NELSON Bay Football Club’s mighty under-15 boys lineup is celebrating a near-perfect season in Newcastle community football.
In a remarkable feat, the talented youngsters have completed an extraordinary 2026 by claiming the Northern NSW Football Champion of Champions title after an undefeated tournament campaign in Coffs Harbour.
The 1-0 Champion of Champions grand final victory over Lismore Thistles was a fitting reward for a squad that demonstrated consistency, teamwork and determination throughout the year.
Guided by coaches Col Campbell, Michael Grill and Rhys Pullen and team manager Laura Rudling, the Bay under-15s proved a force to be reckoned with.
After dominating the Newcastle Football inter-district series and finishing the regular season undefeated minor premiers, the boys narrowly missed out on the grand final title after a loss to Medowie FC.
Undeterred, they headed to Coffs Harbour determined to finish their season on a high, with the Champion of Champions tournament presenting the perfect opportunity.
Their campaign opened with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Maitland JFC, followed by a convincing 2–0 win against Bellingen FC.
A scoreless draw with Yamba FC was the only occasion the side failed to find the back of the net, before they bounced back with an impressive 3–0 victory over Northern Storm FC.
Nelson Bay then edged out Lismore Thistles SC 1–0 before producing a dominant 4–0 performance against South Maitland FC to secure their place in the championship final.
Throughout the tournament, Nelson Bay’s attacking combination of Ethan Taylor, Henry Lilly and Ryan Weingott proved a constant threat to opposition defences.
Taylor was particularly impressive, finishing as the tournament’s leading goalscorer with seven goals, including the championship-winning strike.
The attacking strength had been a feature of the team throughout the season with Toby Kidd also playing a key role in their regular-season success, although unable to attend the tournament.
While Nelson Bay’s attacking talent attracted plenty of attention, their championship success was built on an exceptional defensive effort and a possession-hungry and hardworking midfield.
The defensive unit of Xavier Grill, Oliver Boyers, Mitchell Weaver and Flynn Blume provided a formidable barrier throughout the competition. They consistently shut down opposition attacks, producing crucial tackles, interceptions and clearances while being instrumental in igniting the next attack at the other end.
Their efforts were supported by a tireless midfield led by captain Nick Campbell, alongside Andrew Farrell, Zac Hearfield, Harry Kowaliw and Frankie Pullen, who never gave up and prioritised possession football and precision passing to stifle the opposition.
Nelson Bay’s defensive record was made even more remarkable by an unexpected setback early in the competition.
Regular goalkeeper Misha Gutsulyak – who was later recognised for his outstanding performances throughout the season by winning Nelson Bay Football Club’s Junior Goalkeeper of the Season Award – suffered an injury during the second match, ruling him out for the remainder of the tournament.
Logan Parmigiani stepped into the keeper’s role, taking on the responsibility of protecting Nelson Bay’s goal for the remaining matches. Parmigiani rose to the challenge brilliantly, supported by an outstanding defensive unit that kept six consecutive clean sheets and ensured Nelson Bay remained unbeaten.
The championship decider saw Nelson Bay face Lismore Thistles for the second time in the tournament.
With both sides aware of the other’s strengths, the final developed into a tightly contested battle.
After a scoreless first half, Nelson Bay finally broke the deadlock in the 35th minute. A well-delivered second-half free kick from skipper Campbell found Taylor, who rose to meet the ball and headed home the decisive goal.
The championship victory was the culmination of months of hard work from a dedicated group of players, coaches and supporters. Their commitment throughout the season, together with the support of the players’ families, helped create a team capable of competing against the region’s best.
From undefeated minor premiers to Northern NSW Champion of Champions, Nelson Bay under-15s have ensured their remarkable 2026 season will be remembered for all the right reasons.
The Nelson Bay squad featured Misha Gutsulyak, Logan Parmigiani, Flynn Blume, Oliver Boyers, Xavier Grill, Mitchell Weaver, Nick Campbell, Andrew Farrell, Zac Hearfield, Harry Kowaliw, Frankie Pullen, Ryan Weingott, Henry Lilly, Ethan Taylor and Toby Kidd.
A testimony of the team’s class and depth was the selection of Grill, Weingott, Hearfield, Farrell and Campbell in this year’s Newcastle Development representative squads.
By Chris KARAS
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