These are the words of Football Mid North Coast’s first general manager, Peter Daniels.

Mr Daniels is a Wauchope resident. He was previously employed as a journalist with Fairfax Media, working out of the Wauchope Gazette and the Port Macquarie News.

He now has charge of an organisation that stretches from Bulahdelah to South West Rocks and takes in 29 clubs. In all at senior and junior level there are 5500 players in various competitions.

Mr Daniels’ association with football started when he was four years old as the mascot for his dad’s team. 

He alternated between football and rugby league from there. He’s now back playing football with the Wauchope club in the Oxley over 35s competition.

He’s also been heavily involved in sports administration with the Wauchope-Bonny Hills Surf Club for the past decade and is currently the vice president.

Now he’s looking forward to his new role.

“One of my jobs will be to raise football’s corporate profile on the Mid North Coast,’’ he said.

“It already has a strong profile. Now I have to lift it to the next level.’’

Mr Daniels has seen some Football Mid North Coast Premier League games while he’s closely followed the Oxley competition, where Wauchope is involved.

He agrees that the number of competitions involved in Football Mid North Coast’s umbrella leads to a diversity of opinions. While this is healthy, he said it is important that everyone involved is working for the overall good of the code here.

“If the Taree club has a policy in place that is doing some good then I’d like to be able to implement that in say, Kempsey,’’ he said.

“If we work together we will grow the sport in a professional manner.” 

“We have to implement strategic plans for the long and short term benefit of the sport.’’

Football is no different to all sports in this area in that clubs  develop juniors only to see them leave after they finish school for employment opportunities or to attend university. However, Mr Daniels still wants to get more people involved in the code right across the spectrum, especially attracting ex-players back to the code.

“There would be people here who have kids playing but aren’t involved themselves. They mightn’t be playing any sport at all,’’ he said.

“I’d like to get them back playing in competition like the over 35s .’’

The timing of the premier league promotion/relegation match has been the source of some contention in recent years, with the FMNC board promising this will be reviewed before next season.

Mr Daniels was reluctant to comment on the matter but agreed it will be on the agenda when he takes over the role.

He hopes his former occupation as a journalist will assist in giving football a higher profile in the media.

Mr Daniels will officially start his new job on January 5.