1881
First inter-colonial games
In July, Hotham (now North Melbourne) 4.18 (42) defeated a Northern Combined team 0.2 (2) in Launceston.
On Tuesday 5th July, Hotham came to Hobart to play a representative STFA team. The Association team was made-up of players selected from Country Teams namely, Oatlands and Richmond and Hobart based clubs North Hobart, Railway, Cricketers, City and New Town. The STFA won the match, its first win in an Inter-Colonial game 3.15 (33) to Hotham 2.16 (28).
1886
Northern Tasmanian Football Association (NTFA)
The NTFA emerged in 1886 to become one of three major competitions in Tasmania and reigned supreme in the North/North-East region of the State until 1986, when a State-wide competition commenced.
From within the centre of Launceston the NTFA was formed to create a strong competition with the following member clubs: Launceston, Fitzroy, North Launceston, Longford, Scottsdale, South Launceston, East Launceston, City, Essendon, Cornwell, City South, Deloraine and George Town.
Surveyed in 1826, Launceston was named after a town in the United Kingdom, the birth place of Philip Gidley King, third Governor of the Colony of New South Wales. In the 1830’s, Launceston was a whaling port and agricultural district. It was proclaimed a Municipality in 1852, a town in 1858 and a City in 1888. Launceston was the first city in Australia to have underground sewers, and the first City to be lit with hydroelectricity.
1904
Boundary umpires
Boundary umpires were introduced in both the South and North.
1981
Tasmanian Greater Northern League (TGNL)
The NTFA had several disruptions over the years it operated in the Northern region of the State. One major change took place in 1981 when the NTFA merged with the NWFU to form the Greater Northern League (TGNL).
The TGNL came about by a merger of Northern Tasmanian Football Association and the North Western Football Union in 1981.
The concept was to have the top teams from the two major Northern competitions (NTFA & NWFU) play in one strong competition (TGNL). However, the move quickly found it had several challenges, such as a financial strain for both the Leagues and its clubs. Logistical problems of extensive travel across the Northern region of the State, and a lack of support from clubs and governing bodies. As a consequence of this, the TGNL folded after two seasons.
The TGNL competition was supported by the following competing clubs:
From NTFA:
City South Redlegs, East Launceston Demons, Launceston Blues, Longford Tigers, North Launceston Robins, Scottsdale Magpies.
From NWFU:
Burnie Tigers, Cooee Bulldogs, Devonport Magpies, East Devonport Swans, Latrobe Demons, Penguin Two Blues, Ulverstone Robins, Wynyard Cats and Smithton Saints.
1982
TGNL ends
Following the collapse of the TGNL at the end of 1982, both the NTFA and NWFU continued their respective competitions until the end of 1986.
1987
Further Change to NTFA
As a result of the TANFL (controlling body in Tasmania) deciding to introduce a State-wide competition in 1986, several clubs from both the NTFA and NWFU had committed to participate. This caused the two Northern bodies (NTFA & NWFU) to form a new body known as the Northern Tasmanian Football League (NTFL).
The inaugural season of the Northern Tasmanian Football League commenced in 1987.
Following the formation of the NTFL, the former NTFA folded in 1986.
1987
Northern Tasmanian Football League (NTFL)
The NTFL was formed in the early part of 1987, by both the NTFA and NWFU merging to become the NTFL. This was caused as a result of the TANFL creating a Statewide competition known as the TFL State-Wide League (TSWL) that commenced in 1986.
The TANFL granted the NTFL Second Tiered Status which was retained until 1998. The home base for the NTFL was in central Devonport.
The NTFL participated in the annual Victorian Country Championships, as it happened the exercise was a financial loss, that caused the NTFL to withdraw after three years in 1989. Instead, the NTFL played matches against the TANFL Under 23’s, the Southern Football League and the Tasmanian Amateur State Team.
Teams that participated in NTFL from 1987 included: Burnie, Deloraine, East Devonport, George Town, Latrobe, Launceston, Longford, Penguin, Scottsdale, Smithton, Ulverstone and Wynyard,
2009
NTFL club changes
With the revival of the State-Wide League in 2009, five Clubs (Burnie, Devonport, Launceston, North Launceston and South Launceston) left the NTFL, which left only six clubs.
Some other clubs from the North and North-West had joined and departed the NTFL and from 2009 the NTFL was solely supported by clubs from the North-West area.
2014
NWFL formed
As a result of participating clubs all from the north west, the NTFL changed its name to North West Football League at the end of 2014.