Jack Vallance’s contribution to junior soccer in the region was again honoured with the annual carnival named after the late icon held at Rologas on Sunday.
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Around 60 teams from Armidale, Uralla, Glen Innes and Tamworth competed at the long-standing event.
While the younger age groups played for fun, there was some stiff competition in the older years.
The 12-year-old division was taken out by North Armidale Redsocks after beating Uralla Dragons 1-nil in the final.
The 14-year-old division two was won by South Tamworth after they beat Demon Knights 3-nil in the decider.
Armidale City Westside defeated South Armidale Spiders 1-nil in the division one final.
The 16-year-old competition was won by North Armidale Predators who triumphed over East Armidale Green 1-nil in extra time.
Northern Inland Football’s Armidale administrator Jean Bone said it was another successful carnival with teams praising the well-run event.
“We have had a lot of thank you emails, everybody seems to have had a great time,” she said.
“We've had a lot of out of town teams say that they will be back again next year.
“The feedback we’ve had has been very, very positive, which is great and that’s what we want.
“Our numbers were down this year because we didn't have the fields last year due to all the work at Rologas which tends to happen when you have a year off.
The feedback we’ve had has been very, very positive, which is great and that’s what we want.
- Jean Bone.
“We expect the numbers to be up next year.”
Bone said the carnival has run for longer than her 15 years with the association but was renamed after Vallance when he died 10 years ago.
“We decided, because Jack had been the junior convener for years and years prior and he started a couple of the clubs in Armidale, that we felt that it was a fitting thing to do to name the carnival after Jack,” she said.
“He used to the draws, he knew all the kids, he knew who was playing where, he just loved it, it was his passion.”
While the young guns enjoy running around on the field, Bone said the carnival is just as enjoyable for the parents.
“The parents have as much fun on the day as what the kids do, which is great,” she said.
“It is what we want to see.”
“Thank you to Newcastle Permanent, the SES, St John’s Ambulance and all the parents, kids and coaches.”