Brian Bugden marks his 50th year with Lismore Richmond Rovers Football Club and the head coach of the Premier Leagues side, for the fourth time, has plenty of contacts.

As does Rovers' Premier League hands-on coach Luke McQuade and goalkeeper Chris Jones, the club's Vice-President.

Rovers had a most disappointing season in 2020, finishing bottom of the Premier League.

Gone from that side was Jono See, who won Football Far North Coast's Golden Boot in 2018 and was Football far North Coast's Player of the year in 2015, Bobby and Bradley Bugden, Jayden Scutt, Shayne Smith and Jake Nind.

Chris Jones said that all six of the players were back for tomorrow's Tursa Employment & Training ANZAC Day Cup match at Byron Bay.

The club has also brought back seventeen-year-old Oli O'Reilly, who played a major role in Nimbin Headers creating history and winning the First Division Grand Final last season.

Oli O'Reilly, 17, was a stand-out for Nimbin Headers as the side won the Division One Grand Final for the first time.

Darcy Owens, who played for Cardiff City FC in Newcastle, and Joel Hardwick, who played for Northern Tigers in the Football NSW National Premier Leagues NSW Men's 2, have also joined Rovers. Theo Clarke, a student with Trinity Catholic College, and excelled in his first season in Premier League, is also part of the squad.

Theo Clarke is already a joy to watch and he is still at school. Photo: Steve Mackney

"We are using the ANZAC Day Cup to get used to each other again and to bring the new players into what we do," said Jones.

"There is a lot of history between a lot of us and I know we want to do a lot better than last year, which was hard on the club and fans.

"We want to enjoy playing football and hopefully making Rovers a success."

Rovers travel to Byron Bay, who beat South Lismore to win the Grand Final in September last year, in the first round of the ANZAC Day Cup, with a 4.30pm kick off.

Fixtures Round 1

ANZAC Day Cup Premier League

Lismore Thistles 1 Bangalow Bluedogs 3, John Ryan Field, East Lismore;

Maclean Bobcats 1 South Lismore 2, Wherrett Park, Maclean;

Goonellabah v Alstonville, Weston Park, Goonellabah, Sunday, 4:30pm;

Byron Bay v Richmond Rovers, Recreation Grounds, Byron Bay, Sunday, 4:30pm.