The excitement around Australia’s World Cup campaign in Brazil is expected to give football in the Hunter a welcome boost.
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Northern NSW Football released figures this week showing an overall growth in football registrations across the area.
Northern NSW has 22,644 players registered in the three Hunter region zones in 2014, an almost seven per cent increase from last year.
The total of 55,825 is the largest number of registered football players in Northern NSW since 2005.
The Bolwarra Bushrangers are one club that has seen a slight increase in 2014.
Secretary Tom McFadyen said the club had 320 players from under 6s to All Age.
“I think soccer should constantly be growing,” he said.
“With the popularity of soccer as a sport the numbers should be going up rapidly.”
Hunter Valley Football secretary Phyllis Avery said the marquee football events, like the World Cup, would help the numbers continue to increase.
“This year has been a great year for football so far and will continue to be in the national spotlight in the lead up to the AFC Asian Cup in January,” she said.
“I am confident that the sport will continue to grow across the region.”