Soccer in Dargaville is enjoying a strong revival with around 200 players taking to the fields each week.
Next season, the senior teams are moving from Selwyn Park to Memorial Park.
The Kaipara District Council has already drained some of the fields and the club is looking at putting in floodlights.
"The club's
on a roll," says Adrian Humm, manager for the club's senior team Delta Produce.
Until this year Northern Wairoa senior football had struggled, only managing to show as division two cellar dwellers and going down by five goals or more on a regular basis.
This season a more hands-on management structure and an experienced coach are paying dividends.
"John Kitchen has played and coached for years in Scotland and is very wise about the ins and outs of club football as well as knowing his stuff on the pitch," Mr Humm says.
"John's son-in-law Sean Gordon has played high-level football in Scotland and has brought some skill into our team's attack.
"We've managed to hold on to a lot of players who have stuck with us through thick and mostly thin over the last couple of years. With their never-say-die attitude and skills, that are improving all the time, we are now winning matches, even fighting through to the Northland quarterfinals for the first time in years," he said.
Northern Wairoa went down 3-0 to Kaikohe in the quarterfinal but not without playing some tough football.
With Dargaville's high school team enjoying its most successful season in more than 20 years the club is hoping some of these players will stick around to bulk up the team for next season.
President Steve Smith said it was encouraging to see the huge support the club was receiving - but they always welcomed more players and fans.
He backed the shift to Memorial Park, saying it would mean better facilities for the club.
