With football fever striking the country, there is no better time for government support in Australia’s football endeavours than right now.
The ACT Government agreed to support Capital Football with an increase of $125,000 in performance partnership fees, now totalling $250,000 for the remaining two years of the current agreement between the ACT Government and Capital Football.
In what is an attempt to piggyback off the success of the Matildas Women’s World Cup run, and the tournament at large, Capital Football hopes this will drive interest in women’s football in the nation’s capital, as well as Canberra United, the standalone Women’s A-League team.
The ACT Government has also green-lit the Development Application for the Throsby Home of Football.
Capital Football and Canberra United’s CEO Ivan Slavich commented:
“We are delighted that the ACT Government has increased the funding for Canberra United to assist with the costs associated with running an elite level football club,” he said via press release.
The struggles of running a women’s only football club cannot be understated, with a lack of foundation that many NPL and A-League clubs have had the benefit of to build from, with infrastructure and an existing brand to name a few massive support networks for a new women’s team.
Sydney’s south coast is the home of the Illawarra Stingrays, an all-women’s football club who were founded in 2006. The club boasts alumni such as Mary Fowler and Caitlin Foord, both of whom played an integral part of the Matilda’s recent Women’s World Cup run.
Having spoken to players and volunteers at the club, they are proud to represent women’s football in the region, being the only south-coast club in the top-flight of the National Premier League NSW Women’s competition. They offer teams from youth all the way to premier league, which is an integral part of the success of girl’s and women’s football. The lack of adequate pathways for a lot of girls has seen them shoehorned into all-boys teams, where their development can be stunted and often neglected.
“After the Women’s World Cup, I have no doubt that there will be added interest in the Women’s A-League,” Minister for Sport and Recreation, Yvette Berry added via media release.
The additional funding for Capital Football can ensure further development of elite and grassroots women’s football in the region, as the ACT looks to continue the partnership they have proudly supported since 2008.
