Newcastle Football withdraws teams from Inter-District competitions

A MAJOR shake-up may impact the way football competitions are delivered in the Hunter region.

Newcastle Football has advised the neighbouring zones of Macquarie Football and Hunter Valley Football that it will not enter its clubs in Inter-District competitions in 2025. A three-zone competition featuring teams from across the region has existed for decades.

“Our clubs will feature in competitions solely within our zone,” Newcastle Football said in a statement.

“After many years, we have recognised that our zone now has divergent plans as well as differing governance and operational policies.”

While Inter-District competitions look likely to be impacted, the statement indicated that Newcastle Football remains “passionately obliged” to managing the Zone Football League which features clubs from Newcastle, Macquarie, Hunter Valley and Mid North Coast football zones.

In response to the news, Hunter Valley Football and Macquarie Football have written to Northern NSW Football to request a mediation session.

Board members and General Managers of the three zones will be invited.

“Thousands of players from across the three zones have already paid their registration fees and started training for the upcoming 2026 season in good faith, on the understanding that they were playing in the three-zone competition that has operated successfully for over 30 years,” said a joint statement from Macquarie Football chairman Doug Ross and Hunter Valley Football president Rick Allen.

“Our priority must be these players and not bringing the game we love into disrepute.

“These players should have the opportunity to play in the competitions they signed up for.

“Both Hunter Valley and Macquarie Football will enter the mediation session with this goal as their priority.”

The community football season was scheduled to start in late April.