Football Queensland lands $800k pledge for Mackay Park upgrade

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Football Queensland has expressed its support for Nigel Dalton’s pledge of $800,000 to upgrade the carpark at Mackay Football Park, contingent on the LNP’s success in the November election.

This commitment aligns with Football Queensland’s 2024–2026 Infrastructure Strategy, released in August, and would fulfil a key element of the Mackay Football Park Master Plan, providing substantial benefits to the Whitsunday Coast football community.

The ground, based in Glenalla on the Whitsunday Coast, has a rich history and strong community ties. It has been longing for an upgrade and hosts many junior tournaments through the year.

FQ CEO Robert Cavallucci spoke about the importance of this funding and how it relates to the #EQUALISER campaign.

“As we continue advocating for infrastructure funding as part of Football Queensland’s statewide #EQUALISER initiative, investment in football facilities like Mackay Football Park plays a crucial role in supporting the ongoing growth of the game as the state’s largest participation sport,” Cavallucci said in a statement.

“The #EQUALISER initiative highlights the critical need for greater investment in football infrastructure to support the growing demands of the game, and Football Queensland remains committed to working with all levels of government to achieve strong outcomes for our football clubs and participants across the state.”

FQ General Manager of the Northern Region Craig Ramage echoed the statements of Cavallucci.

“Football Queensland welcomes the announcement by Nigel Dalton of an $800,000 funding commitment to upgrade the carpark at Mackay Football Park,” he said in a statement.

“With almost 3,400 members of the local football community visiting Mackay Football Park each week, an upgrade of the carpark will deliver significant benefits to our Whitsunday Coast participants and their families and help us improve the football experience for everyone involved in our beautiful game.”

Football Queensland’s State Election #EQUALISER Campaign continues to drive advocacy for football, community football infrastructure and facility investments from candidates in every electorate.

Clearly the campaign is having success, benefitting 16 grassroots clubs across Queensland with sizeable funding (ranging from $150,000 to $3.8m) from local councils and the state government.

This is another example of political parties pledging to invest a great amount of money to grow the state’s largest participation sport, with an international tournament around the corner.

Football Queensland continue to lead the way in the football business spectre, ensuring that the sport grows at all levels and that governments, who historically neglected football, are starting to put it into focus.

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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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