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STATISTICS have revealed that football is rising in popularity in the Southern Branch region.
Figures released by Football NSW highlight increased participation numbers in the branch.
Southern Branch covers the Highlands, Far South Coast, Shoalhaven, Southern Tablelands and Eurobodalla associations.
In a boon for the local area, four Highlands clubs feature in the top 20 list for player participation in the branch.
Bowral has 296 registered players in 2015 and sits in seventh spot for the region. Moss Vale has more than 260 footballers on its books, Yerrinbool-Bargo has 211, Robertson/Burrawang boasts 189 players and Hill Top has 176.
The Southern Branch has enjoyed a 3.64 per cent increase in total player registrations compared to last year.
These figures include a slight 1.31 per cent rise of new players to football. Across NSW, there has been a 6.9 per cent growth in community playing numbers compared to 2014.
Player numbers could soar again on the back of the Australian Matildas' success at the FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada.
The Matildas was pipped by one goal by a strong Japanese outfit in a quarter-final on Saturday.
However, football in the Southern Branch continues to be dominated by men.
The region's playing numbers are made up by more than 70 per cent of male footballers.
But Highlands Soccer Association technical director Nick D'Amore said there had been an increase in the HSA in the past four years. D'Amore said one of the factors had been Australia's women performing well at the World Cup during that period.
"We've seen increased numbers and an increase in the quality of women's football around here."