Football Victoria releases History and Heritage website

Staff Writer
Football Victoria
Image via Football Victoria

Football Victoria has released its dedicated History and Heritage website, comprising more than 100 pages of content that explores various aspects of the game over 140 years.

After 15 months of planning, design and research, the FV History and Heritage website brings together many of the stories that have laid the foundations of the game and honours the legacy of the pioneers that have achieved much over decorated and distinguished careers.

The FV History and Heritage website includes nine distinct sections:

  • History and Heritage News – Summary news feed.
  • FV Historical Committee – profiles on the current members of the Historical Committee, which has played a vital role in protecting football’s legacy in Victoria.
  • The Story of Football in Victoria – an abbreviated history of the game authored by esteemed historians Roy Hay and Ian Syson. Originally published in 2009, it has been updated and is now available for the first time in digital form.
  • Hall of Fame – detailed biographies on all 28 inductees to Football Victoria’s prestigious Hall of Fame.
  • Life Membership – short biographies on over 200 Life Members honoured by Football Victoria and its historical predecessor bodies.
  • Representative Teams – records for Football Victoria’s Senior Men’s and Women’s representative teams, including detailed match line-ups for stand-alone matches and full squads for national championship teams.
  • League and Cup Honours – the complete honour roll for the NPLM, NPLW, Dockerty Cup and Nike FC Cup, incorporating records dating back to 1909 and summaries of each competition.
  • Personal Honours – a comprehensive honour roll for Football Victoria’s top-flight personal honours, along with several historically significant awards.
  • FV Football History on Facebook – a link to Victoria’s Football History, a public group dedicated to sharing the game’s history with the football community.

The FV History and Heritage website was driven by historian John Punshon. Without official records, he took it upon himself to research the history of football in Victoria during the 1990s, spending thousands of hours at the State Library of Victoria trawling through local newspapers.

His efforts over a quarter of a century have brought a rich depth to the game’s statistical records, and he was formally recognised for his work earlier this year when honoured with Life Membership.

Football Victoria History and Heritage Coordinator, Tony Persoglia, is pleased these records are now available via one dedicated website.

“There have been various independent websites which have showcased these records in some form or another, but they have not always been easy to find and can be difficult to navigate,” he said via press release.

“Bringing together the work of some of our most dedicated historians such as John Punshon and Mark Boric, has enabled us to share a rich tapestry of our history with the broader football community.”

The History and Hertiage can be viewed here.

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Football NSW calls on clubs to Make It Red for Heart Health Round

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Football NSW is calling on clubs and associations across the state to register for the 2026 Make It Red campaign, joining a national awareness movement aimed at reducing heart-related deaths on sporting grounds ahead of Heart Health Round on the weekend of June 5 to 7.

The campaign, developed by the Heartbeat of Football Foundation, asks sporting clubs to wear red, raise funds and build awareness around heart disease and sudden cardiac arrest, which is the leading single cause of disease burden and death in Australia for both men and women, and one that health authorities say is largely preventable through modifiable risk factors.

The call to action comes as the Foundation continues its work to map and register Automated External Defibrillators across NSW sporting facilities, a project that has already engaged twelve football associations and fed data into both the NSW Ambulance GoodSAM registry and NSW Health’s public AED map. The availability of a functioning, registered AED on site is among the most significant determinants of survival following sudden cardiac arrest, with survival rates declining sharply for every minute without defibrillation.

Football NSW is encouraging clubs to engage with the campaign across three areas. Clubs can register for the Make It Red campaign to help fund research, education and prevention programs. Participants, particularly those aged over 35, are encouraged to seek a free heart health screening test from their local GP or enquire about hosting a Heartbeat of Football testing day. Clubs are also urged to ensure their grounds have active, accessible AEDs in place, with guidance available through Football NSW’s Rescue Ready Guide.

The Make It Red campaign runs from June 5 to July 12, with Heart Health Round taking place across the opening weekend. Clubs can register and access participation resources at makeitred.org.

Community Spirit Shines on AFC Grassroots Football Day 2026

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Image credit: Football Australia

This week, Football Australia (FA) celebrated AFC Grassroots Football Day 2026, championing the people and communities who continue to hold up a safe, inclusive and supportive environment in the football landscape.

‘For all, for life’

In collaboration with Football NSW, Canterbury Football Association and community club, Balmain & District Football Club, the day reflected the very best of what football provides.

The event brought in participants of all ages – from 4-74 years-old – and reached a total of 400 people. Girls-only programs, all-abilities sessions and over-age football ensured all were catered for.

Such a diverse range of participants builds on a wider drive during FIFA World Football Week, which seeks to promote the sport not just as the dazzling lights of 100,000-seater stadiums, but as a way to foster community spirit and social development.

Furthermore, FA support through its Club Changer program was a welcome addition to the action, emphasising the organisation’s commitment to nurture a real love for the game across communities in Australia.

“Through Club Changer we support our clubs to provide a safe, fun and enjoyable environment where everyone is welcome; whether that be as a player, volunteer, referee or supporter,” explained National Program Manager Club Development at FA, Grace Lambourne.

“Everyone should feel they belong and are welcome to play, stay, and love the game.”

 

A welcome celebration

While the upcoming FIFA World Cup will no doubt inspire millions of future Socceroos and Matildas, events like the AFC Grassroots Football Day represent something beyond just inspiration.

It is a platform. An opportunity to express a love for football and to connect with others while doing so.

And connections between the professional and grassroots game is more important than ever if Australia is to nurture the next generation of talent.

This is particularly clear in the rise of women’s football across the nation. Since the FIFA Women’s World Cup, female participation rose by 32%, and registrations for the MiniTillies Program skyrocketed from 264 in 2023, to 1223 in 2024.

The professionals spark passion. But communities turn that passion into playing time.

That is why celebrating grassroots football – and the volunteers and families who sustain it – is a vital part of Australia’s football future. Together, FA and the AFC are creating strong foundations built on positivity, engagement, and inclusivity for all with a love for the beautiful game.

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