Epping Eastwood Tigers FC commemorate 70 years since formation

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Epping Eastwood
Image provided by Football NSW

This past weekend saw North West Sydney Football Association side Epping Eastwood ‘Tigers’ FC celebrate 70 years since their formation.

Over a hundred local football players past and present gathered in Parramatta on Saturday to commemorate what was the birth of community football in the district.

Football legends Robbie Slater and Leigh Wardell were joined by Federal Member of Bennelong Jerome Laxale and Lord Mayor of Parramatta Donna Davis, and Karen Waud from North West Sydney Football Association, to mark the occasion.

Epping Eastwood Tigers FC Club President Chris Salmon said 70 years on from the first ever games being played locally, the legacy of the Tigers remained about bringing people together, creating a sense of community and enjoying the great game of football.

“As one of the founding Clubs in Sydney’s North West it is an honor to still be growing men’s and women’s football and testament to the hundreds of volunteers who keep community sport alive,” Salmon said in a statement.

“We are the Family Club and very proud to have introduced thousands of kids to the great game of football over this time, many still playing for the Club 10, 20, 30 and even 40 years later. We want to still be doing this another 70 years from now.

“The next 20 years will be focused on growing women’s football back to where it was in the 1980’s when the Tigers were the first Club in the district to introduce women’s teams.

“Being recognised as one of the Legacy 23 Clubs in North West Sydney Football was a great privilege for the club and we are proud to be an active force in growing women’s football and meeting the needs of a changing demographic.”

The Special Guest speeches were a highlight of the night including an animated entertaining guest spot by Robbie Slater and supportive words from ex-President Ian Kendall, the Mayor and attending local member – as well as a special video message from NSW Premier and Local MP Dominic Perrottet.

The night celebrated both the important milestone and a season of football post-COVID. A number of 20 Year Service Medals were awarded during the night as well as a Life Member acknowledgment and perpetual trophies.

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SBS expands Australian Championship broadcast coverage for 2026

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Image Credits: Football Australia

The Australian Championship will enter its second season with an expanded broadcast partnership between Football Australia and SBS. The 2026 competition will feature two live SBS broadcasts in every round, marking an increase from the tournament’s debut season.

Thursday night football will form a key part of the new broadcast schedule. The opening match will see Preston Lions face Wollongong Wolves on October 15th, with the game broadcast live on SBS2 and SBS On Demand. Saturday football will also remain part of the free-to-air schedule; first up, Sutherland Sharks’ clash with South Melbourne on October 17th will be shown live on SBS and SBS On Demand.

The expanded agreement gives the competition a greater presence across SBS’s linear channels while retaining its full streaming coverage, with every match across the 2026 Australian Championship available live on SBS On Demand. The platform also provides full replays and highlights for viewers to access at their discretion.

In addition to SBS’ coverage, Football Australia will also stream the competition via YouTube.

The Australian Championship consists of a six-round group stage, finals beginning at quarter-finals from November 26, and a Grand Final scheduled currently between December 10-12.

It features 16 clubs from seven states and territories. The broadcast schedule places several historic fixtures in front of a national audience: South Melbourne will meet Sydney United 58 in a repeat of the 1999 NSL Grand Final, and Sydney Olympic and Marconi Stallions will also renew a rivalry that includes NSL Grand Final meetings in 1989 and 1990.

GIS Sydney continues to connect students with Australia’s sports industry

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Image Credits: Global Institute of Sport

Following the launch of its Sydney campus in 2025, the Global Institute of Sport (GIS) is continuing to establish itself in the nation’s sports industry. A leading provider of degrees and executive education in sport, GIS provides students the chance to study at two of Australia’s biggest sporting venues: Allianz Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Programs such as Sports Analytics and International Sports Business are delivered in collaboration with the University of Newcastle, and feature the chance for students to gain exclusive access to the sports industry.

More than 50 guest speakers have shared their experience with students studying at GIS Sydney, representing organisations like FIFA, Red Bull, Cricket Australia, and the AFL. While learning about the regional and national sports industry in the classroom, students have also had the chance to gain an international perspective through GIS’ signature Global Sports Summits, which have given Sydney students access to iconic sporting venues around the world from London to Miami.

Outside of the iconic venues students can call their classrooms, the organisation prioritises the real, industry placements needed to put theory into practice by providing each student with 140 hours of relevant work experience throughout their studies. Included in this are several sporting organisations who are keen to welcome GIS students on board, including the Professional Football Scouts Association (PFSA), Football Coaches Australia, and Basketball NSW.

GIS also has a partnership with popular network and app Yakka Sport to connect students with paid employment opportunities while they study.

Behind these advancements at the GIS Sydney campus is an Industry Advisory Board which features a host of experienced figures from the world of sport. Included in the Asia-Pacific branch is Chair James Rosengarten, GM of the Melbourne Renegades; Kevin Jang, Managing Director of CAA Stellar Korea; and Brad Lloyd, GM of the Carlton Football Club.

Since launching, GIS’ Sydney campus has ultimately combined its locations and industry connections to provide the next generation of sports professionals with the knowledge, network, and confidence to tackle the rapidly evolving sports industry.

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