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.

North East-Coast Football Association (NECFA)

The NECFA was the parent association to 2 later association.

In June of 1907 at the quaint North Eastern Tasmanian township of Derby, the NECFA was formed. Its location rests at the intersection of the Ringarooma and Casade Rivers.

Derby was established in the mid–1870’s during a mining boom and the town has since flourished as an adventure and tourism destination.

Although teams came and went on an almost regular basis, it nevertheless remained a strong competition and produced many a top player.

Competing teams were many between 1907 and 1921: Alberton, Branxholm, Bridport, Cameron, Derby, Derby City, Fingal, Gladstone, Legerwood, Lilydale, Militia, Moorina, North Scottsdale, Pioneer, Pioneer-Gladstone, Ringarooma, Scottsdale, Scottsdale Crows, South Mt. Cameron, St. Helens, Wanderers, Warrentinna and Winnaleah.

Scottsdale Football Association

The only information provided was City, who wore Red and White, 5.8.38 defeated Scottsdale 2.4.16 whose colours were Red and Black.

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.

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,

Northern Tasmanian Football Association (Division 1)

Teams competing were: Bracknel, Bridgenorth, Deloraine, George Town, Hillwood, Longford, Rocherlea, Scottsdale and University-Mowbray.

NEFU final season

The final season had only two teams competing in 12 home-and-away matches and the grand final. Winnaleagh won all games beating Scottsdale Crows.

Boag’s Shield

In 2020 the NTFA informed its clubs that due to the impact of Coronavirus, the board of management decided to suspend competition for both Premier and Divion 1. However, in the interim, the NTFA had arranged an (opt-in) competition for the season known as the Boag’s Shield.

Clubs from both divisions were given the opportunity to compete.

Rocherlea, Deloraine, Bridgenorth and Bracknell from the Premier Division, and University, Scottsdale, Old Scotch, Old Launcestonians and Meander Valley from Division 1, made-up the competition, that was played at Deloraine Oval. With shorter quarters, finals over two weeks and an equaliser for Division 1 clubs.