Football Coaches Australia Granted Provisional FFA Membership

Football Coaches Australia (FCA) was granted the status of FFA Provisional Member at yesterday’s FFA Annual General Meeting (AGM), after the resolution was passed by FFA Members.

FCA President Phil Moss, who presented to the FFA AGM prior to the vote, was delighted with the outcome.

“This is a very proud day in the short history of our organization,” he said.

“If not for the coaches who have gone before us Football Coaches Australia may not have materialized. If not for our founders Glenn Warry and James Kitching, FCA most certainly would not have physically seen the light of day.”

Founded in 2017, FCA provides a collective voice for coaches by championing advocacy, well-being, and development.

The organisation has grown significantly since its inception, with its leadership team now optimistic of achieving full membership to the now ‘Football Australia’ by 2022.

“The people involved and the outstanding work done since day one at Macquarie University in November 2017 have allowed us to arrive at Provisional Membership of the FA Congress,” Moss added.

“I’m so proud of our special ‘dressing room’ that doubles as our ExCo & various sub-committees – a group of exceptional people who continuously go above & beyond for the love of the game & respect they have for what coaches bring to the code.”

“It is an achievement that our management, Executive Committee, members & supporters should rightly celebrate today!”

“Tomorrow, though, we go again. There is so much hard work ahead with our fellow key stakeholders to ensure the future of the game & coaching is where it needs to be. On behalf of Team FCA I’d like to thank all the members who recognised the importance of coaches to the future of Australian & international football by voting for us on this historic day.”

FCA Vice President Heather Garriock also weighed in on the news, echoing Moss’ excitement at the result.

FCA Vice President Heather Garriock

“This clearly is a representation of where our organisation should be, coaches front and centre of our beautiful game.”

“To all our current members who have supported us and the coaches that don’t yet know about us, we are the future for ‘ALL’ coaches in Australia, we are Football Coaches Australia.

“Kudos to the founders of FCA, belief is everything, the journey is only beginning.”

“As we work towards Full Membership, of the now Football Australia, in November 2022, on behalf of our member coaches, FCA looks forward to continued collaboration with all stakeholders to promote and strengthen the reputation of football in Australia and the reputation of football on the world stage.”

In line with this vision FCA has launched their ground breaking professional development programs, with partner X Venture, connecting community and professional coaches, through the delivery of the 2020 FCA XV National Mind Games Cup.

IT’S SIMPLE FOR COACHES TO REGISTER AND ENTRIES CLOSE NEXT WEEK

www.fcaxvmindgamescup.com

FCA are also pleased to partner FNSW at this weekend’s 2020 Australian Football Coaching Conference – XVenture’s founder Mike Conway will present the webinar “Emotional Agility and Mental Coaching Techniques for Performance Improvement”.

The FNSW Conference presentation will outline the significant FCA XVenture Essential Skills program for football coaches which will be launched in February 2021. (5 modules x 30 CPD points per module).

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Central Coast Mariners Women secure future under Holman Barnes Group

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Image Credits: Central Coast Mariners

The future of the Central Coast Mariners Women has been secured after the Holman Barnes Group (HBG) reached an agreement to become the new operator of the club’s A-League Women program. The deal ends uncertainty surrounding the team’s participation in the 2026/27 season.

The agreement between HBG, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) and Total Soccer Growth Holdings (TSG) ensures the Mariners will remain in the Ninja A-League Women competition. It also introduces a new operating model designed to provide long-term stability.

The uncertainty emerged following TSG’s acquisition of the Central Coast Mariners’ men’s side and academy in June. The women’s program was excluded from the original takeover. TSG already owns English football side Queens Park Rangers (QPR) and MLS club Los Angeles FC. The omission placed the future of the 2025 A-League Women champions in doubt. It also prompted the APL to seek a sustainable solution ahead of the new campaign.

A new operating model

Under the new arrangement, HBG will oversee all operational aspects of the women’s team. This includes the football program, staffing and day-to-day management. TSG will retain the club licence and continue overseeing the men’s program and academy. It will also support the women’s operation through its broader football network.

The agreement represents an innovative partnership between the three organisations. It has been designed to strengthen the long-term sustainability of professional women’s football on the Central Coast. HBG’s plans extend beyond the senior team. They include a strong focus on developing participation pathways and creating greater opportunities for female footballers throughout New South Wales.

Attention turns to the new season

The transition comes at a crucial time with preparations for the 2026/27 Ninja A-League Women season underway ahead of its October 16 start. The new operators are expected to begin managing the program immediately. This remains subject to the completion of the remaining regulatory processes. The team currently has no sponsors and games are expected to be moved away from Central Coast Stadium.

The A-League had previously set a July 31 deadline for new owners to be found to secure a place in the upcoming competition. With that now achieved, HBG will be on the clock to ensure the season begins without disruption and becomes a commercial success.

For the Central Coast Mariners Women, the agreement delivers certainty after a turbulent off-season. It also allows the club to shift its attention to the 2026/27 campaign and the team’s on-field performance.

South Melbourne’s Australia Cup triumph reignites promotion and relegation debate

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Image Credit: The Greek Herald

South Melbourne FC’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Adelaide United in the Hahn Australia Cup Round of 32 has reignited debate around promotion and relegation in Australian football, with Co-President Bill Papastergiadis stating the result is further proof that ambitious National Premier Leagues clubs deserve a pathway to the top tier.

The Victorian powerhouse produced one of the competition’s biggest upsets at Lakeside Stadium, overturning an early deficit to eliminate the Isuzu UTE A-League side and secure a place in the Round of 16.

While the result was celebrated as another example of the magic of the Australia Cup, Papastergiadis believes the victory carries a much broader message about the strength that exists outside Australia’s professional league.

Speaking following the win, Papastergiadis said South Melbourne’s performance demonstrated why the Australian football landscape should move towards a connected pyramid featuring promotion and relegation.

“The result was South Melbourne FC’s revenge 22 years in the making,” Papastergiadis said.

“It also demonstrates that clubs in the National Premier Leagues have the quality, professionalism and ambition to compete with A-League opposition when given the opportunity.”

For years, South Melbourne has been one of the strongest advocates for structural reform within Australian football, consistently calling for an open pyramid that rewards sporting merit rather than maintaining a closed league system.

Papastergiadis argued that Australia Cup fixtures continue to showcase the depth of talent throughout the domestic game, with NPL clubs regularly proving they can challenge and defeat professional opponents despite operating with significantly fewer resources.

He believes these performances should not simply be viewed as isolated “cupsets”, but as evidence that Australia’s football ecosystem is ready to embrace a promotion and relegation model that provides ambitious clubs with a genuine pathway to the top flight.

The result against Adelaide United adds another significant chapter to South Melbourne’s storied history. One of Australia’s most successful clubs, South Melbourne has long maintained aspirations of returning to the national stage, backed by a passionate supporter base, strong infrastructure and a proud footballing tradition.

For Papastergiadis, victories such as Thursday night’s reinforce the argument that clubs should earn opportunities through performances on the pitch.

“The Australia Cup continues to show what’s possible when clubs from different levels of the football pyramid compete against one another,” he said.

“Our football should be built on opportunity and merit. Clubs that perform consistently and invest in their communities should have the chance to progress to the highest level.”

South Melbourne will now turn its attention to the Round of 16, where it will look to continue its impressive cup run.

Beyond the result itself, however, the victory has once again fuelled discussion around the future of Australia’s football structure and whether the growing strength of clubs outside the A-League should accelerate the push towards a fully connected national competition.

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