
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.