Floreat Athena FC unveils modernised club facilities

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Image credit: Floreat Athena FC

Floreat Athena Football Club has officially completed a multi-million-dollar redevelopment, unveiling state-of-the-art changerooms and clubrooms in a landmark moment for one of Western Australia’s most storied football institutions.

This long-awaited redevelopment first took shape back in August 2018, when former WA Senator Peter Georgiou helped secure $3 million in Federal Liberal Government funding kickstarting a project years in the making.

That crucial funding paved the way for a complete transformation of the club’s aging facilities at Litis Stadium, bringing them into a new era.

The State Government also stepped in with $800,000 to upgrade the lighting, helping bring the venue up to modern standards for both training and match days. Meanwhile, the City of Vincent is supporting the next phase by reinstating perimeter fencing which is part of preparations to ensure Litis Stadium is ready to serve as a key training base for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2026.

Former President Con Poulios played a key role in bringing the project to life, dedicating countless volunteer hours over several years to help turn the vision into reality.

Club President Sam Albanis said the redevelopment marks a big step forward not just for Floreat Athena, but for the wider sporting community as well.

“This project has been years in the making, and today we proudly stand in a space that honours the legacy of our club while embracing the future of football in Western Australia,” he said via Club Statement.

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to former Senator Peter Georgiou for his advocacy in securing the Federal funding, and to the State Government and City of Vincent for their critical support. I also want to acknowledge the incredible voluntary contribution of former President Con Poulios, who acted as project coordinator and committed countless hours to see this project through.”

The revamped changerooms now feature gender-inclusive facilities, improved medical and physiotherapy spaces, modern lockers, and better accessibility, creating a welcoming and supportive environment for every athlete.

This redevelopment fits perfectly with the club’s bigger goal of becoming a hub of excellence and a proud host venue for major events like the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2026.

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More than 220 coaches attend Football South Australia’s second NOVA Youth Club Championship workshop

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Football South Australia drew more than 220 coaches to its second NOVA Youth Club Championship Coaches Workshop in late May, underlining the scale of engagement clubs are generating through the state’s restructured youth competition framework.

The online session was facilitated by Football SA Technical Director Michael Cooper, who also serves as Junior Matildas Head Coach. Cooper shared observations from the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup and Australia’s qualification for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, giving club-level coaches a window into the demands and standards of elite international football.

The presenter line-up extended that international lens further. Lachlan Tosh and Cristiano Dos Santos spoke to their experiences in national tournament environments, while legendary Australian coach Tom Sermanni addressed the fundamentals of youth coaching. Colin Sanctuary from the University of Newcastle examined coaching language and its direct influence on player learning.

Themes running across the session included the primacy of long-term player development over short-term results, with presenters consistently emphasising technique, ball mastery, individual improvement, and decision-making under pressure. Coaches were encouraged to expose players to varied styles of play, facilitate practice outside organised training, and help young players retain possession longer in match conditions.

Post-session feedback pointed to strong practical value, with coaches singling out clear communication, relationship-building, and age-appropriate feedback as key takeaways.

The workshop series sits within the broader transition from the Youth Premier League to the Club Championship model, which ties coaching participation to championship points for clubs and CPD credits toward individual coaching diplomas. Six workshops are scheduled across the season, with four still to come.

Premier League backs grassroots football in Singapore

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Image credit: Premier League

The NEXTGEN coach programme saw past legends and current coaches unite to deliver an activity intent on supporting grassroots football through high quality and inclusive coaching.

 

Creating new leaders

To reach the top in elite football requires tactical education, personal guidance and consistent support throughout the development journey.

Coaches therefore take on a great deal of responsibility for players seeking a top-flight dream.

Yet even for those who never make it to the top, there is always one coach who stands out. Not necessarily for the silverware achieved or results on the pitch, but for the way they helped build a person off the pitch to play better on it.

The Premier League’s NEXTGEN Coach programme in Singapore aims to equip coaches with the skills and knowledge to do exactly that: creating welcoming environments which nurture confidence and a love for the game.

“This will hugely benefit local coaches, providing them with expert training and skills that will cascade into the communities they coach in,” said Premier League Director of Community, Nick Perchard, via media release.

“After opening the League’s first international office in Singapore more than seven years ago, we are now building on our commitment to the country with a structured coach development programme.”

 

What does the programme include?

The programme initially saw Premier League coaches deliver training sessions to coaches from StarHub – the League’s broadcast partner in Singapore who engage with local community football.

Furthermore, the training was consolidated through stakeholder engagement events and talks from 150 students at the Institute of Technical Education about their careers in the game.

In total, the programme saw 30 coaches take part – all from diverse backgrounds selected by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to maximise community reach and positively impact as many young individuals as possible.

“Youth development is a key priority for FAS, and it starts at the grassroots level,” explained FAS General Secretary, Badri Ghent via media release.

“Coaches play a central role in shaping not just how young players learn the game, but how they experience it, building confidence, character and a lifelong connection to football.”

Through high quality programmes like NEXTGEN, grassroots football can grow to ensure future coaches and players are confident in themselves and their future roles in the game.

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