Sutherland Shire Football dominates: 19,000 players, 1570 teams and 61 fields

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SUTHERLAND Shire Football Association is the No. 1 organisation of its kind in the southern hemisphere, now topping more than 19,000 registered players.

That is the official word from Eddie Moore, general manager of the state governing body, Football NSW.

"It is a phenomenal effort from everyone involved in the sport in what is an ever growing region for football," Moore said.

"This equates to more than 1570 teams using 61 football fields. We are up 1400 players from registrations in 2014.

"These numbers alone exceed the entire rugby league and rugby union population in the shire, headlining football as the No. 1 sport."

Association general manager Jeff Stewart said the code was getting bigger.

"We have had to turn players away," he said.

"It's a great sense of achievement for the many volunteers to know they deliver a community-based sport to shire residents, with all money ploughed back into the local game without the need to make a profit for the shareholders.

"Almost one third of our players are female which shows the wide appeal of football."
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Chris Ikonomidis. Picture: by Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images

Chris Ikonomidis. Picture: by Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images

The association has been a production line fortop players and coaches such as:

■ A-league, Sydney FC coach and Socceroos former player, Graham Arnold who came from Gwawley Bay;

■ Sydney FC youngsters Alex Gersbach and Chris Naumoff;

■ Dean Bouzanis at Western Sydney Wanderers;

■ goalkeeper Jack Duncan, at Perth Glory;

■ Socceroo Chris Ikonomidis (pictured above) who came from Cronulla RSL.