Finals footy fever is coming to South Australia’s Mid North this weekend but the groundbreaking Jamestown Backyard Football League won’t be calling on local footy champions to pull on their boots for the series.

Instead, the new League -- being launched on Sunday, August 26 with the support of leading community service organisation Mission Australia -- has signed up dozens of players who’ve never worn a footy guernsey before or haven’t been near an oval in years.

“Football is clearly one of the most important social and sporting events in most country towns in Australia, but not everyone gets a chance to play, let alone shine,” Mission Australia State Director Mark Herselman said.

“The aim of the Backyard Football League is to get together people who may never have had the chance to play or couldn’t go on with it because they felt they weren’t good enough, had too many work or family commitments, or their clubs were forced to close down,” Mr Herselman said.

“Now their time has come,” he said.

Jamestown Backyard Football League President Michael Butterick said organisers have been overwhelmed by the response to the initiative.

“We just put up blank team sheets in the local hotel one night in the hope we might be able to field two teams to start with, but we had 40 names in a week,” Mr Butterick said. “Now we’ve got enough for four teams, and others on a waiting list for the next season.”

The League is being launched this Sunday with an inaugural Finals Series, and it’s hoped a once-a-month Sunday League will begin in May 2008.

Mr Herselman said Mission Australia, which runs a series of community service programs in rural and regional South Australia, was pleased to support such an innovative program to help strengthen the capacity of a diverse regional community.

“These are the sorts of initiatives that can really make a difference to the lives of individuals and communities, literally at the grassroots level,” he said.

The Backyard Footy season gets underway on Sunday, August 26 at 11am with an Under 12s match, featuring the Mini Swans vs the Mini Saints.

The First Semi-Final at 12.20pm will feature Port Belalie vs Central Forests, with the Second Semi-Final at 2pm pitting the Northern Roosters against the Southern Blues.

There will be full catering at the festive launch event, with a BBQ and refreshments, and admission by gold coin or gold note.

Media please note: Players and organisers are available for photos/interviews ahead of the game.

To arrange or for further information, contact:

Chris Rann
Rann Communication Pty Ltd
Level 1, 18-20 Grenfell Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Ph: (08) 8211 7771
Fax: (08) 8212 2272
chrisrann@rann.com.au