Football Far North Coast (FFNC) 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 (soccer) in New South Wales (the other being Football 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 2024Alstonville FCPremier LeagueBallina SCPremier LeagueBangalow SCPremier LeagueBurringbar FCLeague 1Byron Bay FCPremier LeagueCasino RSM Cobras FCChampionshipDunoon United FCLeague 3Eureka FCLeague 5Goonellabah FCPremier LeagueKyogle FCLeague 3Lennox Head FCPremier LeagueLismore Richmond Rovers FCPremier LeagueLismore Thistles FCLeague 1Lismore Workers FCLeague 6Maclean FCPremier LeagueMullimbimby Brunswick Valley FCPremier LeagueNimbin Headers FCChampionshipPottsville Beach FCChampionshipShores United FCLeague 2South Lismore Celtic FCPremier LeagueSuffolk Park FCLeague 1Tintenbar East Ballina FCLeague 2Tumbulgum Rangers SCLeague 2Uki Pythons FCLeague 6Woodburn Wolves FCLeague 3
Men's Premier League/First Division history Season ANZAC Cup/ANZAC Shield Premiers Cyril Mayo Cup (Grand final Winners) Tristrams Cup Northern Star Cup Fosters Mid-Week Cup2024Richmond Rovers (6th)Bangalow (2nd)Bangalow (3rd) 2023 Bangalow (2nd) Bangalow (1st) Bangalow (2nd) 2022Not played due to FloodRichmond Rovers (11th)South Lismore (2nd) 2021 South Lismore (1st) Richmond Rovers (10th) Not played due to COVID-19 2020Historical Pointscore Tables footballfarnorthcoast.com.au Goonellabah (5th) South Lismore (2nd) Byron Bay (6th) 2019 Bangalow (1st) Byron Bay (5th) South Lismore (2nd) 2018 Lismore Thistles (8th) Richmond Rovers (9th) Byron Bay (5th) 2017 Byron Bay (4th) Byron Bay (4th) Byron Bay (4th) 2016 Richmond Rovers (5th) Goonellabah (7th) Bangalow (1st) 2015 Lennox Head (1st) Byron Bay (3rd) Richmond Rovers (15th) 2014 Lismore Thistles (7th) Byron Bay (2nd) Richmond Rovers (14th) 2013 Lismore Thistles (6th) Lismore Thistles (11th) Byron Bay (3rd) 2012 Lismore Workers (19th) Richmond Rovers (8th) Lismore Workers (13th) 2011 Goonellabah (4th) Richmond Rovers (7th) Goonellabah (3rd) 2010 Goonellabah (3rd) Goonellabah (6th) Richmond Rovers (13th) 2009 Richmond Rovers (4th) Richmond Rovers (6th) Richmond Rovers (12th) 2008 Richmond Rovers (3rd) Richmond Rovers (5th) Richmond Rovers (11th) 2007 Byron Bay (3rd) Richmond Rovers (4th) Richmond Rovers (10th) 2006 Goonellabah (2nd) Byron Bay (1st) Byron Bay (2nd) 2005 Ballina (1st) Goonellabah (5th) Byron Bay (1st) 2004 Byron Bay (2nd) Richmond Rovers (3rd) Lismore Workers (12th) 2003 Byron Bay (1st) Italo Stars (9th) Italo Stars (10th) 2002 Italo Stars (14th) Italo Stars (8th) Richmond Rovers (9th) 2001 Lismore Workers (18th) Maclean (2nd) Maclean (1st) 2000 Richmond Rovers (2nd) Italo Stars (7th) Italo Stars (9th) 1999 Lismore Workers (17th) Maclean (1st) Richmond Rovers (8th) 1998 Lismore Workers (16th) Goonellabah (4th) Richmond Rovers (7th) 1997 Lismore Thistles (5th) Lismore Workers (14th) Casino (Cobras) (1st) 1996 Lismore Workers (15th) Lismore Workers (13th) Richmond Rovers (6th) 1995 Lismore Workers (14th) Goonellabah (3rd) Goonellabah (2nd) 1994 Lismore Workers (13th) Goonellabah (2nd) Goonellabah (1st) 1993 Lismore Workers (12th) South Lismore (1st) South Lismore (1st) 1992 Italo Stars (13th) Lismore Thistles (10th) Lismore Thistles (11th) Lismore Workers 1991 Lismore Workers (11th) Lismore Thistles (9th) Lismore Thistles (10th) & Richmond Rovers (5th) Lismore Thistles 1990 Lismore Workers (10th) Lismore Workers (12th) Lismore Workers (11th) Italo Stars 1989 Italo Stars (12th) Lismore Workers (11th) Lismore Workers (10th) South Lismore 1988 Lismore Thistles (4th) Italo Stars (6th) Italo Stars (8th) 1987 Italo Stars (11th) Lismore Thistles (8th) Richmond Rovers (4th) 1986 Italo Stars (10th) Richmond Rovers (2nd) Richmond Rovers (3rd) 1985 South Stars United (2nd) Lismore Thistles (7th) (Undefeated) Lismore Thistles (9th) 1984 South Stars United (1st) South Stars United (1st) Eastwood United (9th) 1983 Goonellabah (1st) Goonellabah (1st) Eastwood United (8th) 1982 Eastwood United (9th) Eastwood United (10th) Lismore Thistles (8th) 1981 Italo Stars (9th) Eastwood United (9th) Italo Stars (7th) 1980 Italo Stars (8th) Lismore Thistles (6th) Italo Stars (6th) 1979 Italo Stars (7th) Eastwood United (8th) Italo Stars (5th) 1978 Italo Stars (6th) Italo Stars (5th) Italo Stars (4th) 1977 Italo Stars (5th) Italo Stars (4th) Italo Stars (3rd) 1976 Italo Stars (4th) Italo Stars (3rd) Lismore Thistles (7th) 1975 Italo Stars (3rd) Richmond Rovers (1st) Richmond Rovers (2nd) 1974 Italo Stars (2nd) Italo Stars (2nd) Lismore Thistles (6th) 1973 Italo Stars (1st) Lismore Thistles (5th) Lismore Thistles (5th) 1972 Eastwood United (8th) Italo Stars (1st) Lismore Thistles (4th) 1971 Eastwood United (7th) Eastwood United (7th) Lismore Thistles (3rd) 1970 Lismore Thistles (3rd) Eastwood United (6th) Lismore Thistles (2nd) 1969 Eastwood United (6th) Eastwood United (5th) Italo Stars (2nd) 1968 Eastwood United (5th) Lismore Thistles Civics (4th) Italo Stars (1st) 1967 Eastwood United (4th) Lismore Thistles White (3rd) Eastwood United (7th) 1966 Eastwood United (3rd) Lismore Thistles No 1 (2nd) Eastwood United (6th) 1965 Richmond Rovers (1st) Eastwood United (4th) Eastwood United (5th) 1964 Goonellabah Stars (9th) Goonellabah Stars (10th) Richmond Rovers (1st) 1963 Goonellabah Stars (8th) Goonellabah Stars (9th) Lismore Thistles (1st) 1962 Lismore Thistles (2nd) Goonellabah Stars (8th) Goonellabah Stars (7th) 1961 Lismore Thistles (1st) Lismore Thistles (1st) Eastwood United (4th) 1960 Goonellabah Stars (7th) Goonellabah Stars (7th) Goonellabah Stars (6th) 1959 Eastwood United (2nd) Eastwood United (3rd) Goonellabah Stars (5th) 1958 Eastwood United (1st) Goonellabah Stars (6th) Goonellabah Stars (4th) 1957 Goonellabah Stars (6th) Goonellabah Stars (5th) Eastwood United (3rd) 1956 Goonellabah Stars (5th) Eastwood United (2nd) Goonellabah Stars (3rd) 1955 Goonellabah Stars (4th) Goonellabah Stars (4th) Goonellabah Stars (2nd) 1954 Goonellabah Stars (3rd) Eastwood United (1st) Goonellabah Stars (1st) 1953 Goonellabah Stars (2nd) Goonellabah Stars (3rd) Eastwood United (2nd) 1952 Goonellabah Stars (1st) Goonellabah Stars (2nd) Eastwood United (1st) 1951 Methodist United (2nd) Goonellabah Stars (1st) North Lismore (1st) 1950 Methodist United (1st) Methodist United (1st) Casino (Rebels) (1st) 1949 Lismore City (1st)
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 (2) and Bodhi Estreich with Diego Vazquez slotting home a late penalty for Byron Bay. Harrison Armstrong (South Lismore) 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 (Byron Bay) 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
Position Club Played Won Drew Lost For Against Goal Difference Points Premiers Richmond Rovers 16 10 2 4 37 21 +16 32 2nd South Lismore 16 10 1 5 34 20 +14 31 3rd Bangalow 16 8 5 3 35 21 +14 29 4th Byron Bay 16 8 4 4 31 17 +14 28 5th Lismore Thistles 16 6 3 7 19 29 -10 21 6th Alstonville 16 5 5 6 31 18 +13 20 7th Goonellabah 16 4 5 7 21 30 -9 17 8th Maclean 16 4 2 10 25 40 -15 14 9th Lennox Head 16 2 3 11 13 47 -34 9
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 (1–1 at full-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
Position Club Played Won Drew Lost For Against Goal difference Points 2020 Cyril Mayo Cup Results & venues Goalscorers Premiers South Lismore 10 7 2 1 22 10 +12 23 Semi-final (1st v 4th) South Lismore 3 defeated Bangalow 1 @ Caniaba Street, South Lismore South Lismore – Ezra Frost, Murray Towner, Patrick Kable Bangalow – own goal 2nd Byron Bay 10 7 1 2 26 15 +11 22 Semi-final (2nd v 3rd) Byron Bay 3 defeated Alstonville 2 @ Byron Recreation Ground Byron Bay – Diego Vazquez (2), Oliver Stautner Alstonville – Joel Perkins, Eli Gambley (penalty) 3rd Alstonville 10 5 1 4 22 18 +4 16 Grand final Byron Bay 2 defeated South Lismore 0 @ Caniaba Street, South Lismore Byron Bay – Lisandro Luaces, Diego Vazquez (penalty) 4th Bangalow 10 5 1 4 20 16 +4 16 5th Goonellabah 10 4 2 4 20 19 +1 14 6th Lismore Thistles 10 4 0 6 16 19 -3 12 7th Maclean 10 3 0 7 20 34 -14 9 8th Richmond Rovers 10 1 1 8 12 27 -15 4
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.