The NTFA unveiled a nine-team competition on Thursday after calling off its season proper early this month.

Dornauf, who led the charge for NTFA clubs wanting to play football in 2020, said the shield would help the league from losing players to other competitions.

"If we didn't have a competition then we were always going to allow [our players] to go to other leagues," he said.

"And when you do allow them to go other leagues there's always a risk that they might not return - they might really enjoy their time and therefore we might lose them and the last thing we want to do in the NTFA is lose ground to any other competition."

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The NTFA shield will begin on July 18 and see the nine clubs play each other once before a two-week finals series.

Dornauf said the competition would provide a great outlet for players, officials, volunteers and community members.

"We wanted to give something back to our community as well, which is one of the main reasons why we were so persistent in this cause, was to give something for someone to build their weekend around," Dornauf said.

"In Deloraine a lot of people build their whole weeks around the ability to go down to the football and catch up with people on a Saturday afternoon - this is a lot more widespread than actually getting out on the park."

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