Football Australia CEO James Johnson: “The receipt of EOI submissions is another crucial step in bringing our vision for the game to life”

Staff Writer
Sydney Olympic
Image credit: Chris Paraskevas

Football Australia has officially closed the Invitation for Expression of Interest (EOI) process for the National Second Tier Men’s competition.

In a positive and strong response, 32 Australian football clubs from across the country submitted their expressions of interest to take part in the new competition – by the Friday, March 3 deadline.

The EOI process was launched by Football Australia in February 2023 to assess the level of interest and refine the strategy, vision, competition format, operation, and administration for a new national tier of football between the A-League Men competition and the National Premier Leagues.

Expected to commence in March 2024, the National Second Tier will be contested between 10 and 16 teams, with a home and away league structure and finals, featuring 24 to 36 games.

For Football Australia, there are still thoughts of including a phased ‘group based’ competition model that will utilise the National Premier Leagues competition to decide the make-up of the competition format (the ‘Champions League’ model).

Following the evaluation of the EOI responses, the next phase will be the Request for Proposal (RFP) phase, which is expected to run from April to June 2023. During this phase, only shortlisted parties from the EOI phase will be invited to submit detailed proposals, with more information provided through detailed Bid Documents.

Football Australia CEO James Johnson shared his pleasure for the finalised EOI stage.

“We underwent a lengthy consultation process last year so we knew there would be great interest and we are thrilled with the level of interest shown in the EOI phase and the calibre of clubs which have expressed their interest,” Johnson said in a statement.

“It is also pleasing to see that we have received submissions from right across Australia, demonstrating that our football clubs have a deep desire and aspiration to compete at a national level.  The National Second Tier provides the perfect platform for them to do so.

“Australian football has undergone a journey of transformation over the last two years, and the establishment of a national second tier which reconnects and realigns Australian football competitions is an important element of Football Australia’s 15-year vision for the game.

“The receipt of EOI submissions is another crucial step in bringing our vision for the game to life.”

 The confirmed clubs by each state is listed below:

State / Territory (in alphabetical order) Clubs (in alphabetical order)
Australian Capital Territory

 

 1.      Canberra Croatia FC

2.      Gungahlin United FC
New South Wales

 

 3.      APIA Leichhardt FC

4.      Blacktown City FC

5.      Fraser Park FC*

6.      Marconi Stallions FC

7.      Rockdale Ilinden FC

8.      Sutherland Sharks FC/Cronulla Sharks

9.      Sydney Olympic FC

10.   Sydney United 58 FC

11.   Wollongong Wolves FC
Northern New South Wales 12.   Valentine FC
Queensland

 

 13.   Brisbane City FC

14.   Brisbane United FC (Wynnum Wolves FC, Brisbane Strikers FC, Virginia United FC)

15.   Gold Coast Knights FC

16.   Gold Coast United FC

17.   Olympic FC

18.   Peninsula Power FC

19.   Sunshine Coast FC Fire
South Australia

 

 20.   Adelaide City FC

21.   Football SA (Campbelltown City SC, North Eastern MetroStars, West Torrens Birkalla SC)

22.   Playford City Soccer and Community Club
Tasmania 23.   South Hobart FC
Victoria

 

 24.   Avondale FC

25.   Bentleigh Greens SC

26.   Brunswick Juventus FC

27.   Green Gully SC

28.   Heidelberg United FC

29.   Melbourne Knights FC

30.   Preston Lions FC

31.   South Melbourne FC
Western Australia 32.   Spearwood Dalmatinac / Cockburn City SC*

* Subject to the submission fee payment being confirmed.

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Football Victoria marks World Autism Understanding Month with Expanded Inclusion Program

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Image Credit: Football Victoria

Football Victoria has marked World Autism Understanding Month with a series of practical inclusion initiatives delivered in partnership with Aspect, reinforcing the governing body’s commitment to making football accessible for autistic participants across all levels of the game.

The partnership, now in its second year, has moved beyond awareness into structural change. Environmental assessments have been completed across multiple programs and match days, including at Collingwood City FC and the All-Abilities League match day at Northcote City FC. Each assessment identifies accessibility barriers and provides concrete inclusion principles integrated into the physical and operational realities of football environments.

Ahead of the 2025 Football For All Gala Day, Aspect conducted an environmental assessment of The Home of the Matildas, informing the development of a Visual Story designed to help participants with autism understand the venue and event before arriving. The same approach has been applied to FV’s GO Camps program, giving participants and families the information they need to engage with confidence.

Aspect has also delivered multiple education sessions for coaches throughout the partnership, with a dedicated session for referees held on April 20, the first of its kind, extending autism understanding across match officials and into all parts of the game day experience.

Football Victoria has also joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Initiative, with training and education to be rolled out across the organisation in the coming months, strengthening its capacity to recognise and support participants with non-visible disabilities.

The initiatives reflect a recognition that access to sport is not guaranteed by an open registration form. For many participants with autism and their families, the barriers are environmental, informational and social; and removing them requires sustained investment in education, assessment and design.

UEFA reaffirm partnership with Oceania Football Confederation

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Image credit: UEFA.com

Last week, UEFA signed a Memoriam of Understanding (MoU) with Oceania’s football governing body to continue its commitment  to football in Oceania.

 

United through football

While being two governing bodies separated by distance, the MoU stands as a symbol of unity and collaboration which supports mutual growth.

The agreement will run until 2031, displaying both parties’ commitment to long-term development through football.

“Europe and Oceania are connected by a shared belief in the importance of investing in people as the foundation of football’s future,” said UEFA President, Aleksander Čeferin, via press release.

“This Memorandum of Understanding brings together UEFA’s experience in elite development and education with OFC’s clear focus on nurturing young talent and strengthening football leadership.”

Furthermore, OFC President, Lambert Maltock, also expressed his confidence in the agreement to support players and pathways alike.

“Our partnership with UEFA reflects a shared commitment to developing the game at every level – from grassroots to elite,” said Maltock.

“By investing in our people and working collaboratively, we are building a more connected, capable and globally competitive football ecosystem for Oceania.”

 

What the agreement promises

Continuing UEFA’s recent MoUs with CAF (Africa), Concacaf (North, Central America and the Caribbean) and CONMEBOL (South America), the partnership will seek to address several key aspects. These include:

  • Youth football opportunities – supporting OFC’s annual boy’s and girl’s U15 tournaments.
  • Knowledge exchange – reciprocal observer programmes at club finals and national team tournaments.
  • Football development – delivered through the UEFA Together programme.
  • Coach education – sharing of technical expertise and learning activities.
  • Refereeing – opportunities to referee youth tournaments, courses and technical programmes.

Moreover, the agreement outlines a commitment to ensuring football remains a tolerant and inclusive sport, capable of uniting communities and empowering individuals.

Therefore, the MoU between UEFA and the OFC is symbolic of aligned values, principles and vision for the future of football in both regions.

 

Final thoughts

An alliance of this nature – especially in these uncertain times for global cooperation – is vital.

Football has the power to unite like nothing else.

So governing bodies must recognise the value of connecting across cultures, countries and continents, not only for what it can do for football, but how it can promote fundamental values within the sport as a whole.

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