This is according to FMNC interim chairman Mike Parsons of Taree.

"This was a standout season one of our best,'' Mr Parsons enthused.

"The number of registrations rose from 5500 to more than 6000 from under sixes through to first grade and that's obviously pleasing. We're expecting that growth to continue into next year and beyond.''

However, Mr Parsons agreed that there are some trouble spots. The lack of success from the Manning-based clubs, Taree and Old Bar in the premier league along with a lack of refereeing numbers remain concerns for the FMNC board.

Mr Parsons said the emergence of Port Saints as premier league champions was heartening.

"There was a changing of the guard Macleay Valley missed out on the semi-finals this year for the first time,'' Mr Parsons added.

"Tuncurry-Forster returned to the premier league this year and just missed out on a place in the semis.

"All our grand finals were excellent Port Saints won in extra time while Wallis Lake took out the reserve grade game in a penalty shoot out. It was the same with our open age and women's grand finals in the north and the south they were all thrilling contests. Kempsey Saints also had a successful year in the premier league after previously finishing towards the cellar.''

However, Mr Parsons agreed that Taree's disappointing season the club finished last in first and reserve grade was a downside. It is the first time the Wildcats have finished with the wooden spoon. For the second successive season there was no Manning representation in the premier league first grade finals series.

"I'm sure the Wildcats would be disappointed. In the end they just didn't have the player numbers,'' he said.

"But I'm know they'll re-group. Every clubs goes through these times.''

While Old Bar missed a berth in the playoffs Mr Parsons said they were competitive.

"They lost a couple of games in the last few minutes and they were competitive just about every week and in saying that, so were Taree,'' he said.

Old Bar were hard hit by wet weather and for much of the year the club couldn't play or train on their home ground as it was closed.

"That was a terrible situation for the club to endure,'' Mr Parsons agreed.

"It would have made it difficult to get teams prepared for the weekend game.

"We did have problems with wet weather at the start of the season and again in the middle that's obviously beyond our control. But we managed to get most of the games we had to postpone played.''

PLAYER numbers in all competitions run by Football Mid North Coast in 2015 were stellar.

However, FMNC interim chairman Mike Parsons said it was just the opposite in the refereeing ranks.

"We're in diabolical trouble,'' he admitted.

While the league was able to manage referee numbers in the premier league Mr Parsons said it wasn't the same for other senior competitions run in the Manning, Hastings and Macleay areas.

The league had to increasingly rely on clubs to supply officials, or club referees, as they are known.

"This is a big hole in our game,'' Mr Parsons said.

"I know we're not alone here as other sports are having the same problems. But it is something the board is looking at seriously for next year and into the future.

"If I'm returned as chairman at our annual meeting or even if I'm not I'll be looking at ways we can both recruit and retain our referees.

"We'll be working with our clubs to help provide a springboard to the black and whites to go onto bigger things, including refereeing representative fixtures.''

There's also a lack of depth in numbers for match officials in the premier league.

"We'd like to see more depth so there's more competition between the referees to get the appointments to the better games. Competition usually results in better performances,'' Mr Parsons said.

"And it's always good to know we have the depth if referees are injured or unavailable.''

There has been some consideration to splitting premier league games over the weekend and playing matches on a Friday night or a Sunday to help with referee numbers. Mr Parsons said this would only be done after consultation with the clubs.

"We're an inclusive organisation and we would want feedback before any decision was made,'' he said.

Mr Parsons admitted he is keen on the idea of playing a match of the round on a Sunday as a stand alone fixture but added this hasn't yet been seriously discussed at board leve