Women’s football reinforced by 118 new community grants

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Image Credit: Football Australia Website

Football Australia has celebrated the latest round of the Growing Football Fund Community Grants, with 118 clubs and associations awarded up to $5000 to support women’s football programs. 

In conjunction with the Commonwealth Bank, the latest grants from Football Australia built upon the first round of the program from March 2024 that saw 121 clubs and associations rewarded with grants.

The grants aim to strengthen women’s football through number of initiatives:

  • Assisting the development of female coaches by subsiding coach training programs
  • Assisting the hosting of ‘come and try’ days and participation programs
  • Assisting health and training workshops for women and girls
  • Assisting the allocation of professional female fitting uniforms

Through the program, Football Australia also illustrated its desire to bolster rural women’s sport by providing 38% of the grants to organisations from regional areas.

Football Australia General Manager of Women’s Football, Carlee Millikin, explained the impact the grants would have on community women’s football.

“We are thrilled to see the clubs and associations that have been awarded the grants demonstrating a strong commitment to long-term investment in women and girls’ football within their communities that goes beyond the financial,” she said in a press release.

“It means the Growing Football Fund can play its role to help supercharge their ambitions that result in positive outcomes for female participants. The wide breadth of projects is exciting, as it shows a deepening understanding of what is required to develop inclusive and safe environments.

“In partnership with CommBank, we have already seen great results from the round one clubs delivery of initiatives and look forward to witnessing how the latest cohort creates a lasting impact through their programs.”

CommBank’s General Manager of Brand, Sponsorship and Content, Di Everett, expressed their pride to sponsor the grants.

“We are so proud of what this fund has achieved so far, and congratulate the recipients of the Round Two grants,” she said via press release.

“We are passionate about making community sport more accessible for all. These grants have enabled clubs across the country to assist coaches through training opportunities and support local families through an expansion of programs to drive participation for young women.”

The clubs awarded with grants from Round Two of the program are listed below via member federation:

Capital Football 

  • BellaMonaro Women’s Football Club
  • Belsouth Football Club
  • Canberra Juventus Football Club
  • Canberra White Eagles Football Club
  • Tigers FC
  • Tuggeranong United Football Club

Football NSW

  • AC United Football Club
  • All Saints West Oatley Soccer Club
  • Ashfield Pirates FC
  • Austral Soccer Club
  • Balgownie Junior Football Club
  • Box Hill Rangers AFC
  • Collaroy Cromer Strikers Football Club
  • Colo Soccer Football Club
  • Enfield Rovers Football Club
  • Fairfield Bulls Football Club Inc.
  • Figtree Football Club
  • Football Canterbury Association
  • Forest Rangers Football Club
  • Future Leaders Australia Football Club Incorporated
  • Gordon Football Club
  • Gosford City Football Club
  • Leichhardt Saints Football Club
  • Leppington Lions Soccer Club
  • Lindfield Football Club
  • Millthorpe Junior Soccer Club Inc
  • Narooma Football Club
  • Narromine Soccer Club
  • North Epping Rangers Sports Club
  • North Turramurra
  • North West Sydney Football Association
  • Pennant Hills Football Club
  • Pitt Town Football Club
  • Ropes Crossing Strikers Football Club
  • Russell Lea Women’s Soccer Club
  • Sydney Uni Soccer Football Club
  • Wagga United Football Club
  • Warradale FC
  • West Griffith Soccer Club

Northern NSW Football 

  • Charlestown Azzurri FC
  • Coffs City United Football Club
  • Cooks Hill United Football Club
  • Corindi Red Rock Sports Association (Football Club)
  • Great Lakes United Football Club
  • Inverell Football Club
  • Moore Creek Football Club Inc
  • Norths United Football Club Incorporated
  • Old Bar Barbarians Football Club
  • Shores United Soccer Club

Football VIC

  • Barwon Heads Soccer Club
  • Bayside Argonauts Football Club
  • Berwick City Soccer Club
  • Boroondara Eagles Football Club Inc
  • Craigieburn city Fc
  • Croydon City Soccer Club Inc.
  • Darebin Women’s Sports Club
  • Daylesford & Hepburn United Soccer Club
  • Deakin Ducks Fc
  • Drysdale Soccer Club
  • Fitzroy Lions Soccer Club
  • Footscray United Rangers Football Club
  • Gippsland United Football Club
  • Glen Eira FC Football VIC
  • Keilor Park Soccer Club
  • Leongatha Knights Football Club
  • Middle Park Football Club
  • Officer City Football Club Incorporated
  • PEGS Soccer Club Football VIC
  • Phillip Island Breakers Soccer Club
  • Spring Hills FC
  • Swan Hill Soccer League
  • Traralgon Olympians Soccer Club
  • Truganina Lions Soccer Club

Football QLD

  • Annerley Recreation Club
  • Bluebirds United Football Club Inc
  • Brighton District Soccer Club Inc
  • Burdekin Football Club Inc
  • Centary Stormers FC
  • Dayboro and Districrs Football Club
  • Gold Coast Knights Football Club
  • Holland Park Hawks Football Club
  • Logan Village Falcons All Sports
  • Mackay Wanderers Football Club
  • Moreton City Excelsior FC
  • Rebels Football Club
  • Redlands United Football Club
  • The Gap Football Club
  • Townsville Warriors Football Club Inc
  • Woombye Snakes Football Club Inc

Football SA

  • Adelaide Ateltico
  • Adelaide Jaguars Football Club Incorporated
  • Campbelltown City Soccer and Social Club
  • Flinders United Women’s Football Club
  • Mount Barker United Soccer Club
  • Sacred Heart Old Collegians Soccer Club
  • South Adelaide Panthers FC
  • Sturt Lions Football Club Incorporated
  • The Pulteney Old Scholars Soccer Club Incorporated

Football West 

  • Baldivis Districts Sporting Club Incorporated
  • Country Coastal Junior Soccer Association
  • Esperance Soccer association
  • Forrestfield United Football Club
  • Karratha Glory Soccer Club
  • Kingsley Westside Football Club
  • Perth Atheletic FC
  • Twin City Saints Soccer Club
  • Westnam United Soccer Club

Football TAS

  • Clarence Zebras Football Club
  • Hobart City Football Clug
  • Launceston United Soccer Club
  • North Launceston Eagles Soccer Club
  • South Hobart Football Club
  • Woodbridge Football Club

Football NT

  • Darwin Olympic Sporting Club
  • Litchfield Football Club
  • Palmerston Rovers Football Club Incorporated
  • Stormbirds
  • Verdi Football Club

For more information on the grants, click HERE.

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Beyond Old Trafford: How Manchester United’s new stadium could reshape an entire district

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Image Credit: Manchester United

Manchester United’s proposed new 100,000-seat stadium is more than a replacement for Old Trafford.

It’s the centrepiece of one of the most ambitious urban regeneration projects ever planned by a football club.

Unveiled in March by architects Foster + Partners, the concept would see a new stadium built adjacent to Old Trafford, just 350 metres from the existing ground.

Supported by Trafford Council, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Old Trafford Regeneration Mayoral Development Corporation the proposed development aims to transform the area surrounding the stadium into a thriving mixed-use precinct featuring housing, commercial space, public transport improvements and new public amenities.

While the stadium dominated headlines, the broader vision is about much more than just football.

Once complete, the new venue would become the largest club football stadium in the UK, increasing capacity from around 74,000 to 100,000 spectators.

 

More than just a stadium

However, the stadium is only one piece of a much larger plan.

Foster + Partners vision includes new homes, offices, hotels, retail and hospitality spaces, green public areas and improved pedestrian links.

They believe this “mixed-use” destination will attract visitors throughout the year and create a “vibrant destination” for tourists and visitors from across the world.

The proposal also places a strong emphasis on sustainability, with plans for a walkable precinct supported by public transport, rainwater harvesting and renewable energy technologies integrated into the stadium’s distinctive canopy design.

 

A major economic opportunity

The broader regeneration has been positioned as a major economic opportunity for Greater Manchester.

An independent study conducted by Oxford Economics found that the stadium and regeneration project could contribute approximately $15 billion to the UK economy.

In addition, the project would also support around 92,000 jobs while creating more than 17,000 new homes and attracting an additional 1.8 million visitors yearly.

Those figures remain projections rather than guaranteed outcomes, but they have become central to the club’s case for the redevelopment.

 

Connecting United to a Wider European Trend

A key component of the proposal is improving transport connections around Old Trafford

The British Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the project as significant opportunity for the region, with investment in rail, Metrolink and surrounding infrastructure viewed as essential to unlocking the wider regeneration potential.

The plan also includes greater pedestrian accessibility, to integrate the stadium district with surrounding communities.

Manchester United’s proposal reflects a broader trend across Europe football.

Stadium developments are increasingly viewed as catalysts for urban renewal and economic development, rather than standalone sporting venues.

Projects such as Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Everton’s new waterfront home and Real Madrid’s redevelopment of the Bernabeu have demonstrated how modern stadiums can generate revenue through hospitality, entertainment and commercial activity beyond football.

 

Transforming Old Trafford

Despite support for the proposal, significant hurdles remain before construction can begin.

Funding arrangements, planning approvals and major infrastructure upgrades will all need to be finalised before construction can begin.

If delivered, the project would represent one of the largest football-led regeneration projects ever undertaken in the UK.

The project would transform not only where Manchester United plays, but how the wider Old Trafford district lives, works and grows.

Football Has the Audience. Does It Have the Commercial Strategy?

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Image Credit: One Nil Media

Soccerscene has launched Survey 4: Commercial Confidence in Football, calling on clubs, sponsors, governing bodies, commercial leaders and football industry professionals to assess whether the game is making the most of its enormous commercial potential.

Football has the audience, participation base and community reach to be one of Australia’s most powerful commercial platforms. But does the industry have the commercial strategy, professionalism and infrastructure required to turn that potential into sustainable growth?

That is the question at the centre of Soccerscene’s latest industry research.

The survey examines how attractive grassroots football is to potential commercial partners, what industry professionals believe is limiting football’s commercial potential, and whether clubs are presenting themselves professionally enough to sponsors.

It also explores what sponsors value most when engaging with football – from community reach and participation scale to brand alignment, values and purpose – as well as whether improved facilities could directly contribute to stronger sponsorship outcomes.

Is football fully capitalising on its commercial opportunity?

Football continues to provide brands with access to highly engaged communities across grassroots, community and elite environments. Yet the commercial landscape remains fragmented, with clubs operating with vastly different levels of resources, capability, governance, media infrastructure and commercial expertise.

Soccerscene’s survey is designed to capture the industry’s perspective on where the opportunities exist – and where football may be leaving commercial value on the table.

The research will look specifically at four key areas:

  • Commercial attractiveness – How attractive is grassroots football as a commercial partnership?
  • Commercial barriers – What is holding football back from reaching its full commercial potential?
  • Club professionalism – Are clubs presenting themselves effectively and professionally to sponsors?
  • Sponsor value – What are sponsors really looking for when they invest in football?

The survey also asks whether better facilities would have a direct impact on sponsorship outcomes, highlighting the potential relationship between infrastructure, commercial presentation and investment.

Have your say

Soccerscene is encouraging football clubs, sponsors, commercial professionals, governing bodies, administrators, media professionals and industry stakeholders to participate.

The findings will contribute to Soccerscene’s ongoing program of industry research, designed to provide a clearer picture of the challenges and opportunities facing football and the organisations operating within it.

Take the Survey: Commercial Confidence in Football

Complete the Commercial Confidence in Football Survey here

The survey will close on 30 August 2026 at midnight, with responses received before the deadline included in the final analysis.

Football has the audience. The question is whether it has the commercial strategy to match.

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