Bell Park Sports Club backed by local council

The City of Greater Geelong Council has made a significant investment towards Bell Park Sports Club, showing its commitment for grassroots.

The City of Greater Geelong Council has made a significant investment towards Bell Park Sports Club, showing its commitment to assist the growth of grassroots sport in the south-west of Victoria.

At the home of Bell Park Sports Club, which is located in Batesford, the agreement involves the purchase of land by the City of Greater Geelong, providing enormous long-term opportunities.

The deal is worth around $2.5 million, which includes a contribution from approximately $820,000 from the state government and roughly $1.7 million from the City of Greater Geelong.

City of Greater Geelong Councillor, Eddy Kontelj:

“This announcement and partnership between the City of Greater Geelong Council and the Bell Park Sports Club, from my information, is unprecedented in Geelong,” he said to Soccerscene.

“The Bell Park Sports Club has a proud history and has been providing soccer facilities for the local community for more than 60 years and continues to cater to hundreds of junior and senior players.

“This agreement is financially sound and will ensure we have sporting facilities to meet the future needs of our growing Geelong population – the entire community will be the beneficiary of this investment in the world game.”

The funding will be used to upgrade facilities and add in female-friendly change rooms in an attempt to encourage more young females to get involved in sports.

A lighting upgrade will also be a special feature of the developments, valued at around $630,000 with funding coming from the Victorian Government.

“If we are serious and sincere in our endeavours to achieve true equality in sport and our society, them it is imperative that all players, regardless of gender, have the same opportunities and quality facilities in order to succeed,” Kontelj said.

“It shows a strong message when we do not compromise on facilities or investment just because of gender. To do so is not ok.”

Cr Kontelj believes that the investment will have a positive effect on the Geelong community in the coming years, and that investing in infrastructure encourages those affiliated with grassroots to get more involved in sports.

“Geelong is a sporting city, however, we can only retain that reputation by delivering and retaining facilities in key growth areas and also continuing to maintain faculties to a very good standard in well-established suburbs and areas in the Geelong region,” he said.

“It is well proven that having people, particularly our youth, participate and engage in well supported team environments and sporting/physical activities has benefits well beyond physical fitness.

“It provides an opportunity to establish lifelong friendships and comradery, it opens up the doors to mentoring and coaching, instils discipline and routine, provides pathways to athletic and sporting success and also helps with maintaining good mental health.

“However, for a community to benefit from all of this, we need to invest in the infrastructure to encourage diverse and welcoming participation. The City of Greater Geelong Council’s investment in the Bell Park Sports Club is an example of just this.

“The entire community will be the beneficiary of this investment in the world game.”

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UEFA and Unilever renew partnership

UEFA has embraced Unilever as an Official Global Partner of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, kicking off in Switzerland on July 2 until July 27, 2025.

Unilever’s deal with UEFA builds off of their 2024 partnership and will see a wide array of Unilever’s Foods and Personal Care brands ignite their own integrated advertising campaigns to connect with fans and consumers in and out of the stadium, including household names like Dove, Rexona, Knorr and Hellmann’s.

UEFA marketing director, Guy-Laurent Epstein expressed UEFA’s excitement to work with Unilever again.

“Building on the success of our collaboration last summer, we are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Unilever for UEFA Women’s EURO 2025,” he said in a press release.

The support and interest in women’s football is on a sharp upward trajectory, and with Unilever’s portfolio of Food and Personal Care brands reaching billions of people every day, we look forward to celebrating the power of the game and bringing excitement to fans everywhere.”

General Manager of Unilever Foods Europe, Robbert de Vreede conveyed his enthusiasm for Unilever’s involvement in the upcoming Women’s EURO 2025.

“We are thrilled to partner with the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, enabling our Foods brands to connect with a large audience who come together enjoying the thrill of a football match with friends whilst sharing delicious foods,” he said in a UEFA press release.

“Just as a great BBQ brings people closer, football unites fans in a shared experience of passion and camaraderie. In this partnership we will create memorable moments that highlight the best of summer – good food, great company, and beautiful games.”

General Manager of Unilever Personal Care Europe, Fulvio Guarneri detailed why the collaboration between UEFA and Unilever was a perfect fit.

“This is an exciting opportunity for some of our biggest brands to tap into a big cultural moment and connect with millions of consumers who will be watching the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025,” he said via press release.

“It’s a great time for women’s football and this partnership fits perfectly with our Personal Care products which are all about feeling clean and confident, and taking part in sports. Together with our retail partners, we look forward to building on the success of last year’s men’s tournament, delivering unmissable campaigns across a variety of channels that celebrate the power of women’s football.”

Unilever joins an exciting list of brands for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 tournament, including household names such as adidas, Amazon, AXA, Booking.com, EA, Euronics, Grifols, Heineken, Hublot, Just Eat Takeaway.com, Lay’s, Lidl, PlayStation and Visa.

The Club Development Conference highlights community football

Significant Sporting Events Program 2023-24

On Saturday, February 1st, over 200 attendees came together at Valentine Sports Park for the 2025 Football NSW Club Development Conference.

With registrations for the 2025 season still coming in, over 85 Football NSW clubs from both Sydney Metropolitan and regional areas gathered for a dynamic day of workshops, panels, and special guest speakers, celebrating community football.

Presented by Stephanie Brantz, the Conference included keynote addresses from Karen Jones, Acting CEO of Destination NSW and Chief Executive of the NSW Office of Sport, Dr. Catriona Rose of the Australian Sports Commission, and Matildas cap #167, Ellie Brush.

After the successful second edition of the conference, Trevor Huxley, Football NSW’s Program Manager for Club Development, expressed his excitement over the strong support from the community.

“The Club Development Conference is a fantastic opportunity to bring together all levels of the game to learn from one another, network and discuss best practice for grassroots football,” said Huxley via press release.

“It has been inspiring to see grassroots clubs across the state in attendance, illustrating a remarkable commitment to supporting their local communities. It’s vital that Football NSW continues to lead in this space, providing support to the volunteers and local administrators who are central to the ongoing growth of our game.”

Along with the keynote speakers, attendees were able to choose sessions tailored to their Club or role, covering topics such as safeguarding, volunteerism, marketing and data analysis, infrastructure and grant funding, player and spectator behaviour, women & girls’ football, diversity and inclusion, and grassroots coach education.

The Football NSW Club Development Conference serves as a pivotal platform for enhancing community football by Empowering Clubs, Facilitating Networking, Offering Targeted Education and Showcasing Leadership.

By focusing on these areas, the conference plays a crucial role in strengthening community football, promoting inclusivity, and ensuring the sport’s sustainable growth.

To gain further details and access Club resources, click here.

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