Football Tasmania’s four-year Facilities Strategy to increase grassroots participation

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Football Tasmania Facilities Strategy

Football Tasmania has released a new Facilities Strategy for 2023-2026, as they transition from their 2019-2023 strategic plan.

The Facilities Strategy is an evidence-based strategy, designed to ensure sufficient football facilities are available to cater for unmet demand and support the projected growth of football in Tasmania, from grassroots to elite level.

Football Tasmania is seeking support from all key stakeholders – clubs, associations, state and local government, schools – to address the challenges they face in terms of growing the sport in the state.

Bulkeley stated via media release that while the primary focus of the Facilities Strategy was to support grassroots growth, it was also prepared with the view of future-proofing football in Tasmania for eventual A-League teams of its own.

There are key statistics mentioned in the Facilities Strategy by Football Tasmania that highlight where the current state of football is at as of 2022.

38,068 people participated in football, both indoor or outdoor, across Tasmania, with 13,093 of them registered for outdoor football alone. This is the most highlighted and important statistic that Football Tasmania are trying to rapidly increase in the grassroots game.

More importantly, there was a decent 39.4% increase in participation from 2020 to 2021, proving that the growth of the sport has its foundations in Tasmania and they can build on it.

There is an estimated $1,900 annual economic benefit per participant to the State, with social and health benefits
additional. It’s a system right now that can be hugely successful for the state financially and building upon it with this Facilities Strategy is key.

3,768 women and girls are registered to participate in football in Tasmania in 2023, highlighted due to the importance Football Tasmania are putting on 50:50 participation across both genders and is one of their key pillars in the Facilities Strategy.

3,954 people registered for Futsal and participated in it for the year 2022.

Football Tasmania have set foundations for the plan to ensure it succeeds in improving individual facility development at all three levels of football in the state which include:

  • State
  • Regional hubs
  • Local facilities

The Facilities Strategy is based over three planning periods (horizons), to assist in prioritisation and resources allocation to ensure long-term sustainable outcomes.

Horizon 1 –  The First Half (2023-2024)

This is considered the planning stage before the implementation of their new facilities and will lay the foundation for long-term success. Includes:

  • Facilities Strategy endorsement – including narrative, priorities and resourcing
  • Collecting up-to-date data about grassroots football
  • State & Federal Govt. engagement – incl. State Sport and Recreation Strategy

Horizon 2 – The Second Half (2025-2026)

The second stage that plans to tick boxes and aim to complete the goals set in the Facilities Strategy. Includes:

  • Start and finish work on Regional hubs
  • State facility Master-planning / delivery
  • Football association / club integration model – juniors and seniors

Horizon 3 – Extra Time (2026+)

The future past this Facilities Strategy that will ensure perennial growth of football in Tasmania. Includes:

  • Lobby for Developer Contributions Program
  • Embedded planning for elections across all tiers of government
  • Creating additional Regional hubs

The growth of football participation is vital for Tasmania, and they are expecting a large amount of growth throughout this 4-year period in the strategy.

Football Tasmania CEO Matt Bulkeley confirmed that football is the largest participation team sport in Tasmania, with around 38,000 participants.

“Football in Tasmania is growing across all categories and is expected to continue to grow,” he said via press release.

The currently have 13,093 registered outdoor football participants as of 2022 which is a 5.8% increase from 2020, indicating the growth is subtle but the demand to play the sport is most certainly there.

There is also more of a focus on the women and girls representation in Tasmanian football. Bulkeley explained the importance of improving facilities to keep the participation for women and girls healthy.

“The FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this year will add to that demand, and we want to ensure that participants – particularly women and girls – aren’t turned away due to the lack of suitable facilities,” he added via press release.

Women & Girls participation and demand numbers

  • 3,768 registered outdoor football participants from 2022
  • 6.2% increase in registered participants from 2021
  • 16.5% increase in registered participants over last 4 years
  • 28.8% of total outdoor participants are women and girls with a goal to level this to 50:50 gender participation by 2027

The Facilities Strategy set out by Football Tasmania is in-depth and is a sign that they are positively pushing for suitable facilities that will attract the youth of the state in participating in the sport. Whilst the sport continues to grow, capitalising off the FIFA Women’s World Cup has also been a big talking point in the plan and certainly will help their ambition to grow the women’s game rapidly.

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Two NPL VIC clubs receive funding boost from State Budget

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Image credit: Football Victoria

Following the announcement of the 2026 Victoria State Budget, Avondale FC and Hume City FC will both receive major backing for facility upgrades.

 

Valuable support for future projects

Avondale and Hume City now have immensely valuable financial support for infrastructure and facility upgrade projects.

Avondale will see an injection of $500,000 for lighting developments at its home ground, Avenger Park. Meanwhile, Hume City FC, will receive $250,000 to further improve its home ground, Nasiol Stadium, which opened in 2009.

Both clubs expressed their delight at the funding from the State Labor Government, and what the backing may bring to club facilities and overall development going forward.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Victorian Government and Sheena Watt for their support through this $500,000 lighting upgrade investment, which will have a lasting impact on our players, families and the wider Avondale community,” said Avondale Club President, Stephen Strano.

“We have hundreds of players across all age groups utilising these facilities each week, and these improvements will help create an even strong environment for excellence, participation, and community engagement,” outlined Hume City President, Ersan Gülüm.

As a result of these respective investments, both NPL VIC outfits appear set for incredibly opportunities to modernise, develop and strengthen their club infrastructure.

 

Lighting the path to a brighter future

The investments will see features such as lighting upgrades improve facility access for men’s and women’s teams, and LED scoreboards become part of a more modern matchday experiences going forward.

For both clubs, however, lighting upgrades are about more than keeping a pitch open late at night. Improved lighting is a means to a more accessible and supportive future in which both the men’s and women’s teams can utliise local facilities, and matchdays can take place in the excitement of playing ‘under the lights’.

And as Football Victoria CEO, Dan Birrell, highlighted, the improvements made to club facilities are benchmarks for the wider Victorian football community.

“Both Avondale and Hume City are pillars in the Victorian football landscape,” Birrell stated via press release.

“Professional level facilities like Avenger Park and Nasiol Stadium are critical for the development of Victorian football and Football Victoria welcomes the news that they will continue to improve thanks to the support of the Victorian State Government.”

 

More must follow

While the investments from the State Government come as welcome updates for these two clubs, there is still plenty more to be done to evenly develop facilities and infrastructure across Victoria’s football landscape.

Indeed, Avondale FC and Hume City FC are two fantastic community clubs who will no doubt put the funding towards impactful improvements.

But there are plenty more who still need external backing to build infrastructure not just for now, but for future seasons to come.

Football Community Supports Ange Goutzioulis Following MND Diagnosis

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Image Credit: One Nil Media

At just 52 years old, former National Soccer League player Ange Goutzioulis stood in front of a packed room at the Chisholm United launch night in Oakleigh and spoke about something no one ever expects to hear: a diagnosis of Motor Neuron Disease.

But rather than retreat into silence, Goutzioulis chose to speak openly. He spoke not just about the disease itself, but about the reality of living with it, the uncertainty ahead and why awareness matters more than ever.

 

Early stages

For years, football was part of Goutzioulis’ identity. Coaching, movement and routine were all things that once felt natural. Then slowly, something changed.

“I couldn’t even stand properly… I was losing my balance,” he explained.

At first, the signs were confusing rather than alarming. A couple of falls. Difficulty moving. Hospital visits and tests.

“They said, ‘You haven’t got cancer, you haven’t got MS and you haven’t got MND,’” he recalled.

But the symptoms continued worsening. Eventually, further neurological testing revealed the diagnosis: Motor Neuron Disease (MND).

The confirmation came quickly.

“They called it after two or three minutes… they saw the machines and basically said, ‘Yeah, you’ve got MND.’”

The shock was immediate.

So too was the reality.

 

Understanding Motor Neuron Disease

Motor Neuron Disease is a progressive neurological condition that attacks the nerves controlling movement, gradually taking away the ability to walk, speak, swallow and eventually breathe.

There is currently no cure.

For many Australians, awareness of MND remains limited until it touches someone close to them. Goutzioulis now finds himself confronting not only the physical decline, but the emotional weight of understanding what lies ahead.

“There’s no way to stop it… it’s going to kill me,” he said honestly.

Even breakthrough treatments tomorrow, he acknowledged, may come too late for him personally.

Yet despite the enormity of that reality, his focus has already shifted beyond himself.

 

Fighting for awareness while fighting the disease

What stood out throughout the evening was not despair, but resilience.

Goutzioulis spoke candidly about refusing to surrender mentally to the disease. Against medical advice centred around conserving energy and managing fatigue, he continues trying to stay active.

“I keep walking,” he said.

“I’ve got a theory in life that if you work out and keep moving, maybe [your] muscles won’t waste away as quick.”

Whether medically proven or not, the mentality reflects something deeper: a refusal to let MND define every remaining moment.

There was also optimism in the small victories.

Doctors believe he may have already been living with the disease for three years — longer than expected given his current condition.

“That’s a positive,” he said. “So, I’ll take it day by day.”

Image Credit: One Nil Media

Football’s power beyond the pitch

The event itself quickly transformed from a club launch into something more profound: a reminder of football’s ability to rally around people during their hardest moments.

As speakers addressed the room, one message became clear — Goutzioulis is not facing this battle alone.

“There’s probably 100 people here,” said Bill Kosmopoulos, who was hosting the discussion,

“I guarantee there’s 100 people cheering for you, 100 people that would do anything to find a solution for MND.”

In community football, conversations are usually dominated by results, signings, tactics and ambition. But nights like this reveal another side of the game entirely.

Connection.

Humanity.

Support.

By speaking publicly, Goutzioulis gave a deeply confronting disease a human face. Not statistics. Not headlines. A person. A father. A football figure. Someone trying to process what it means to slowly lose control of their own body while still showing up for the people around them.

That vulnerability is precisely why awareness matters.

Because awareness drives conversation.

Conversation drives funding.

And funding drives research that could one day change outcomes for future families facing the same diagnosis.

Image Credit: One Nil Media

“We’re behind you”

As the night closed, the room rose behind him.

Showing admiration for someone willing to confront unimaginable news publicly in the hope it helps others understand the devastating reality of MND.

“On behalf of everyone… thank you so much mate,” one speaker told him.

“We’re behind you.”

Support and raising awareness for the disease is what matters.

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