up and ready to go in the 14s and 16s girls divisions."
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