“It bewilders me that there is a cost barrier for the best young talent to a national tournament” – FV Interim CEO Dan Birrell on Emerging Soccerroos and football’s cost barrier

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Image Credit: Mark Avellino Photography

In Episode 11 of Soccerscene’s Off the Pitch Podcast, Football Victoria Interim CEO Dan Birrell explores his previous roles in football operations, how the new media team will market the game better in this state and the next steps to ensure more stability in the organisation.

One particular hot talking point was the discussion around the cost barrier of playing football in this state, particularly for young kids.

Birrell spoke about the recent Emerging Socceroos Championships and how the fact each participant had to pay thousands of dollars ‘bewildered’ him.

“I think [this issue] is two-fold. We had the Emerging Socceroos Championships in Bundoora at the Home of the Matildas which came at a cost. This is the best young talent in Australia in u15’s and 16’s, and they had to pay several thousands of dollars to compete,” he said on the podcast.

“I’m thinking as the CEO that it still bewilders me a little bit that there is such a cost implication or a cost barrier to get the best young talent to a national tournament.

“They weren’t staying at The Hilton or The Ritz-Carlton; they were staying at La Trobe University dorms eating dorm food. That lead us to talk with the other CEO’s and Football Australia about the cost to play and the barrier of participation.”

Birrell also spoke about what Football Victoria are doing about clubs who set exorbitant prices for annual paying fees and how to communicate it better.

“The other thing that we do need to do is that there are probably still clubs, because there is no maximum to what you can charge, that we need to hold to account,” he added.

“I don’t mean that in a negative sense, I just mean introducing a value index which I am a big fan of making this happen over the next six months in advance of next year.

“It means having all of our clubs sending through what their registration fees are, publishing those and going ‘well this is what registration fees are for clubs A, B, C and D and what they offer in terms of coaching and what the fees cover. Then it speaks to a different story.”

Football Victoria are assessing the current problem with expensive playing fees and also making sure they give clubs with a low-cost barrier of entry a voice, by highlighting them more through the value index that Dan Birrell mentions.

Click hear the full interview with Dan Birrell, on Episode 11 of Soccerscene’s Off the Pitch Podcast – available on all major podcasting platforms.

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Clublinks Named Venue Operator for New Sports Centre

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Image credit: Built Environs

Venue manager company, Clublinks have been appointed by the Sport and Recreation Victoria as the venue operator of the new Bundha Sports Centre, an indoor sports centre in the heart of Melbourne’s inner north.

The new sports centre will officially open in early 2026, with four competition standard basketball, netball, and volleyball courts, a multi-purpose futsal court, a large gymnasium, cafe and lounge area and other community spaces.

Clublinks will operate the centre in the iconic Fitzroy Gasworks precinct in a long-term agreement, utilising their expertise in maintenance and asset renewal programs as part of the centre’s operation.

Clublinks CEO, Anthony Lawrence stated they are delighted to be given the opportunity to deliver brilliant customer experiences that align with the quality of the Bundha Sports Centre.

‘We are excited to facilitate opportunities for the community to participate in sport, recreation and fitness at this beautiful facility,” he said via press release.

“While Bundha is primarily a sports centre, it will deliver wonderful connection, unity and community benefit to Melbourne’s inner north.”

Construction of the Bundha Sports Centre was announced last year, Development Victoria released a statement reading the $54.5 million project would be delivered by a range of local and businesses and suppliers.

Additionally, the Victorian Government invested $49.5 million into the centre, complemented by a $5 million contribution from Yarra City Council.

In this partnership with Sport and Recreation Victoria, Clublinks will also reinvest a portion of the centre’s profits to enable access for a range of programs and initiatives promoted towards community members’ participation in centre activities.

Clublinks are also conducting an Expression of Interest process for local sports and associations looking to join the centre once it opens early next year.

It is hoped Clublinks’ new role in the Bundha Sports Centre will allow more people in the inner west to experience the benefits of the facility to grow their teams, programs and competitions once it formally opens.

Clublinks have a reputation in venue management capability in Victoria, currently operating the Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre and Narrandjeri Stadium in Darebin as well as other sports venues across Australia.

NSW Government Funds Sports Clubs’ Facilitation of AEDs

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Image Credit: NSW Office of Sport

The NSW Government have announced a $500,000 investment towards state sports to encourage clubs and centres to install automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at their facilities, at an event a day before World Heart Day.

The Heartbeat of Football Foundation, who attended, have also received a $150,000 grant by the government to conduct research into which NSW sports clubs and centres who may lack AEDs in hopes it will provide insight and guidance for future government investments.

The foundation will also use the grant for their #HeartHealthMatters program, which delivers AED and CPR training to sporting clubs across regional NSW, while eligible sports groups can apply for the Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program with up to $3,000 for buying AEDs.

Heartbeat of Football Foundation Founder, Andy Paschalidies congratulated Sports Minister Steve Kamper and the NSW Government for their continued support of the #HeartHealthMatters program.

“It has already proven to be a lifesaver, and our foundation will continue to push for all sporting grounds in NSW, and indeed across Australia, to be equipped with lifesaving and publicly accessible AEDs,” she said via press release.

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper spoke about how important for sporting organisations to be able to respond to life-threatening emergencies, such as cardiac arrest on the sporting field, by using AEDs.

“Last year, the Minns Labor Government supported more than 190 sporting organisations to purchase this potentially life-saving equipment,” he said via press release.

“Heartbeat of Football’s mapping project will play a vital role in enabling the Minns Labor Government to plan future targeted investment at sport facilities that need it most.

Doyalson Wyee Football Club player and NSW’s oldest on-field cardiac arrest survivor Allen Lyell, 70, also attended the event, and remarked he had no symptoms of any heart issues, and the doctor told him he was fit.

“I was fortunate that there was a defibrillator at the ground and people knew what to do, so I became one of the lucky ones,” he said via press release.

More than 2,300 defibrillators and AEDs have been funded for use at sports and recreation facilities across NSW since the Local Sport Defibrillator Grant program started, with applications still open from the 1st of December or when funding is exhausted.

Heartbeat of Football Foundation

The Heartbeat of Football Foundation is a non-for-profit organisation who aim to have zero-deaths related to heart health on Australian sportsgrounds, and have worked with state soccer bodies around the country including Football Victoria to run charities and other events.

In 2023, both groups partnered to spread awareness of heart health with Football Victoria promoting awareness and education for players, coaches and clubs, prevention through screening checks, and for clubs to have functional AEDs at every sportsground.

The Victorian Government last year has a similar program called the Sporting Club Grants Program, which allowed sporing clubs to receive $1000 for the purchase of medical supplies like AEDs.

Currently, the Victorian Government has the Emergency Sporting Equipment Grant Program, aimed at replacing damaged and used sporting equipment, including defibrillators.

For further information, including eligibility criteria for NSW sports and recreation organisations, visit: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/localsport-defibrillator-grant-program.

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