The club was recently informed of its promotion after undertaking a rigorous interview and application process.

The inclusion of the Saints takes the number of Premier League teams to 10.

This will create an 18 game, home and away season with the bye to be done away with.

Governing body Football Mid North Coast has indicated that any future applications by clubs to join the league will result in the adoption of a relegation/ promotion system to keep the number of teams at the optimum number of 10.

Kempsey Saints were formed in 1971 making them the oldest continuously operating football club in the Macleay Valley, and one of the oldest clubs in any sport.

Until now Kempsey had only one Premier League club, Macleay Valley Rangers, limiting the opportunities for young footballers to play at the highest level.

The Manning and Hastings areas have multiple clubs giving local juniors more opportunities.

The new Saints Premier League team will now provide the same pathway for its own junior players to progress now that the long standing arrangement with the Macleay Valley Rangers to act as a feeder club has been dissolved.

Kempsey Saints FC president Matt Baker is under no illusions about the enormity of the task ahead.

“The club is realistic about how it will perform,” he said.

“We are determined to be competitive in every game, but our first season will be all about putting in place the structure to enable the club to be successful in the future.”

Mr Baker said at the moment there were 11 first grade slots open and waiting to be filled.

“A ‘youth first’ policy will dictate our selection process and any player who thinks they are up the challenge is welcome to contact us,” he said.

The club has also entered into negotiations with Kempsey Shire Council to establish a second Premier League-standard playing field at Eden St.

Rangers home field at Dangar St is currently the only Premier League-standard pitch in the Macleay.

Mr Baker is hopeful that the playing schedule can be organised so that there is one Kempsey team playing at home every week.

“It would great if we could have a Premier League game on every week so people that just love the game and don’t necessarily follow any particular club get the opportunity to go to a match,” he said.

“It is important to us that the fans and the game of football are the winners at the end of the day.”