TAREE Wildcats have already increased their roster for the Coastal Premier League football competition to start next month.
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"Last year we scrambled to get sides because we made a late decision to seek a spot in the league,'' Taree secretary and CPL co-coach Michael Wallace said.
"We ended up with 24 or 25 players. This year we've already signed 30.''
The competition kicks off on Saturday April 10, however, the Wildcats play their first game against Coffs Tigers on Sunday April 11.
"The national futsal championships will be played in Sydney that weekend and there'll be players involved in that,'' Wallace explained. "So we've swapped our home game for the first round and we'll play on the Sunday.''
Wallace said the Wildcats will again field a young side. However, he said former Newcastle player Jeremy Warn will again add some experience. He's joining the club this season and has impressed at training sessions.
Jackson Witts is also believed to be on the comeback trail after sitting out last year. Witts will add to the side's goal scoring potential.
"We'll be competitive in first grade,'' Wallace promised.
"The reserve grade will be very young and it will be a bit of a learning curve for them.''
However, he added the fact younger players are keen to turn out in the CPL shows the benefit of the competition. Ten clubs - five from Football Mid North Coast and five from North Coast Football will again play in the competition. The inaugural season in 2020 was to kick off in March, but this was postponed to July due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Taree successfully gained an 11th hour entry into the CPL a fortnight before the competition started, filling the 10th spot.
The season was eventually curtailed when stringent COVID-19 protocols were introduced in August.
Wallace, James Goldsmith and Ben Sedlen will co-coach the Wildcat sides in the CPL this year. The Wildcats train on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Omaru Park.
