Brisbane Roar add Elite Supplements as Silver Partner for 2024/25

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Image credit: Brisbane Roar website

Brisbane Roar has confirmed that Elite Supplements has joined the club as the official Silver Partner.

Elite Supplements will also have their logo featured on the match day playing kit for the Liberty A-League Women’s team ahead of the 2024/25 season.

The company will supply protein supplements to both the A-League Men’s and A-League Women’s squads throughout the upcoming season in a bid to ensure their health, fitness and wellbeing are maintained and looked after.

The company is based in Canberra and their mission is centred around health and fitness, helping individuals achieve their wellness goals and lead healthier lives.

In 2005, former Socceroo Sebastian Giampaolo and his two siblings opened a gym in Woden, Canberra which eventually grew to something a lot larger.

The first Elite Supplements store was launched in 2007 in Canberra’s city centre, managed by Sebastian’s son, Domenic, who has played football at the national level for both the U21 team and the Olyroos.

Since its inception, Elite Supplements has expanded to over 100 stores across Australia including 19 in Queensland.

Brisbane Roar CEO & Chairman Kaz Patafta spoke with enthusiasm about the potential on and off the pitch of this new partnership.

“We’re excited to welcome Elite Supplements on board for the season ahead to provide both our A-League Men’s and Women’s squad with quality supplements to ensure they train, play and feel their best,” Patafta said in a club statement.

“I would like to extend a big thank you to Domenic Giampaolo for supporting Brisbane Roar and women’s sport in Brisbane through our partnership which will be translated onto the pitch with their logo featured on the sleeve of the Liberty A-League Women’s match day playing kits.”

Brisbane Roar are one of the most active clubs in terms of building their business portfolio and they continue to innovate with local and national businesses in a time of the A-League’s financial uncertainty.

This collaboration between Brisbane Roar and Elite Supplements is an example of two sports businesses using each other to improve both the Roar’s on-field performance and their fan engagement through wellness and health initiatives.

It’s the first collaboration Elite Supplements have done with an elite sports club, and it will be interesting to see how it benefits the Roar with the 2024/25 season approaching.

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Football Queensland Academy leads Northern player development

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Football Queensland

Football Queensland (FQ) has celebrated a successful year of player development in the Northern region across youth and junior football through the FQ Academy.

The FQ Academy is Queensland’s only recognised way for players to achieve state and national team representation and showed significant progress over 2024. The Northern region covers some of Queensland’s rural major hubs, including Townsville, Charters Towers, Ayr and Ingham.

In the Northen region, over 150 players participated in the FQ Acadamy across the U9 to U16 age groups, illustrating the influence of adopting Football Australia’s latest national technical standards.

The success of the FQ Academy in the Northern region was further embellished through the selection of 10 local players in Queensland state teams, to compete at the Girls and Boys National Youth Championships in Melbourne and Wollongong.

FQ General Manager, Football & State Technical Director, Gabor Ganczer, expressed his joy for the achievements in the Northern region.

“2024 has been a tremendous year for football in the Northern region, with significant strides in player development as the FQ Academy continues to play a pivotal role in providing young athletes with access to world-class coaching and competitive platforms that continue to raise the standard of football in the region,” he said via press release.

“The progress seen throughout the region is the result of a sustained, long-term approach to player development, with a focus on upskilling coaches and equipping clubs with the tools and resources they need to ensure all players are supported at every stage of their journey.”  

FQ Senior Manager, Technical (Northern Conference), Michael Edwards applauded the work of the FQ Academy.

“The inclusion of local players in the Queensland state teams highlights the significant impact of the continued investment in Northern football programs, helping to elevate talented athletes to elite levels of competition,” he said in a press release.

“The foundation we’ve laid this year, with the FQ Academy at the forefront, will not only set the stage for greater success in the years to come but also drive the continued growth of football in the Northern region and beyond, ensuring clear and accessible pathways for all players to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.”  

Football Queensland remains committed to developing the level of coaching skill and to enhancing player development in the Northern region in 2025 and beyond.

Premier League’s 3pm Blackout Could End After 60 Years

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Image credit: Premier League

The long-standing 3pm broadcasting blackout for Premier League and EFL matches may soon be a thing of the past.

According to The Sun, the restriction could be lifted within the next five years, potentially reshaping the football viewing landscape in the UK.

The Current Situation

The blackout, which has been in place for six decades, prevents live broadcasting of games played at 3pm on Saturdays.

This rule aims to safeguard attendance at lower-league matches by encouraging fans to watch games in person rather than on television.

The Premier League’s new four-year broadcasting deal, set to begin next season, will maintain the blackout. However, both the Premier League and EFL agreements are scheduled to expire at the conclusion of the 2028-29 season, opening the door for significant changes.

Changing Perspectives

Traditionally seen as essential to protect matchday attendance, the blackout’s relevance is being questioned.

EFL studies suggest that televising matches has minimal impact on crowd numbers, challenging the necessity of the rule.

With a surge in live games on TV and digital platforms, the football community is increasingly debating whether the blackout is outdated.

Currently, the Premier League broadcasts 270 matches per season, leaving 110 games locked behind the blackout, and this has become increasingly controversial with local fans left frustrated at the fact they can’t watch all of their teams games.

Piracy Concerns

The blackout has inadvertently contributed to the rise in illegal streaming. Fans often resort to using devices like “cracked Fire Sticks” to watch Saturday 3pm matches, undermining the very attendance-focused intent of the restriction.

Recently, the Premier League have cracked down on piracy, threatening jail time and/or a large fine for anyone who illegally streams games that are affected by the blackout.

What’s Next?

Although the blackout remains in place for now, its future is under scrutiny. As midweek fixtures are exempt from the rule, every Premier League game this week is available for streaming on Amazon Prime.

The decision to lift the blackout will likely come as part of broader broadcasting negotiations, potentially marking the end of a long-standing tradition and redefining how fans experience English football.

With the rule being considered ‘outdated’ by many, the 2028-29 proposed change comes at the right time. Both the Premier League and the EFL can capitalise on an even bigger national TV rights deal, strengthening both leagues’ finances.

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