Debate on the future of the game is essential to become a football nation

In regards to the conversation around Australian football right now, everything is on the table.

Despite the current times we are experiencing with the coronavirus pandemic, it’s refreshing to hear constructive debate around the future of the game.

Football is a game of opinions, after all. Everyone throws in their two cents, even more so when there are no domestic games to watch or participate in, at a grassroots or professional level.

The range of voices we have heard from in recent weeks, including former Socceroos and Matildas, current administrators, as well as past and present coaches, has given the footballing public a sense of belief that the game will finally focus on football first.

The in-depth discussions and dissections of what a Josip Skoko believes is best for the game, or what a Peter Filopoulos thinks, in such a transparent manner, is something we need more of to be a healthy football nation.

Most of these figures have spoken openly on what they think the new FFA CEO James Johnson must attempt to address, ranging from topics such as player development, junior fees, promotion and relegation and governance structures.

The overall consensus? Despite the last couple of years of largely negative press, if we address the long-standing issues of the game, it will have a positive future.

One of those issues is the disregard that was shown to NSL clubs when the A-League was established, despite all the positives they continued to contribute to the game, including youth development, traditional football culture and much more.

Former Socceroo Gary Cole told this publication recently that he felt “the history of Australian football, for a long time, kicked off in 2004.”

It resonated with me a while after. How could you not agree with Cole, in this case?

I was quite young when the NSL folded; most of my life, all I have known is the A-League.

‘Old soccer’ as Cole called it, was barely referred to and when it was, it had a negative or embarrassing connotation attached to it, during the opening years of the A-League and arguably still does now.

Why was this the case? It’s inexcusable. You can’t tell me now that the game has properly recognised our previous national competition or the clubs involved and the heroes of that era.

Younger generations can’t celebrate legends like Cole who paved the way for the likes of the Tim Cahills and Harry Kewells of the world, if they are not told who they were, who they played for and what they achieved.

Clubs like Cole’s Heidelberg United are central to one of the other pressing debates discussed by those in the game, a national second division.

Ex-Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer put forward his plan during a ‘State of Football’ chat with Optus Sport on Sunday, in which he outlined a region-based conference system for a national second division setup.

“It minimises travel costs, but creates a second tier, semi-professional, with a view in the future to lift it up,” he said.

“In Germany for example, the third division is regional. The top two teams, depending on the region, (size of) participation, go into a play-off for eventual promotion.

“Why can’t we create a similar structure?”

Will everyone agree with Schwarzer’s idea for the second division? Absolutely not.

But that’s beside the point. The more these matters are spoken about and debated, the urgency increases for administrators to take all views into account and move forward with plans to implement.

There are those who think some former Socceroos, without any administrative experience, are not best placed to make calls on the future of complex governance decisions within the Australian football system.

That’s a fair enough criticism, but that doesn’t mean their involvement in the discussion of the game’s future, through different online platforms and now FFA’s Starting XI panel, hasn’t already been effective and will continue to be so.

Their influential voices form part of the narrative from all corners of the game who now support a national second division, with a point being reached where no other option will be accepted.

Call me an optimist, despite the game’s governance track record over its history, with James Johnson at the helm, football can finally be its unique self and stand on its own two feet.

There is renewed confidence that decisions will be made in the best interests of the sport, not simply trying to replicate what rival codes do.

In the end however, while discussion and debate around the game’s future is important, it’s the actions that count.

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Securing Our Football Future: Football Australia’s $3 Billion Plea

In a landmark display of solidarity, Australia’s football governing bodies have united to submit a joint, ambitious proposal to the government ahead of the next federal election, claiming that this proposal is crucial to ensuring the game’s survival.

The sport’s new national agenda, outlined in Securing Our Football Future, calls for more than $3 billion in funding at all governmental levels to cover urgent facilities improvements, grassroots growth, elite development, and Australia’s global aspirations.

The message is clear: without urgent and significant investment, football runs the risk of losing a generation of players at a time when participation in the sport is rising at an unprecedented rate in Australia, especially among women and girls.

A Blueprint for Sustainable Growth

At the centre of Football Australia’s recommendations is the urgent need to bridge the “change room facilities gap”, a rolling 10-year federal program totalling $1.56 billion. Despite football being one of the country’s most played club sports, many community facilities are still outdated, inaccessible, and unsuitable for the increasing number of female players.

Over the next five to ten years, the agenda also requests $1.2 billion from state, territory, and municipal governments to repair vital infrastructure, like drainage and lighting systems, which have been highlighted as significant obstacles to increasing participation in a safe and inclusive manner.

Other key proposals include:

  • $50 million investment in a new national football headquarters to house both Football Australia and the Australian Professional Leagues
  • Funding support for three new state football headquarters and upgrades to five existing ones
  • Backing the redevelopment of Perry Park in Brisbane as a key football venue ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games
  • $1 million seed funding for the launch of the Australian Championship, the long-awaited National Second Tier
  • Strengthened support for sports diplomacy, international tournament bids, and social programs linked to football’s community impact
  • Updates to regulatory frameworks, including visa categories for players, urban planning laws, and stadium policing standards

Grassroots Strain: Participation Outpacing Facilities

Following the Matildas’ historic FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign, grassroots participation has skyrocketed across the nation. However, the infrastructure required to sustain this expansion has fallen dangerously behind.

More than 2,000 community facilities are required to be upgraded, according to a detailed national audit conducted by Football Australia and the state federations. Of these, 7,848 proposed projects were needed to satisfy “minimum standard” requirements.

Football NSW CEO, John Tsatsimas, emphasised the urgency in New South Wales, where football has the greatest participation rates of any sport.

“Football is the most popular sport in New South Wales, yet many facilities are outdated. Investment in modern fields, lighting, and female-friendly amenities is essential to support our growing football community. Government funding will ensure safe, inclusive spaces for all players, driving participation and talent development,” he said via Securing Our Football Future.

The challenge is even more acute in Victoria, a state that is experiencing rapid population expansion in suburban corridors.

Football Victoria Acting CEO, Dan Birrell, warned that without immediate investment, the sport risks losing young players.

“Children are being turned away due to a lack of suitable playing fields and facilities. Government investment in modern, accessible pitches and club infrastructure is essential to creating more opportunities for children, fostering community connections, and ensuring football remains inclusive and accessible for all,” he said via Securing Our Football Future.

Strengthening the Domestic and International Game

The Securing Our Football Future agenda goes beyond community football to focus on the game’s larger ecosystem, from strengthening Australia’s standing on the international football scene to expanding the A-League.

In order to assist the league’s expansion and stability, key professional clubs, including Macarthur FC, Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory, Western Sydney Wanderers, and Perth Glory, have all pushed for regulatory changes. These include reforms to high-performance funding, simplified visa categories for foreign athletes, and urban development plans to promote improved access to stadiums and training facilities.

APL, Executive Chair, the Hon. Stephen Conroy, highlighted the importance of building on the momentum of the A-Leagues in showcasing local and international talent.

“Football infrastructure, facilities and stadia are not keeping pace with the huge grassroots participation, and the growing pathways and professional game in Australia. It’s hoped this initiative will help unlock the investment the participation base and potential of the game deserves,” he said via Securing Our Football Future.

Meanwhile, the establishment of the Australian Championship — a brand-new National Second Tier league — is seen as a vital component that will provide a direct pathway between grassroots and professional football.

At the elite level, continued support for the Subway Socceroos and CommBank Matildas is still essential, as is deliberate funding for initiatives like Bridge to the World, which aim to give Australian players additional opportunities abroad.

A Critical Moment

Although several members of the football community applauded the federal government’s recent $200 million grants program called Play Our Way, leaders contend that, especially considering the size of the participation surge, it does not adequately address the urgent needs of grassroots infrastructure.

Football Australia CEO James Johnson emphasised that the sport’s rapid growth must be matched by urgent infrastructure investment.

“Our surge in participation has put football at a tipping point where our growth is outpacing our infrastructure. All levels of government need to act to address the facilities gap to give grassroots players an opportunity to participate and support our current and emerging talent to compete on the world stage,” he said via Securing Our Football Future.

The message from football’s unified leadership is straightforward: the sport’s current momentum, which is based on generational accomplishments, runs the risk of halting without immediate, significant investment.

Securing Our Football Future provides a road map for not just preserving the game but also fulfilling its full potential as Australia’s inclusive, diverse, and grassroots global sport.

The time to act is now.

To read through the full Securing Our Football Future 2025 policy proposals, click here.

New initiatives advancing girls’ and women’s football participation

A Government program designed to increase female participation in sports will provide almost 50 clubs and organisations with support to upgrade and develop sporting facilities, programs and equipment.

Around $5.4 million has been allocated for the 2024-25 round of The Power of Her – Infrastructure and Participation Program (IPP), which aims to create more inclusive spaces for girls and women in sports.

The funded projects include things like unisex clubrooms, better lighting and playing surfaces, new uniforms and equipment, and opportunities for professional development.

The South Australian Government led by Peter Malinauskas launched the program to build on the success of the Matildas and the legacy of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

To support the growth of girls’ and women’s football, 14 football clubs will receive nearly $2.4 million in funding this round.

Other sports also benefit from the program, such as basketball, cricket, hockey, netball, gymnastics, and Australian Rules Football, providing more chances for girls and women to get involved and succeed in their chosen sports.

For example, Norwood Basketball Club is receiving $14,600 to launch their ‘Rising Flames’ program, helping girls progress to elite senior levels and develop local talent.

Other projects funded through the program include:

  • Metro United Women’s Football Club, Pooraka: $25,000 for new uniforms.
  • Booleroo Centre Tennis Club: $80,000 to resurface three tennis courts, replace fencing, and build a new equipment shed for their drought-affected club.
  • Cove Netball Hub: $392,700 to build four new netball courts in Hallett Cove.
  • Elizabeth Grove Soccer Club: $750,000 (through the council) for a new clubroom, synthetic soccer pitch, and multi-purpose oval at Munno Para Regional Sportsground, Davoren Park.

So far, over $7.6 million has been distributed through the IPP, with the second year providing more than twice the amount of support compared to the first round.

Nearly half of the infrastructure project recipients this round – including Jervois Bluds Netball Club and Murraylands Gymnastics Academy – are located in regional and greater metropolitan areas, showing the broad impact on communities across South Australia.

The State Government has committed $18 million to the IPP over three years, with $10 million specifically set aside for football.

This effort is part of a wider push to eliminate barriers to female participation, including support for clubs with period products and menstrual health training.

South Australian Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing Emily MLC Bourke highlighted the importance of supporting women in sport at a grassroots level.

“Our Government recognises the importance of supporting grassroots sports to ensure girls and women have opportunities to thrive in whichever sport they pursue,” she said in a press release.

“Having the right facilities, programs and equipment in place gives girls and women the space and confidence they need to get involved and stay active with their local club.

“As The Power of Her investment continues to grow, it’s inspiring to see clubs and organisations finding new and creative ways to grow female participation and facilitate high performance pathways in their communities.”

For more information, you can find the full list of 2024-2025 IPP grants here.

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