Football Australia reveals record participation in 2024

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Image Credit: Football Australia Website

Football Australia has presented the 2024 National Participation Report, revealing record growth for the sport across the country.

The report found that football is in a healthy state in the country, once again being Australia’s most popular sport. With an 11 percent increase in participation from 2023 to 2024, total participation now sits at over 1.9 million active participants.

However, total participation was not the only success uncovered via the report, as a number of key areas saw substantial increases in participation.

Key Findings from the 2024 National Participation Report: 

  • Total Participation: Climbed 11% to 1,911,539 participants.
  • Women and Girls’ Participation: Grew by 16% to 221,436 participants.
  • Registered Coaches: Rose by 19%.
  • Registered Volunteers: Increased by 26%.
  • Outdoor football participation: Increased by 10% to 640,170 participants.
  • Social Football Engagement: Grew by 13% to 174,846 participants.
  • Schools and Community Football Programs Participation: Rose by 13%.
  • Football Australia Sporting Schools Program Participation: Increased by 21% to 158,700 participants.

Football Australia has lauded the hard work of each Member Federation and the role out of key grassroots strategies such as the Club Changer: Club Development Program in attaining these positive outcomes.

Launched in February 2023, and aided by the Australian Sports Commission, the Club Changer initiative has assisted over 1,000 grassroots clubs across Australia. Through providing unique support for each club, the program aimed to develop club operations, increase volunteer numbers and retention, as well as improve women and girls’ participation.

For its efforts, the Club Changer Program won the AFC President’s Recognition Grassroots Award for the second year in a row.

Football Australia CEO, James Johnson, outlined how important initiatives such as Club Changer are for community football.

“The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ inspired a generation, and we are determined to harness that momentum to unite and grow football across the country. Through programs like Club Changer, we are empowering community clubs to deliver quality football experiences while ensuring inclusivity and sustainability remain at the heart of our mission,” he said via press release.

“Our success is a shared achievement with our Member Federations, local associations, grassroots clubs and community volunteers. Programs like the Growing Football Fund supported by CommBank, have provided vital resources to over 200 community clubs, fostering opportunities for women and girls in football and enabling the next generation of coaches, referees and players to thrive.”

One of the core focuses of Football Australia’s grassroots development plans has been on diversity and inclusion. In collaboration with the National Volunteer Focus Group and 28 clubs, Football Australia has developed a series of action plans that strive to increase women and girls’ participation by aiming for 40% women, 40% men and 20% flexible roles’ structure.

Through 2025, Football Australia will continue to support grassroots and community football via valuable programs such as Club Changer and the Growing Football Fund to build off of the immense success of 2024’s participation records.

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Blacktown District Soccer Football Association Launches Youth League and Poaching Program

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Image Credit: Football NSW

Blacktown District Soccer Football Association has outlined a package of initiatives for the 2026 season centred on youth development, coach education and the celebration of female participation, as the Western Sydney association moves to raise standards across community football and strengthen pathways into state-level competition.

The centrepiece of the association’s development agenda is the Blacktown Youth Development League, a new competition structure spanning all youth Division One competitions in the Under-13 to Under-18 age groups, including Phoenix League female competitions involving both BDSFA and GDSFA clubs. The league applies a benchmarking framework adapted from Football NSW‘s junior competition standards, with clubs encouraged to implement structured training environments including a minimum of two sessions per week where possible.

BDSFA General Manager Owen Liiv said the initiative responded to clear demand from within the football community for more substantive development environments.

“It is pretty clear that people want more and better football experiences,” Liiv said. “The measure for us is high-quality youth football competitions within Blacktown and ultimately, stronger performances in state-wide competitions such as the Football NSW State Cup or Football NSW Champion of Champions.”

The referees branch will support the league by prioritising Division One fixtures and providing three-person match control where available, an operational commitment that acknowledges the role officiating quality plays in the overall development environment.

The Managerial Infrastructure

Running alongside the youth competition is a free coach education program, with Foundation of Football courses delivered across BDSFA’s 24 member clubs by permanent association staff. With more than 1,000 registered coaches across the district, BDSFA has set a target of 85 percent achieving Foundation of Football accreditation within three years. Removing cost as a barrier to accreditation is a deliberate structural choice, reflecting growing recognition across Australian football that coaching quality at community level is inseparable from participation outcomes.

The association also launched Female Football Week with a “Cocktails on the Pitch” event at Blacktown Football Park, attended by close to 100 players, coaches, referees, administrators and volunteers. Former Matilda Leah Blayney addressed the gathering, speaking about her pathway from Wentworth Falls to international football. BDSFA has indicated the event is likely to become an annual fixture on the association calendar.

Taken together, the initiatives reflect an association investing deliberately in the structural conditions that determine whether community football grows sustainably rather than opportunistically.

Manchester City open new training centre for Women’s First Team

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Image credit: Manchester City

The training centre opened earlier this week, following years of planning, investment and ambition for Manchester City Women.

State-of-the-art facilities

Recently crowned WSL Champions, Manchester City Women will now be able to train, prepare and recover in a truly special, purpose-built facility.

Covering 17,000 square feet, a world-class gym, strength & conditioning facilities and dressing room, the site will help players  to maximise performances on the pitch.

But given the facilities also received input from players and staff, inspiring added touches like social spaces and recognition for players with over 100 appearances, it is clear that this is a deeply personal project for all involved at Manchester City Women.

As Managing Director of Manchester City Women, Charlotte O’Neill, highlighted, the training centre is a symbol of excellence and ambition.

“This building is about so much more than bricks and mortar,” O’Neill said via press release.

“It is about creating an environment here our players can thrive, where standards are set at the very highest level and where the current squad has everything it needs to continue to compete for and win silverware.”

A winning project, for a winning team. The training centre is sure to propel Manchester City Women to even greater heights in the seasons to come.

 

Continuing investment trends

Furthermore, as the result of an AUD 18.6 million (GBP 10 million) investment and purpose-built for Manchester City Women, it is yet another example of the current strength of WSL investment.

Just a few weeks ago, Brighton & Hove Albion unveiled plans to construct a new venue for its women’s team, delivering on a clear intention to support commercial growth and infrastructure in the women’s game.

But even after winning their first WSL title this season, the message from the board is clear: Manchester City Women are a fundamental part of the club’s long-term vision.

“This new facility marks the next logical step in our long-term commitment to Manchester City Women, and is an important milestone for the club as a whole,” said Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.

“We have always believed in investing to create the right environment for players and staff to develop and succeed. That approach has underpinned every aspect of our work since the professional relaunch of Manchester City Women in 2014.”

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