Football is the biggest team sport on the NSW North Coast with over 5,000 players competing year-round in various competitions. In the pandemic affected 2020 season, around 300 teams took to the field every weekend in winter in the region. North Coast Football also runs a player development program for close to 200 children, providing higher coaching and competition levels for participants throughout the year.

‘Many children and families are looking for more than just a community football experience each weekend. They want higher-level football week in week out,’ Mr Woodward said. ‘With the addition of the BDC Football Academy, there's another avenue for players to get even more involved and immersed in the world game.’ The partnership enables BDC to embed itself in the NCF Player Development Program. 

This partnership agreement aligns philosophies and allows BDC access to coaches, training resources and other pathway opportunities. It brings the BDC Football Academy into the football family with resources on tap. ‘For NCF, we see the BDC Football Academy as broadening the appeal of football. It is also an option for players who want more, increasing the pool of talent available for inclusion in player development programs,’ Mr Woodward said.

Bishop Druitt College Principal, Mr Nick Johnstone, stated that ‘this partnership is a first for the North Coast and both BDC and NFC were excited by the potential this can offer our student-athletes.’ Mr Johnstone said, ‘I wish to thank Mr Andrew Woodward, the General Manager of NFC, and the Zone Committee for recognising our vision for the new BDC Football Academy and what this can mean for our region.’

Photograph: Ms Natalie Titcume (BDC High Performance and Athlete Development Program Manager), Mr Andrew Woodward (General Manager NFC), Mr Nick Johnstone (Principal BDC), and Mr Ben Andrews (BDC Football Academy Coordinator and Head of Faculty PDHPE).