Te Anau is kicking goals both on and off the field, with junior football enjoying a major revival thanks to strong community and volunteer support, and the backing of Southland Football.

Junior numbers have more than tripled in recent years, and for the first time in ten years Te Anau is fielding teams in the junior Southland-wide competition.

The increase in interest is in part attributed to local volunteers running, for more than 10-years, winter football sessions at the school focusing on skill development, friendly games, fun and development.

Te Anau Football Club coordinator Stef Braaksma said there had been massive support for the club over the last three years with numbers rising from 30-40 kids to now around 120.

The players are thriving with regular competition, skills are improving and they are genuinely enjoying the game.

“Over the last two years we entered teams in the Old Boys Junior Football Festival in Invercargill."

Te Anau v's Thistle game on Saturday (12 Jul). Photo: Supplied

"The kids loved it and competed really well and we just thought why not get them involved in the Southland-wide competition,” she said.

This season Te Anau has two 11th grade and one 14th grade team in the competition and they’re backed by strong volunteer and parent support.

There’s already talk of up to five junior teams for next year’s competition, and the process to formalise the club is on the cards.

Southland Football had been eager to support the growth of the game in Te Anau and had allowed two home games a month in an effort to limit their travel to every second week.

Football Development Officer Ryan Gardiner said it was fantastic having Te Anau teams in the competition.

“It creates a wider range of opposition in Southland for our junior players,” he said.

“Within Southland there is often lots of travel involved in community sport, but it’s great to see all clubs willing to travel to Te Anau to play football.”

Football Southland Development and Operations Manager Iain Walker said the Junior Committee was supportive from day one and had looked at various ways in which they could support, with member clubs ultimately suggested the bi-weekly travel model.

"We have a very positive, solutions-based committee - this puts us in a very healthy position and is another reason why we are experiencing growth in our game.”

“I watched the Under 14 team play recently at Waikiwi Domain in Invercargill and can say firsthand that they are definitely enjoying the experience.”

Funders including the Fiordland Community Board and the Kepler Challenge Mountain Run Trust have made it possible for the Te Anau club to host official matches by supporting the purchase of proper goals and other equipment.