Chris Ramsey to Lead FCA Masterclass on Developing Young Players

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Image Credit: New Orlean Jesters

Football Coaches Australia (FCA) is set to host an unmissable online Coach Education session on Monday, March 2 at 7:30pm, featuring renowned coach educator Chris Ramsey.

Titled “Think Growth and Maturation when Developing Young Players”, the session will provide practical insights into nurturing youth talent, focusing on physical, psychological, and emotional development.

Ramsey’s football career spans decades both on and off the pitch. As a player, he featured as a right back for clubs including Bristol City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Swindon Town, Southend United, Naxxar Lions, and Cocoa Expos. Notably, he played in the 1983 FA Cup Final for Brighton against Manchester United. He won a Fourth Division championship with Swindon Town in 1985–86 and contributed to back-to-back promotions the following season.

Transitioning into coaching, Ramsey has an extensive résumé: he has worked in the Tottenham Hotspur Academy, served as first-team coach assisting Tim Sherwood and Les Ferdinand, and held the managerial reins at Queens Park Rangers F.C.. Internationally, he has guided England youth teams, including the U-20s at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship. He also led Charleston Battery to the 2003 USL A-League title.

Currently, Ramsey is The Football Association’s Professional Development Phase Lead across England’s national teams. His services to football and diversity in sport were recognized with an MBE in 2019, and he is set to receive the 2025 Outstanding Contribution to London Football Award.

FCA members attend free, with non-members and guests $22. The session is fully supported by Football Australia, with one hour of CPD credited for FFA coaching licence holders.

Book through Eventbrite.

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Football NSW partners with Deploy for Association Championships

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Image credit: Deploy Football

In an announcement released on Thursday this week, Football NSW revealed Deploy as the Naming Rights Partner of the Football NSW Association Championships.

New competition, new talents

The Association Championships, set to take place in July 2026 at Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex in Mudgee, will replace the former Association Youth League.

Although the tournament has changed name, its purpose remains consistent: giving youth players the platform to showcase their talent on the football pitch.

In a display of unity and collective ambition, 18 Associations across New South Wales will enter representative teams, each one featuring gifted grassroots players looking to prove themselves against their peers.

“The Deploy FNSW Association Championships will provide a fantastic platform for our Associations to come together and celebrate the best of elite community football,” said Football NSW CEO, John Tsatsimas via official press release.

“This tournament is all about giving young players, coaches, and referees from every corner of the state a chance to shine and develop in a competitive, supportive environment.”

The partnership between Deploy and Football NSW, therefore, is not merely about a name alteration. It is a collaboration which presents future grassroots talents with a platform and opportunity to compete.

 

Built on shared values

No partnership can succeed without both parties sharing a common goal or set of values. In this case, the alliance between Football NSW and Deploy is built on a commitment to supporting grassroots football and supplying players with quality resources and experiences to showcase their talent.

“Deploy is proud to partner with Football NSW as the Naming Rights Partner of the Association Championships. Community sport plays a vital role in bringing people together and building future leaders, both on and off the field,” explained Chief Commercial Officer at Deploy, Kurt Johnson.

“As long-time partners with Football NSW, this aligns perfectly with our strategy of creating balls designed for each age and skill level of the game, ranging from junior training balls to professional match balls perfect for the competitive environment like the Association Championships.”

Furthermore, with hundreds of participants including players, referees, coaches and supporters due to attend the tournament, the partnership’s impact will extend right across the state of New South Wales.

Victorian Parliament Hosts Landmark Launch Event for Level the Playing Field Initiative

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Image Credit: Football Victoria

Victoria’s football community gathered at Parliament House on Thursday for the launch of the Level the Playing Field initiative, bringing together government representatives, councils, administrators and grassroots clubs in a rare show of unity for the game.

Held in Queen’s Hall at Parliament House Melbourne, the event marked the formal introduction of the campaign and highlighted the growing collaboration between football stakeholders and government to support the sport’s rapid growth across the state.

The launch was organised through the Parliamentary Friends of Football Victoria, a newly established group aimed at strengthening ties between football and policymakers at federal, state and local levels.

Speaking at the event, co-convenor Anthony Cianflone emphasised the significance of bringing the sport’s diverse ecosystem together under one roof.

“This is the very purpose of establishing the Parliamentary Friends of Football Victoria,” he said.

“It’s about bringing together federal, state and local governments with the entire football ecosystem – something that has never been done before.”

Cianflone described the gathering as a historic moment for the sport in Victoria, noting that the state’s parliament had never previously hosted a dedicated football event of this scale.

“Queen’s Hall being booked out for football has never happened before,” he said. “Hopefully it leaves a lasting impression about what football means to local communities and why continued investment and support is so important.”

The event drew representatives from clubs across Victoria, alongside administrators and officials from across the football landscape, reflecting the sport’s deep grassroots foundations and broad community reach.

Leaders from Football Victoria also addressed the gathering, highlighting the role football plays in promoting health, social inclusion and community connection across the state.

The launch comes at a time of significant momentum for the sport nationally, following the record-breaking success of the Australia women’s national soccer team and growing participation numbers at grassroots level.

With football participation continuing to rise across Victoria, organisers said the event represented an important step toward strengthening collaboration between clubs, governing bodies and government to support the future of the game.

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