Football Australia unveil association with LEGO Group

Avatar
Football Australia

Football Australia has announced its partnership with the global toy brand the LEGO Group for a multi-year sponsorship aimed at assisting in building the future of women’s football.

With an ambition to build a more inclusive future for football at the heart of the partnership, the three-year deal will see LEGO Australia become the first official partner of Football Australia’s Legacy ’23 programs which look to inspire and develop the footballers of tomorrow.

With nearly two million participants nationwide across 2,400 community clubs, football is Australia’s most diverse and representative sport and through the bold and ambitious Legacy ’23 strategy, football plans to leave an everlasting legacy for the sport beyond the global tournament being hosted in 2023.

Football Australia CEO James Johnson warmly welcomed the addition of LEGO Australia into the football family as a partner with strong shared ambitions for empowering the next generation.

“Legacy ’23 is our opportunity to transform Australian football through impactful and long-lasting tangible benefits from our co-hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australian and New Zealand 2023TM,” Johnson said in a statement.

“It is an opportunity that Football Australia has grasped with both hands, and we have achieved some significant milestones for the game to date.

“We know the power of play through football and the transformative opportunity it can provide for our participants and their families, and we are proud to have on board a partner like LEGO Australia who shares our values and vision.

“This exciting partnership with the iconic global LEGO brand alongside our iconic national teams and our Legacy ’23 plan presents an incredible opportunity for collaboration as we seek to inspire Australians.

“The next 12 months will be a true game-changer for our sport as we continue to bring our vision for legacy to life and make Australian football more inclusive and accessible. We are delighted to have LEGO join us for this journey.”

LEGO Australia will also become an Official Partner of the CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos with at-game branding, branded content campaigns and consumer promotions to feature over the course of the partnership.

The news also comes after LEGO was announced in the Laureus Sport for Good Index (released on November 7 2022), a global index which identifies those brands that, through collaboration, innovation and creativity are making a significant contribution across the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as laid out by the United Nations.

The first deal of its kind with a sporting organisation in the Asia-Pacific region, LEGO Australia is investing and collaborating with Football Australia to celebrate the power of her and how she plays.

LEGO Australia & New Zealand Vice President & General Manager, Troy Taylor added via press release:

“This exciting new collaboration with Football Australia forms part of our ambition to inspire positive change for future generations.

“We believe that the benefits of play, such as building confidence, creativity, and communication skills, are felt by all children, yet unfortunately, led by society, we still experience stereotypes in what activities including sports, children are encouraged to do, based on their gender.

“At the LEGO Group, we know we have a role to play, to champion inclusive play and help give children the confidence to succeed.”

Football Australia and LEGO Australia will officially launch their partnership this Saturday when the CommBank Matildas host Olympic silver medalists Sweden at AAMI Park at 2.45pm.

Previous ArticleNext Article

Manchester City Begins Work on New Women’s Training Facility

Avatar
Image Credit: Manchester City website

Manchester City is in the development stage of building the Manchester City Women’s team a new purpose-built training facility at the City Football Academy, known as the club’s training centre.

The project, valued at up to $20.5 million, is set to open next season and marks the latest chapter in the club’s ongoing investment in top-tier facilities for the team.

Once completed, the facility will include a hydrotherapy area, a high-performance gym, and a circular dressing room designed to enhance player development.

In addition to their purpose-built facility, the Women’s First Team will continue to benefit from being an integral part of the $409 million City Football Academy, allowing them to utilise the organisation’s extensive resources and expertise.

To mark the beginning of construction, club captain Alex Greenwood was joined by Managing Director Charlotte O’Neill, Director of Football Therese Sjögran, and Director of Performance Services Emma Deakin for the official groundbreaking ceremony.

Club Captain Alex Greenwood reflects on the current facilities at the club and her excitement for the new development that is on the rise.

“Right from the start we’ve been involved quite a lot so we could discuss what’s going to be in there and what’s necessary. From what I know the facilities are going to be the best, which is nothing short of what I expect. I’m excited to see how it’s going to look,” she said via press release.

The facility has been specifically tailored to meet the needs of the team, with extensive consultation undertaken during the planning phase, including input from First Team Multi-Disciplinary experts and members of the playing squad.

The 17,000-square-foot building has also been designed with future expansion in mind as the team continues to grow.

Managing Director at Manchester City Women Charlotte O’Neill commented on the new facility and the beginning of its construction.

“Over the past decade, the team has benefited from being a part of the high-performance environment here, working with some of the very coaches, practitioners and support staff, as well as accessing some of the best facilities,” she said via press release.

“But the time feels right for the team to move into our own purpose-built home, and we think we’ve designed something really special that will help us in our efforts to consistently challenge for major titles.”

The new facility reaffirms Manchester City’s commitment to women’s football, aiming for success and growth through providing an environment to support the team’s future ambitions.

AFC Youth Panel discusses future of player development in Asia

Avatar
Image Credit: AFC

Representatives of the Asian Football Confederation met online on Thursday for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Youth Panel. Through the virtual event, Member Association’s (MAs) shared their experiences of their youth systems for the 2024-25 term.

The panel was hosted with a key focus on identifying how to improve the developmental programmes of the 16–19-year-old age group. The meeting discussed ways to not just improve technical skill but also strengthen the mental resilience of players and increase the number of competitive matches they are playing.

 AFC Technical Director Andy Roxburgh explained why the confederation was focusing on the 16-19 age group.
“This age group is a formative stage where we are dealing with players in national youth teams and it’s a crucial stepping stone for talented youngsters who are at the threshold of pursuing the sport professionally,” he said via press release.
“We must be able to help them master techniques under pressure and develop a winning mentality, so it is imperative to provide them with expert guidance.”
Through the panel representatives also explored conversations on the need to properly prepare coaches for training developing professional youth by providing them with the skills and knowledge required to excel.
Additionally, the meeting presented updates on several high-profile AFC developmental programmes for participants. In particular, the panel highlighted the Triple-A Project, a programme designed to provide tailored support to MAs via continual summits, and the AFC’s ongoing research partnership with the University of Tsukuba, which aims to study elite youth systems across Asia.
To finalise the session, participants were informed of the AFC’s other technical programmes, especially the recent publication of the AFC Elite Youth Bulletin. The Bulletin presents a major step forward for youth development within the Confederation, as it stands as a handbook for MAs to use, highlighting the best initiatives and programmes other MAs across Asia have used to great effect.

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks

Send this to a friend