Mitre confirmed as Official Match Ball Partner for the A-Leagues

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Image supplied by Australian Professional Leagues

The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has announced Mitre as the A-Leagues’ new Official Match Ball Partner for the next three seasons, switching over from Nike. 

Mitre, an English sports equipment manufacturer based in Wakefield, has a leading brand with a storied history dating back to 1817. With over 200 years of experience in the game, Mitre has continually delivered high-performance footballs to major leagues and tournaments around the world.

The brand has served as the official ball supplier for many competitions including the English Football Association, the FA Cup, the Australia Cup, and the Australia National Soccer League. 

The new partnership will see Mitre and the A-Leagues launch the official design of the match ball for the 2024/25 season, along with special edition match balls planned for the season. Also, there will be an A-League Final series match ball for both the A-League Men’s and Women’s competitions.

For this upcoming season, Mitre will introduce the Ultimax Pro as the official match ball of the A-Leagues. The Ultimax Pro is an iconic and much-loved Mitre football, that utilises contemporary modern styling with cutting-edge football technology to deliver exceptional performance.

A-Leagues Chief Commercial Officer Ned Negus commented on Mitre being welcomed as Official Match Ball Partner:

“Mitre is such a historic brand with strong football credibility, so they’re the perfect partner to deliver our official Isuzu UTE A-League Men and Liberty A-League Women match balls,” he said in a media statement on the A-Leagues website. 

“At a time when A-Leagues is putting football and fans first, Mitre is best placed to deliver a uniquely designed range of Ultimax Pro official match balls and a broad retail range offering more fans the opportunity to engage with A-Leagues and football.”

Mitre Brand Director, Simon Rowe, expressed his excitement about the three-year partnership and Mitre’s contribution to the A-Leagues:

“We’re thrilled to kick off our partnership with the Australian Professional Leagues. Our top-level Mitre Ultimax Pro is the perfect ball for the A-League, built for elite players and delivering ultimate power, accuracy, and on-pitch performance,” he added via A-Leagues website. 

“Globally, Mitre continues to lead the way in ball development and technology. We are excited to partner with the pinnacle of professional football in Australia and New Zealand. Core to our brand values is providing balls for all levels of the game so we’re delighted to offer the supporting replica and training range so all fans and players can play like pros.” 

Mitre Australia’s Gerrard Woods, added about the new partnership:

“We are delighted to support the A-Leagues as they embark on their new season. Our footballs have been tested at the highest levels of the game, and we are confident that they will contribute to the dynamic and engaging football that the A-Leagues are known for,” he said in a statement via the A-Leagues website. 

Mitre will also offer four replica variations inspired by the Ultimax Pro, catering to different skill levels and price points, making footballs accessible for all.

These variations will be launched in late August and will be available at leading sporting retailers around Australia, which will enable fans and players to experience the look and feel of the new ball designs for this upcoming A-Leagues season.

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Central Coast Mariners Women secure future under Holman Barnes Group

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Image Credits: Central Coast Mariners

The future of the Central Coast Mariners Women has been secured after the Holman Barnes Group (HBG) reached an agreement to become the new operator of the club’s A-League Women program. The deal ends uncertainty surrounding the team’s participation in the 2026/27 season.

The agreement between HBG, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) and Total Soccer Growth Holdings (TSG) ensures the Mariners will remain in the Ninja A-League Women competition. It also introduces a new operating model designed to provide long-term stability.

The uncertainty emerged following TSG’s acquisition of the Central Coast Mariners’ men’s side and academy in June. The women’s program was excluded from the original takeover. TSG already owns English football side Queens Park Rangers (QPR) and MLS club Los Angeles FC. The omission placed the future of the 2025 A-League Women champions in doubt. It also prompted the APL to seek a sustainable solution ahead of the new campaign.

A new operating model

Under the new arrangement, HBG will oversee all operational aspects of the women’s team. This includes the football program, staffing and day-to-day management. TSG will retain the club licence and continue overseeing the men’s program and academy. It will also support the women’s operation through its broader football network.

The agreement represents an innovative partnership between the three organisations. It has been designed to strengthen the long-term sustainability of professional women’s football on the Central Coast. HBG’s plans extend beyond the senior team. They include a strong focus on developing participation pathways and creating greater opportunities for female footballers throughout New South Wales.

Attention turns to the new season

The transition comes at a crucial time with preparations for the 2026/27 Ninja A-League Women season underway ahead of its October 16 start. The new operators are expected to begin managing the program immediately. This remains subject to the completion of the remaining regulatory processes. The team currently has no sponsors and games are expected to be moved away from Central Coast Stadium.

The A-League had previously set a July 31 deadline for new owners to be found to secure a place in the upcoming competition. With that now achieved, HBG will be on the clock to ensure the season begins without disruption and becomes a commercial success.

For the Central Coast Mariners Women, the agreement delivers certainty after a turbulent off-season. It also allows the club to shift its attention to the 2026/27 campaign and the team’s on-field performance.

South Melbourne’s Australia Cup triumph reignites promotion and relegation debate

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Image Credit: The Greek Herald

South Melbourne FC’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Adelaide United in the Hahn Australia Cup Round of 32 has reignited debate around promotion and relegation in Australian football, with Co-President Bill Papastergiadis stating the result is further proof that ambitious National Premier Leagues clubs deserve a pathway to the top tier.

The Victorian powerhouse produced one of the competition’s biggest upsets at Lakeside Stadium, overturning an early deficit to eliminate the Isuzu UTE A-League side and secure a place in the Round of 16.

While the result was celebrated as another example of the magic of the Australia Cup, Papastergiadis believes the victory carries a much broader message about the strength that exists outside Australia’s professional league.

Speaking following the win, Papastergiadis said South Melbourne’s performance demonstrated why the Australian football landscape should move towards a connected pyramid featuring promotion and relegation.

“The result was South Melbourne FC’s revenge 22 years in the making,” Papastergiadis said.

“It also demonstrates that clubs in the National Premier Leagues have the quality, professionalism and ambition to compete with A-League opposition when given the opportunity.”

For years, South Melbourne has been one of the strongest advocates for structural reform within Australian football, consistently calling for an open pyramid that rewards sporting merit rather than maintaining a closed league system.

Papastergiadis argued that Australia Cup fixtures continue to showcase the depth of talent throughout the domestic game, with NPL clubs regularly proving they can challenge and defeat professional opponents despite operating with significantly fewer resources.

He believes these performances should not simply be viewed as isolated “cupsets”, but as evidence that Australia’s football ecosystem is ready to embrace a promotion and relegation model that provides ambitious clubs with a genuine pathway to the top flight.

The result against Adelaide United adds another significant chapter to South Melbourne’s storied history. One of Australia’s most successful clubs, South Melbourne has long maintained aspirations of returning to the national stage, backed by a passionate supporter base, strong infrastructure and a proud footballing tradition.

For Papastergiadis, victories such as Thursday night’s reinforce the argument that clubs should earn opportunities through performances on the pitch.

“The Australia Cup continues to show what’s possible when clubs from different levels of the football pyramid compete against one another,” he said.

“Our football should be built on opportunity and merit. Clubs that perform consistently and invest in their communities should have the chance to progress to the highest level.”

South Melbourne will now turn its attention to the Round of 16, where it will look to continue its impressive cup run.

Beyond the result itself, however, the victory has once again fuelled discussion around the future of Australia’s football structure and whether the growing strength of clubs outside the A-League should accelerate the push towards a fully connected national competition.

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