2021 Annual Report released by Football Queensland

Following the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Sunday, 12 June, Football Queensland has released their 2021 Annual Report.

The state’s governing football body was able to deliver a full season of football across all Queensland competitions in 2021 and reported a 41% growth in female participation, despite having to navigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

FQ’s ongoing focus on referee support and development led to the introduction of a number of new initiatives throughout the year including the appointment of seven Referee Coach and Development Officers state-wide, resulting in significant growth particularly in the number of registered female referees which increased by 55%.

A record number of coach development courses and workshops were also delivered throughout 2021, including 19 new club development sessions, as FQ recorded a 21% increase in registered coaches across the state.

In a letter addressed to the state’s football community, FQ’s Chief Executive Officer Robert Cavallucci acknowledged the efforts and successes of those essential to the growth of the world game in the state.

“I’d like to take the opportunity to thank all members of our Queensland football community for your support throughout 2021,” Cavallucci stated.

“2021 was a particularly significant year for female football as we celebrated the centenary season of the women’s game. FQ was delighted to mark this special milestone with an event at the Gabba on the 100-year anniversary of Australia’s first public women’s match which was held right here in Queensland. The release of Football Queensland’s three-year Women and Girls Strategy titled ‘Unlocking The Legacy’ and the launch of the inaugural Kappa Women’s Super Cup tournament also coincided with centenary season celebrations.

“The year also marked a major milestone in the reform journey as we turned a focus to the implementation of the Future of Football 2020+ reforms following the release of the Recommendations Paper in March. In a momentous day for football in Queensland and representing another step towards the implementation of Football Australia’s ‘One Football’ model, the Future of Football 2020+ constitutional reforms were passed with overwhelming support in August.

“A brand new level of support was delivered to clubs and volunteers across the state in 2021 as we launched the highly regarded and well supported Club Support Hub which provided a single destination for clubs to access tailored guides and accompany webinars, retention and recruitment strategies and graphic design assistance.

“On behalf of Football Queensland I’d like to acknowledge the support of Football Australia and the Local and State Governments throughout 2021, a year which marked the eighth consecutive surplus for the organisation.

“Thank you also to the members of our football community across the entire state who contribute to our beautiful game both on and off the field; I look forward to seeing many of you around the grounds in the months to come.”

The full 2021 Annual Report can be downloaded here.

Image credit: Football Queensland

The 2026 Football Queensland Academy Leagues Club Value Index (CVR) has just been released.

This aggregated metric measures the value for money that each club delivers with respect to their SHIELD weighting and performance output. Over the last five years, the 2026 Football Queensland Academy Leagues Club Value Index has provided valuable insight to parents and stakeholders by offering a transparent, evidence-based, and non-partisan evaluation of which clubs are effectively converting resources into high-quality development programs.

Understanding the Club Rank Score (CRS)

At the heart of the program is the Club’s Rank Score (CRS), which ranks clubs according to a longevity-focused framework. It analyses key criteria, such as opportunities for progression, equity, and safety, producing a merit-based reflection of FQ Academy Club quality. While the CRS reliably examines a club’s overall performance, it does not consider cost-efficiency or gender inequalities.

How the Club Value Ranking Index Improves Analysis

The Club Value Ranking Index fills this gap. Using the CRS as a foundation, the CVR transforms the data by including additional variables such as gender, registration fees, and SHIELD weightings (gold, silver, bronze) to more accurately quantify cost-efficiency. FQ categorises clubs based on their CRS placement:

Gold clubs: 1–10
Silver clubs: 11–24
Bronze clubs: 25–32

The data offers a unique assessment of how clubs perform relative to their SHIELD tier and costs, including performance by gender. This year’s data shows that clubs investing in both male and female player development perform significantly better.

Correlation Between SHIELD Tier and CVR

When transformed, the Club Value Ranking still shows a correlation between SHIELD tier and higher ranking:

Of 10 gold-tier clubs, 7 make the top 10 in the CVR.
Of 8 bronze-tier clubs, 6 are in the bottom 10 in CVR.

As such, the algorithm is particularly relevant to silver-tier clubs, which are dispersed more widely in the CVR.

Outliers and Key Findings

Notable examples include:

Samford Rangers: 21st in CRS → 1st in CVR
Brisbane Strikers: 14th in CRS → last in CVR
Brisbane City: 5th in CRS → 17th in CVR
North Lakes United: 26th in CRS → 10th in CVR

These results highlight clubs that deliver high-quality outcomes relative to their resources, isolating both overperformers and underperformers.

Changes From Last Year

Since last year, 12 more clubs were added. Examples include:

Redlands United: 1st in last year’s CVR → now falls to 27th
Gold Coast Knights: rose from 20th in CVR to 8th in 2025

This demonstrates the CVR’s ability to provide nuanced assessments beyond pure CRS performance.

Implications for Families and Stakeholders

The 2026 Football Queensland Academy Leagues Club Value Index offers a more complete picture of club performance by balancing quality, cost efficiency, and gender-inclusive development. While limitations remain cultural and demographic differences between clubs affect outcomes, the index gives families, coaches, and stakeholders an empirical tool for informed decision-making.

Football Queensland has unveiled its redesigned Club Support Hub, providing enhanced resources and a new Customer Service Booking Portal to assist club administrators and volunteers ahead of the 2026 season. The upgraded hub is designed to streamline support and ensure clubs have the tools they need to operate efficiently.

The Club Support Hub now offers a comprehensive suite of practical resources, covering every stage of the football season – from pre-season planning to post-season wrap-ups. Administrators and volunteers can also book dedicated support directly with FQ’s Customer Service team, making guidance more accessible than ever.

FQ CEO Robert Cavallucci said, “Football Queensland acknowledges that the success of club operations is fuelled by the hard work and dedication of volunteers across the state. We are proud to continue to bolster the support available to them with more resources and more access to FQ Customer Support.”

Building on the original Hub launched in 2021 and FQ’s Future Club+ initiative, the upgrade aims to make volunteer workflows more efficient. Checklists, guides, and direct triaging options ensure clubs receive the right support at the right time, allowing administrators to focus on value-adding activities that enhance the football experience.

To support the rollout, FQ will deliver a series of webinars in the coming months, guiding administrators through the extensive new resources available. “We are excited to continue strengthening the support available to our clubs and volunteers as we reinforce our commitment to improving the experience for every member of our football community,” Cavallucci added.

The upgraded Club Support Hub marks a significant step in Football Queensland’s ongoing efforts to provide a more efficient, club-focused service model, ensuring administrators and volunteers have the tools and guidance they need to succeed.