Entry into Northern NSW Football's premier women's competition next year is the "last piece of the puzzle" for Kahibah Football Club.
Northern NSW Football has confirmed National Premier Leagues Women (NPLW) will return to eight clubs in 2027 with the addition of Kahibah.
Kahibah stepped up to NPL Men for the first time this year and have made no secret of their ambitions to also complete a premier pathway for their growing numbers of girls.
"We've worked hard to get a pathway for our girls since we put premier girls into the competition," Kahibah's head of football Mat Moncrieff said.
"We started with the JDL girls and then added the PYL girls and it was inevitable that we try to give them a pathway into senior football.
"Now it's become a reality, which is very exciting."
The Rams, who have a new $4 million facility at Gateshead, added Junior Development League (JDL) girls, for ages nine to 12, to their football program in 2025.
This year they entered the Premier Youth League (PYL) girls' competition, which comprises 13s, 15s and 17s age groups.
Next year, a 14s age group will be added to PYL girls as female participation numbers continue to increase across the region.
Kahibah have a strong junior base of girls and have two all age women's teams playing in joint Hunter Valley-Macquarie community competitions.
"Now we can bring these girls through the club," Moncrieff said.
"If they wish to, there's a pathway all the way through to senior football.
"We still have our community teams but we try to make a pathway for everyone in the club, whatever level of football you want to be, and this one ticks the last box for us, to have elite women stay at our club and play at the top level."
NPLW comprises first and reserve grade.
First grade has been a seven-team competition for two seasons following the withdrawal of Mid Coast's senior sides.
Reserve grade was reduced to six teams this year after Charlestown Azzurri were unable to field a side following a mass exodus of players.
Azzurri were allowed to keep their NPLW licence this year and have only a first-grade side on the proviso they would field a reserve-grade team again next year.
Whether there are enough players in the region to sustain a strong, and not lopsided, eight-team first-grade competition remains to be seen.
The NPLW premiership remains a two-horse race between Maitland, on 40 points, and New Lambton (34 points) with three rounds remaining.
Lake Macquarie (22) look to have third place all but locked in, while Broadmeadow (16) and Adamstown (15) appear in a two-way battle for fourth place. Newcastle Olympic and Azzurri are off the pace on 10 points.
A new second-tier Zone Women's Football League, administered by Newcastle Football and comprising two grades, has been successfully introduced this year and it is expected to grow in 2027.
NPLW could expand further in coming years. Weston are one club with an eye on joining the competition and another Hunter Valley club looks to be shaping in that direction as well.
South Maitland Football Club will enter PYL girls and boys next year as well as adding JDL girls and boys programs.
Valentine Football Club's submission for PYL girls has also been accepted, taking the competition to 11 clubs.
NNSWF Technical Director Ryan Doidge said the changes reflected a commitment to building a stronger female football pathway.
"This is part of our strategy to improve the quality and quantity of clubs participating in our top-tier women and girls' competitions," Doidge said.
"The women's and girls' game continues to experience significant growth across northern NSW and it's important our competitions evolve to meet the needs and expectations of players and clubs.
"Introducing an under-14 age group fills a gap that has existed within the female competition pathway and creates greater continuity between the junior and youth age groups.
"That means more players can remain in a structured, high-performance environment during an important stage of their development, while clubs can provide a clearer progression for aspiring female footballers."
Newcastle Croatia Football Club, who play in the second-division Northern League One, will enter PYL boys next year.
NNSWF will transition the PYL boys competition next year into a permanent three-division model from 2028.
