Scottsdale to honour NEFU representative greats
Wayne Harper, Ethan Petterwood, Lindsay Petterwood, John Petterwood and Geoff Petterwood preparing for an NEFU representative reunion.
Article provided by Scottsdale Football Club
Former NEFU representative team players and coaches are being invited to reunite as the Scottsdale Football Club celebrates the proud history of North East Football Union (NEFU) representative football through a weekend dedicated to recognising the players who wore one of the region’s most prestigious jumpers.
The Scottsdale Football Club is calling on former NEFU representative players and coaches to reconnect as part of a special celebration recognising one of the proudest traditions in North East Tasmania’s football history.
For generations, selection in a NEFU representative team was one of the highest honours a footballer could achieve when they played in the league.
Each year, the very best players from across the Union were selected to wear the representative jumper and compete against neighbouring districts, proudly representing not only their club but an entire North East region with immense pride.
The club believes those achievements deserve to be recognised and remembered especially for our future generations and kids living here today in the North East community.
“Representative football played a significant role in the history of the North East Football Union,” organisers Stuart Rainbow and Wayne Harper said.
“To earn selection in a NEFU representative side was a mark of excellence. It recognised the region’s best footballers and created lifelong memories, friendships and rivalries. We want today’s players to understand what that jumper represented and ensure the stories of those who wore it are never forgotten.
“We want today’s young people to know a team once existed at Pioneer-Gladstone, Derby, Ringarooma, Branxholm, Legerwood, Winnaleah, Scottsdale (Crows) and that Fingal formed, for a period, part of the NEFU and that current day clubs Bridport, Lilydale and East Coast (St Helens) were part of our local competition.”
The celebrations will begin on Thursday, August 6, 2026, when former representative players will be invited to present replica NEFU representative jumpers to members of Scottsdale’s current Senior Men’s and Senior Women’s teams. Current senior coach Ethan Petterwood and Sherri Rainbow have worked incredibly hard with Sylvia and Geoff Petterwood to learn about the significance of NEFU representative teams and design the jumper that the current playing group will wear with immense honour.
The presentation has been designed to create a meaningful connection between past and present, giving former representatives the opportunity to pass on the history, pride and responsibility that came with representing the North East.
Following the presentations, the Scottsdale Football Club will host a Players’ Tea, providing an opportunity for former representative players, coaches and current players to come together, reconnect and share stories from decades of representative football as they present jumpers to the current playing group.
The celebrations will continue on Saturday, August 8, 2026, when Scottsdale hosts Deloraine in a day dedicated to celebrating the legacy of representative football across the North East and the immense honour that came with playing in the NEFU representative jumper.
Current Scottsdale players will proudly wear replica NEFU representative jumpers during the day’s matches as a tribute to those who represented the North East region before them.
The clubrooms will also feature an extensive visual display showcasing the history of the North East Football Union, including representative jumpers, team photographs, historical records, newspaper articles, memorabilia and other treasured items that tell the story of NEFU representative football across the region.
Guests attending the day will enjoy a traditional roast lunch from 12.30 pm before hearing from former players and coaches during a special Question and Answer session hosted by Peter Fish and Stuart Rainbow.
The discussion will provide an opportunity to relive memorable matches, celebrate outstanding players, reflect on the evolution of football across the North East and preserve the stories that helped shape the game for future generations.
The Scottsdale Football Club is appealing to the wider football community for assistance in locating the contact details of former NEFU representative players and coaches.
Organisers acknowledge that many contact details have been lost over time and are asking anyone who represented the North East Football Union in a representative team—or knows someone who did—to get in touch.
The club hopes to compile a comprehensive contact list of former representative players and coaches so they can be recognised not only during this celebration but at future reunions and historical events.
Former representatives are encouraged to register their interest in presenting a jumper on Thursday evening, attending the Players’ Tea, joining the Saturday luncheon, or simply updating their contact details.
Anyone who knows of a former representative player or coach who may not have received an invitation is encouraged to pass the information on.
The Saturday luncheon is $30 per person, with bookings essential for catering purposes.
Former NEFU representative players and coaches are asked to register their interest and RSVP.
For further information or to register, contact Jenny Walker on 0488 423 682.
The Scottsdale Football Club hopes the weekend will become a fitting tribute to those who proudly represented the North East and ensure the proud legacy of NEFU representative football continues to inspire generations to come. Playing jumpers from the day will be auctioned off in a live auction post-match.