Bentleigh Greens met with Football Victoria’s President and CFO in Ongoing Collaboration

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Image credit: Bentleigh Greens

Interest in football has surged by a phenomenal 43% since 2022. To keep pace with the growing interest, Bentleigh Greens hosted Football Victoria President Dr. Angela Williams, and FV CFO Simon Avenell for a meeting focused on strengthening the future of Victorian Football.

Engaging Clubs for Victoria’s Football Future

The summit brought key voices from the club to engage directly with FV’s leadership on challenges, opportunities, and priorities shaping football locally and at elite levels. The club described the discussion as constructive and timely, noting that growing participation has increased pressure on existing facilities. FV officials acknowledged this and outlined several areas where collaboration will be essential moving forward.

Clubs at the Heart of Decision-Making

“Clubs are at the heart and soul of our sport,” the club posted in a statement. “It was great to hear their commitment to working with clubs.” More broadly, the exchange reflects a continual commitment to ensuring local clubs remain central to decision-making. FV’s CEO, Dan Birrell, echoed a similar sentiment, highlighting the importance of “extensive engagement with clubs.”

The conversation fits into the wider 2025–35 Facility Strategy Roadmap, an initiative that examines and plans infrastructure changes over the coming decade. The roadmap is expected to guide funding priorities and help clubs plan for long-term growth.

Supporting Women’s Football in Victoria

Greater inclusion of women in Victorian football has been a growing priority. As previously reported, the Bentleigh Greens received $2.4 million as part of a grant empowering grassroots women’s football. The grant is allocated to build a new pitch at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex. The Bentleigh Greens President said the new pitch will significantly expand opportunities for junior girls and senior women’s teams, many of whom currently face limited training space.

Building an Inclusive, Sustainable Football Ecosystem

As participation continues to rise across Victoria, both organisations reaffirmed their commitment to working closely to build a more inclusive, better-resourced football ecosystem, one that reflects the sport’s growth and positions community clubs at the forefront of its future. The meeting highlights the ongoing importance of inclusive dialogue as football enters a period of unprecedented expansion.

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Adelaide United renews StudyAdelaide partnership for Asian campaign

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Image Credit: AFC

Adelaide United has brought back a familiar commercial partner for its return to continental competition, with StudyAdelaide signing on as front-of-shirt sponsor for the club’s 2026/27 AFC Champions League Two campaign.

The partnership reconnects two South Australian organisations after StudyAdelaide previously featured on Adelaide United’s shirt during their 2010 AFC Champions League campaign.

Adelaide commenced their six-match group-stage campaign on Thursday at Hindmarsh, defeating Hong Kong’s Tai Po 3-0.

For StudyAdelaide, the value of the partnership extends beyond traditional football sponsorship. The organisation, a partnership between the South Australian Government and more than 50 education institutions, is using Adelaide United’s Asian competition to promote South Australia as an international study destination.

The club’s continental schedule provides exposure in several key Asian markets, with Adelaide travelling to face BG Pathum United in Thailand and Lion City Sailors in Singapore during the group stage.

StudyAdelaide chief executive Jane Johnston said the partnership would provide a great opportunity to connect with young people across Asia.

“Having StudyAdelaide featured throughout this international competition is a unique platform to connect with young people across Asia and highlight the many reasons South Australia is their best option to study, live and build a career,” Johnston said.

The deal illustrates how football’s international competitions can provide commercial value beyond traditional brand exposure, particularly for organisations looking to promote to a specific or new region.

The Reds’ ACL Two campaign continues against BG Pathum United in Thailand on October 15.

Arncliffe Aurora’s Riverine Park investment creates a platform for growth

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Image Credits: Arncliffe Aurora

Arncliffe Aurora Football Club has started a new chapter with the launch of Riverine Park, creating a larger platform for football, community engagement and long-term growth in Sydney’s St George region. More than 2,500 people attended the community opening on 8 August, marking the club’s first matches at its new home and showcasing a significant upgrade in its operating capacity.

Riverine Park provides two full-size natural turf football fields, modern player and community amenities, and a new clubhouse. The additional capacity responds to strong growth in Arncliffe Aurora’s football programs, particularly at junior level. The club has also highlighted a $2.5 million investment in facility upgrades. Together with its existing Arncliffe Park base, Riverine Park gives Aurora two homes and a stronger physical platform for its football operations.

More capacity allows the club to accommodate more teams, players and programs, while updated facilities can support stronger member retention and recruitment. They create more opportunities for coaching, development programs, events and community activities. The new site can also strengthen the club’s commercial proposition; a modern facility gives sponsors greater visibility and provides more opportunities to activate partnerships around football and community events. It can also help the club build relationships with schools, community organisations and football bodies. That matters as grassroots clubs increasingly operate as community hubs rather than simply sporting organisations.

Riverine Park also creates opportunities for the wider football ecosystem. Football St George has identified the facility as a platform to grow participation and provide opportunities for players of different ages, abilities and backgrounds. Bayside Council’s project includes upgraded change rooms, toilets, canteen facilities, lighting, seating and solar panels, adding further functionality to the precinct.

For Arncliffe Aurora, the investment is therefore about more than adding fields. It creates infrastructure that can support participation, player development, community programs and commercial activity over the long term. The challenge now shifts from construction to utilisation. The club must maximise the new capacity, maintain the assets and convert greater participation into a sustainable operating model to benefit the community long-term.

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