8-a-side teams will feature this season

Eden Souter-Napier controls the ball during Meadowbank’s 2-1 win against Thistle in May last year. A lack of players has driven North Otago to shake up its playing structure. This year there will be five 8-a-side teams all based in Oamaru, rather than playing in an 11-a-side competition against teams in South Canterbury. PHOTO: DAVE NALDRETT

Having previously sent teams to compete in the Timaru competitions, this year North Otago will host its own.

The North Otago Premier League begins today and is an 8-a-side competition.

Matt Haywood is organising the new competition alongside Eden Souter-Napier and Reece Curle.

It will have five teams but only one is club affiliated to Football South. The remaining four were self-registered, Mr Haywood said.

Each team will play one another four times with four byes — playoffs are pencilled in for September.

They opted to make it 8-a-side to give more people the opportunity to play football.

"It was a matter of trying to get more people involved. [Last year there were] two teams and that might be 30 people.

"[This year] we’ve got five 8-a-side teams which is potentially maybe 12 in each so we’ve got 60-odd guys, and girls if they want, to be involved in a local competition."

In today’s opening round, the Meadowbank Warriors will take on Oamaru CC Football, and YNWA FC will play Weston Villa.

Both games will be played at the Oamaru A&P Showgrounds. FC Bandits 69 have the bye.

Those interested should get in contact with any of the organisers or through its Facebook page.