Nearly 2,000 people are expected to descend on Jamberoo this weekend for the annual Jamberoo Sevens - a summer football competition that has grown into one of the South Coast’s largest and most anticipated community sporting events.Now in its 26th year - and its third year being run independently by Jamberoo Football Club - the tournament will feature close to 90 teams across men’s and women’s competitions, drawing players from across NSW and beyond.Jamberoo Football Club president Alan Smith believes the event’s continued growth reflects both its timing and its unique sense of community.“We deliberately schedule it for the end of the school holidays, before the winter season starts,” he said. “It’s a marker for pre-season - a chance to get the band back together, have a weekend away with mates, play some football and have a bit of fun.”While the competition has a long history - Smith is clear that Jamberoo Sevens has always been about more than just football.“This is a community event first and foremost,” he said. “Last year we had around 1,500 people in town with no issues at all. This year we’re expecting close to 2,000. Local cafés, the bakery, the pub - everyone benefits. The whole town gets behind it.”On Saturday alone, more than 130 matches will be played across multiple fields, with age divisions ranging from over-30s to over-55s, alongside rapidly growing women’s competitions.Smith says the women’s divisions, in particular, highlight how far the tournament’s reach has expanded.“At one point we only had two women’s teams,” he said. “This year we’ve got teams coming from the Far North Coast, Central Coast, Canberra, the Far South Coast and the South Coast. That growth has been really exciting to watch.”Despite its size, teams are still encouraged to prioritise participation over results, with flexible squad sizes and a strong emphasis on fair play.“It’s about having fun, not winning at all costs,” Smith said. “If a team’s short a player, lend them one. Everyone’s insured, everyone’s here for a good time.”At the same time the tournament is fully sanctioned by Football Australia, with accredited referees overseeing matches. Smith has also worked with Football South Coast to use the event as a development opportunity for young referees.Another winning team from last years Jamberoo Sevens. Photo: Linda Faiers.“They get exposure to different age groups, men’s and women’s games, and real match situations in a short amount of time,” he said. “It’s a great training ground, and it supports the future of the game.”While the standard of play continues to rise - with returning champions and fiercely competitive divisions - Smith believes the enduring appeal of the Jamberoo Sevens lies in its balance of competition and community.“Some teams come to win, some come for the weekend away, and most come for both,” he said. “That’s what makes it special.”For Smith, the event’s community impact is personal. He first attended the tournament as a player more than 15 years ago, a visit that ultimately led him to move to Jamberoo permanently.“This tournament brought me here,” he said. “Now it’s about giving back - creating something that benefits the club, the town, and everyone who comes through.”The Jamberoo Sevens will start at 8:15pm on Friday and will end at 6pm on Saturday with finals.“It’s noisy, it’s busy, it’s fun,” Smith said. “And that’s exactly how a community event should be.”
