 In 1971 a Reserve Grade competition was established to give a surplus of senior players a game in the absence of any lower divisions or alternative clubs to the 4 existing Lismore clubs.The inaugural Reserve Grade competition comprised 5 teams; Casino, Eastwood United, Italo Stars, Lismore Thistles B and Lismore Thistles Green.The first Reserve Grade premiers and grand final winners were Lismore Thistles B who defeated Eastwood United 6-2 in the grand final replay after the first grand final was locked at 3-all after extra time.