The Football Federation Tasmania Northern Football Awards acknowledge the best players in all men's and women's grades, leading goal scorers and referees.
I am pleased to represent the Premier, Will Hodgman at the awards tonight.
The major award is the George Dale medal awarded to the best player in the Northern Premier League.
Football Federation Tasmania, the governing body for soccer in Tasmania, receives $200 000 a year from the Liberal Government to deliver grassroots football participation and development initiatives and the men's and women's National Training Centre football program.
The National Training Centre programs are for talented young men and women players.
Football is a popular sport in Tasmania with 13 500 individuals participating in Football Federation Tasmania club-based competitions in 2013. A very high percentage of these are junior players.
Overall it is estimated that in excess of 22 000 Tasmanians participate in football in Tasmania making it the second highest participation sport in the state behind Australian Rules.
It was a pleasure to present the awards to tonight's recipients.