Capital Football receives extra funds from ACT Government

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Canberra United
Image via Austadiums

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.

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Blacktown District Soccer Football Association Launches Youth League and Poaching Program

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Image Credit: Football NSW

Blacktown District Soccer Football Association has outlined a package of initiatives for the 2026 season centred on youth development, coach education and the celebration of female participation, as the Western Sydney association moves to raise standards across community football and strengthen pathways into state-level competition.

The centrepiece of the association’s development agenda is the Blacktown Youth Development League, a new competition structure spanning all youth Division One competitions in the Under-13 to Under-18 age groups, including Phoenix League female competitions involving both BDSFA and GDSFA clubs. The league applies a benchmarking framework adapted from Football NSW‘s junior competition standards, with clubs encouraged to implement structured training environments including a minimum of two sessions per week where possible.

BDSFA General Manager Owen Liiv said the initiative responded to clear demand from within the football community for more substantive development environments.

“It is pretty clear that people want more and better football experiences,” Liiv said. “The measure for us is high-quality youth football competitions within Blacktown and ultimately, stronger performances in state-wide competitions such as the Football NSW State Cup or Football NSW Champion of Champions.”

The referees branch will support the league by prioritising Division One fixtures and providing three-person match control where available, an operational commitment that acknowledges the role officiating quality plays in the overall development environment.

The Managerial Infrastructure

Running alongside the youth competition is a free coach education program, with Foundation of Football courses delivered across BDSFA’s 24 member clubs by permanent association staff. With more than 1,000 registered coaches across the district, BDSFA has set a target of 85 percent achieving Foundation of Football accreditation within three years. Removing cost as a barrier to accreditation is a deliberate structural choice, reflecting growing recognition across Australian football that coaching quality at community level is inseparable from participation outcomes.

The association also launched Female Football Week with a “Cocktails on the Pitch” event at Blacktown Football Park, attended by close to 100 players, coaches, referees, administrators and volunteers. Former Matilda Leah Blayney addressed the gathering, speaking about her pathway from Wentworth Falls to international football. BDSFA has indicated the event is likely to become an annual fixture on the association calendar.

Taken together, the initiatives reflect an association investing deliberately in the structural conditions that determine whether community football grows sustainably rather than opportunistically.

Manchester City open new training centre for Women’s First Team

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Image credit: Manchester City

The training centre opened earlier this week, following years of planning, investment and ambition for Manchester City Women.

State-of-the-art facilities

Recently crowned WSL Champions, Manchester City Women will now be able to train, prepare and recover in a truly special, purpose-built facility.

Covering 17,000 square feet, a world-class gym, strength & conditioning facilities and dressing room, the site will help players  to maximise performances on the pitch.

But given the facilities also received input from players and staff, inspiring added touches like social spaces and recognition for players with over 100 appearances, it is clear that this is a deeply personal project for all involved at Manchester City Women.

As Managing Director of Manchester City Women, Charlotte O’Neill, highlighted, the training centre is a symbol of excellence and ambition.

“This building is about so much more than bricks and mortar,” O’Neill said via press release.

“It is about creating an environment here our players can thrive, where standards are set at the very highest level and where the current squad has everything it needs to continue to compete for and win silverware.”

A winning project, for a winning team. The training centre is sure to propel Manchester City Women to even greater heights in the seasons to come.

 

Continuing investment trends

Furthermore, as the result of an AUD 18.6 million (GBP 10 million) investment and purpose-built for Manchester City Women, it is yet another example of the current strength of WSL investment.

Just a few weeks ago, Brighton & Hove Albion unveiled plans to construct a new venue for its women’s team, delivering on a clear intention to support commercial growth and infrastructure in the women’s game.

But even after winning their first WSL title this season, the message from the board is clear: Manchester City Women are a fundamental part of the club’s long-term vision.

“This new facility marks the next logical step in our long-term commitment to Manchester City Women, and is an important milestone for the club as a whole,” said Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.

“We have always believed in investing to create the right environment for players and staff to develop and succeed. That approach has underpinned every aspect of our work since the professional relaunch of Manchester City Women in 2014.”

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