Soccerscene the only online publication dedicated to the Australian and international football industry. It serves as a practical guide for those involved in the business of running a football club and bringing readers up-to-date research and development across all football matters providing insights, discussion and information related to topics that matter.
Football Coaches Australia presents ‘The Football Coaching Life Podcast’ S2 Ep 9 with Gary Cole interviewing Phil Moss
Phil Moss is currently the Head of Coaching & Distinctive Leadership at the National Australia Bank and President of Football Coaches Australia. He is also an analyst with Big Sports Breakfast in Sydney.
‘Mossy’ played his junior football in Manly Warringah and progressed as a senior player on the Central Coast and Eastern Suburbs before getting a professional contract with Northern Spirit in the National Soccer League, where he played with Graham Arnold, Robbie Slater and Ian Crook.
His coaching career began at Dee Why with a Championship win. He worked as an assistant with Graham Arnold at Central Coast Mariners, the Olyroos and Sydney FC in addition to enjoying two seasons as Head Coach at the Mariners. Phil has been a part of the successes at all of these clubs and helped the Olyroos qualify for the Olympic Games.
President of FCA since its inception, he describes the importance of FCA in ‘wrapping a collective arm around coaches’ in what can be a very lonely experience. He discusses the importance of ‘collaboration’ with Member Federations and Football Australia in achieving successful outcomes for football in Australia.
Phil also explains why he is proud of what FCA has achieved through a tough couple of years during Covid lockdowns and what the focus is for the organisation in both the short and long term.
This is a conversation filled with wisdom, as Mossy provides wonderful insight into moving from sports coaching into the corporate world. He also delves into the differences between coaching, leadership and developing resilience.
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
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.
Six years ago, Banyule City Soccer Club had big ambitions and a whole lot of challenges. Taking the reins during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee worked behind the scenes to keep the club connected, focusing on long-term goals that are now beginning to take shape.
Under his leadership, the club has seen the return of a senior women’s program — one that’s rapidly climbed the ranks to the Victorian Premier League and the growth of a strong junior base with nearly 200 players. As Banyule prepares for major upgrades at two of its key grounds and sends its U16 girls’ squad to the Borneo Cup in 2025, the club is entering a new chapter.
Speaking with Soccerscene, President of Banyule City SC Nasr Said reflects on his leadership journey, the club’s community-first values, and how Banyule is building pathways that support players from grassroots to elite levels all while staying true to its inclusive, family-oriented roots.
Can you share some insight into your role as President and how Banyule City SC has evolved since the beginning of your presidency?
Nasr Said: I took over running the club six years ago, after playing at Banyule for about four years. I’ll be honest it hasn’t been easy. The first couple of years were tough, especially with COVID hitting just as I stepped into the role. We couldn’t even get a proper season going, but we did what we could off the field — sharing content on social media, keeping the kids engaged with soccer drills from the coaches we had. It was a difficult time for every club.
Once we got through that, I had goals and ambitions for the club one of the biggest was to rebuild the senior women’s program as there hadn’t been a women’s team here for over a decade. Since then, we’ve had incredible success. The women’s team went from State League 4 up through the ranks — State 3, State 2, and then straight into the Victorian Premier League (VPL). They won the league four years in a row, went undefeated during that time, and now they’re playing in the second-highest division in Victoria, just under the NPL.
Image Credit: Banyule City SC Facebook
On the men’s side, we’ve had our ups and downs, one year we nearly got relegated, and other years we were close to promotion but we continue to push forward.
As President, I work closely with our committee, the Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President and support them however I can. My role is about bringing in resources, building a strong structure, and making sure the club runs smoothly. I’ve put in a lot over the past six years. We’re in a good place now, but there’s always room to grow.
The Council’s planned upgrades at Banyule Flats Reserve and Yallambie Park are exciting milestones. What kind of impact will these developments have for your players, members, and the broader community?
Nasr Said: Yallambie Park has been meant to get rebuilt for the last 25 to 30 years. We haven’t had a proper home ground for the past two years and it’s had a big impact on the club. Banyule Flats Reserve isn’t suitable for matches it has two cricket pitches which make the ground too small for football. And Yallambie Park has been deemed unsafe for play both this year and last year.
The good news is Banyule Flats Reserve is scheduled to be rebuilt in September, and that’s a massive step forward. The council built a new pavilion there five or six years ago, it’s state-of-the-art, on par with NPL-level facilities. Once we have a proper ground there, it’ll be huge for the club.We’ve got an industrial-grade canteen and proper change rooms that will help us attract spectators, generate revenue, and give us a real home base.
As for Yallambie Park, the council has said for years they’ll fix the facilities and just recently, a council rep told us work will begin within weeks. All we can do now is hope. If both grounds are upgraded, it’ll be a game-changer financially and in terms of creating a safer, stronger environment for our members and players.
With nearly 200 junior members and growing senior squads, how do you ensure that every player has access to a clear development pathway from grassroots to competitive football?
Nasr Said:We have around 200 junior players, which is a great number for us it allows us to manage things properly and ensure quality across all levels. As a community club, we’re open to everyone. We don’t hold trials; anyone who wants to play is welcome, regardless of their experience. We’re not at NPL level, so we focus more on inclusion and development than elite selection at the junior stage.
That said, we still place a strong emphasis on growth. Our junior coordinator and technical director work closely with coaches to identify areas for improvement both for players and coaches. We have kids at all levels: some very talented, some still learning the basics.
This year, I’m starting to run the Banyule City Academy that is run through the club to support players who are more advanced and want to pursue football more seriously. It’s not about excluding others, but offering additional development to those aiming to go further. We teach our coaches, aid them in gaining proper accreditation through coaching courses. Through that, we guide them in working with these players in smaller groups, helping them refine their skills and understand our playing style.
One of our key goals is consistency from juniors through to seniors. We guide our coachesby saying ‘This is what we want your players to do’ and teach a playing style that mirrors what our senior teams use, so when juniors progress, the transition is smoother. Ultimately, we want to give kids who are serious about football every chance to succeed – and maybe even play professionally one day.
Image Provided by Nasr Said
The U16 girls heading to the Borneo Cup in 2025 is a big moment. How did this opportunity come about, and what does it signal about the club’s ambitions in developing female footballers?
Nasr Said: The Borneo Cup opportunity actually came about through a good friend of mine, who was coaching at Watsonia Soccer Club. He’s really well connected in Australian football and knows a lot of players who’ve played internationally. He mentioned his under-16 girls’ team was looking for a better environment and that they weren’t happy at their current club. So we had the conversation, and those girls ended up coming across to Banyule.
Now we’ve got a strong under-16s girls squad around 17 or 18 players and while there’s still plenty of development ahead, they’ve got a great opportunity in front of them. The Borneo Cup is a serious international tournament, with high-level academies and teams from all over. We’ll be one of the only Melbourne clubs — possibly one of the only Australian ones taking part.
It’s a big deal. For many of these girls, it’ll be their first international tournament. There’ll be an opening ceremony – we’ll be walking under the Australian flag it’s going to be unforgettable. And more than that, it’s a huge step forward for the club. Not many local teams get the chance to represent on an international stage, so this says a lot about where we’re heading and what we want to build for female footballers at Banyule.
Looking ahead, what are your key priorities as President for continuing to build a club that’s competitive, inclusive, and deeply connected to its community?
Nasr Said: My number one priority is making sure the club’s doors are open to everyone—no matter who they are. Inclusivity is massive for us. I really want to build a strong foundation for our junior players, because at the end of the day, they’re the future of the club. My goal is to see our men’s team reach NPL or VPL level, and our women’s side competing in the NPL too. But more than that, it’s about creating a club where families and members genuinely feel welcome.
I make it a point to connect with parents whether that’s at training on a Tuesday or Thursday, or just having regular conversations to check in. I’ve seen clubs where that connection is missing, and I never want that to be us. The role of President isn’t about being above anyone—it’s about building a culture and a reputation that people talk about in a positive way.
Of course, growing our sponsor base is another key part of the vision, because to compete at higher levels, you need the right support structures in place. But whether it’s juniors or seniors, men’s or women’s football we treat every team the same here. It’s all part of the bigger picture. We’re not there yet, but I really believe we’re on the right track. These things take time. You can’t build something lasting overnight but we’re getting there.
