Ernie Merrick to showcase Football NSW Coaching Conference

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Image credit: Football NSW website

Football NSW is set to welcome Ernie Merrick as one of the guest speakers for the 2024 Football NSW Coaching Conference. Merrick, with his extensive experience and notable achievements in football coaching, will bring valuable insights and expertise to the event.

His participation is expected to inspire and educate coaches, fostering the development of football in the region.

Ernie Merrick is a highly respected figure in the football community, renowned for his extensive experience and knowledge of the sport. Since 2022, he has been serving as the Chief Football Officer of Football Australia.

Merrick’s illustrious career includes numerous coaching accolades and leadership positions, making him a key influencer in the football world. His expertise continues to drive the growth and success of football in Australia, benefiting players, coaches, and fans alike.

Merrick, born on January 15, 1953, in Edinburgh, Scotland, started his football career playing for the semi-professional team Shettleston Juniors (now Glasgow United) in Glasgow.

He relocated to Australia in 1975 to join Frankston City as a player. In 1979, he moved to Doveton City, initially continuing as a player before transitioning to coaching, where he rapidly gained recognition as a successful manager.

In 1987, Merrick was appointed Head Coach of Preston in the National Soccer League, leading the team to finish second on the league ladder by the end of the season.

After a brief tenure as Head Coach of George Cross in the NSL, Merrick went on to become the inaugural coach of the Victorian Institute of Sport Football Program.

In 2005, Merrick was appointed head coach of Melbourne Victory in the Australian A-League. During his tenure, he guided the team to two A-League championships and two Premiership titles, solidifying his status as one of the league’s top coaches. Beyond his success with Melbourne Victory, Merrick has also managed several other teams in Australia and New Zealand, including Wellington Phoenix and Newcastle Jets.

Merrick’s accomplishments and contributions to football have been widely recognised. He has received numerous awards and accolades, notably being honoured with the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2014 for his services to football.

As the Chief Football Officer of Football Australia, Merrick oversees the development and growth of football nationwide. His extensive experience and expertise make him an invaluable asset to the organisation, and he is dedicated to elevating Australian football to new levels of success.

Following the successful return of the conference in 2023, this year’s event seeks to build on that achievement by featuring an impressive lineup of both local and international presenters.

Head Coach of the Socceroos, Graham Arnold will also be speaking at the event in November.

For a full list of the current confirmed speakers and a brief history about them can be found here.

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FIFA has partnered with Konami to host the FIFAe World Cup

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Image credit: FIFA website

FIFA has entered into a partnership with Konami to use its eFootball game for the FIFAe World Cup.

This collaboration will feature two tournaments, one for console and one for mobile, with participants from 18 nations competing for the title of FIFAe world champion.

This move is part of FIFA’s strategy to maintain relevance in gaming and esports, particularly in engaging younger fans. FIFA has also expanded its esports portfolio with deals involving Rocket League and Football Manager.

The partnership fills the void left by EA Sports following their high-profile split with FIFA in 2022. Konami’s eFootball, an evolution of the Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) series, is currently the only comparable game to EA Sports FC on the market.

FIFA’s Chief Business Officer, Romy Gai, has championed the new deal highlighting their excitement at the prospect.

“We are incredibly excited to join forces with Konami, this collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to promote football globally and to provide a platform for players to showcase their skills.”

Konami the Japanese gaming company, this partnership provides legitimacy and increased awareness for eFootball, which has struggled to compete with EA Sports in recent years.

The collaboration is seen as a necessary step for FIFA, given the lack of alternatives and the time it would take to develop a new soccer simulation game. It allows FIFA to continue its presence in soccer-based esports while exploring other gaming opportunities.

Esports has grown massively in viewership and investment over the last decades, it has become a major part of the franchising side of football.

Even in Australia the rise in Esports popularity has coincided with the rise in football popularity, one can not argue against their connection towards football popularity.

FIFA have shown that Esports has become an ever-present strategy in their development of the game. For investors and shareholders in football, Esports impact is something that should not be disregarded.

WSL triples viewership after move to YouTube

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Viewership for Women’s Super League (WSL) matches streamed live on YouTube has more than trebled during the 2024/25 season.

This success is no coincidence. Beyond the clear rise in quality and star power across teams for the 2024/25 season, it’s also the first time in league history that non-televised games are streamed for free on YouTube.

Last season, the main issue with viewership was accessibility, where matches not picked up by domestic broadcasters were only available on the FA Player app or website, requiring users to create an account on a platform that was already unpopular.

In the 2023/24 season, the highest viewership for an online-only WSL game was Arsenal’s home fixture against Bristol City, which attracted 78,050 viewers.

However, this season has already shattered records. Over 250,000 fans tuned in on YouTube to watch Leicester face Arsenal in September, setting a new high for a WSL game not televised.

In total, the first three weeks of this season have seen a staggering 1,576,848 live views for WSL matches streamed on YouTube.

Women’s Championship matches have also benefited from the platform, with the season opener between newly promoted Newcastle and London City Lionesses setting a new record for the league, drawing 46,050 live viewers.

This spike in viewership comes at a crucial time for both the WSL and the Championship, as they are holding out for a new broadcasting rights deal set to begin after 2025. Both leagues smartly delayed signing earlier this year to avoid locking into a premature agreement.

The gamble absolutely paid off and the Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL), now in charge of the top two leagues, will be using these numbers as leverage in discussions over the next major TV rights deal which should include the BBC and Sky Sports amongst other suitors.

Streaming must remain free for A-League Women’s growth 

The A-League Women’s impressively saw a 114% increase in viewership on 10 Play, where every game is streamed for free, and 125% on Paramount+ for the 2023/24 season.

While a switch to YouTube seems unlikely given Channel 10’s monopoly over A-League football, it’s crucial to keep every game available for free on 10 Play if they want viewership to continue rising.

As the WSL and previously the NWSL have demonstrated, offering free streamed games draws in viewers of all ages and ultimately helps turn them into paying fans. The league’s primary focus should be on building an audience as quickly as possible.

Conclusion

The impressive figures from this season suggest that the demand for women’s football is only increasing.

The WSL has made a brilliant move that is sure to enhance the upcoming record-breaking broadcast rights deal, helping the league continue to improve both on and off the field.

The next step is to take it mainstream, and the Ninja A-League should look to follow the blueprint set by the WSL, which has demonstrated how to rapidly gain widespread popularity.

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