Football Queensland President Ben Richardson’s letter to the football community

Staff Writer
Football Queensland

To all members of our Queensland football community, 

After two years of unprecedented challenges and interruptions to our game with the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, in recent weeks we’ve once again found ourselves coming together to work through a significant crisis as a sport and as a community. 

As the water recedes and we prepare for the return of football in many regions from this weekend, it is poignant to reflect on the devastation caused by the recent flood event across a huge number of our football clubs in the South East Queensland and Wide Bay regions. 

It has been personally heartbreaking to see the hard work of dedicated volunteers washed away in just a matter of days. Many of you may not be aware of the true scale of devastation, especially for those whose clubs have been lucky enough to escape significant damage. 

Football Queensland has been working closely with clubs to assess the impact of the recent flood event and is continuing to learn more about the severity of damage inflicted, primarily across South East Queensland. 

So far, Football Queensland has identified 102 clubs who have been affected by flooding; this includes 90 fields inundated with water, 42 club changeroom buildings and 37 clubhouses heavily damaged, 21 clubs with damaged machinery and 21 clubs with damage to their field lighting, with many still yet to be assessed. 

All parts of our game have been impacted, with FQ’s own headquarters at Meakin Park submerged in two metres of floodwater for many days and the clean-up only able to begin in the last week.  

Our focus has remained on supporting our clubs through this time as we know they have lost the most. Run by volunteers who dedicate countless hours to prepare fields and maintain clubhouses and facilities each week, sustaining damage of this magnitude is absolutely devastating for clubs and their members. 

It was a pleasure to welcome Will Hastie and Alex Davani from Football Australia to Queensland this week to discuss support and recovery efforts while visiting some of the clubs and facilities who were heavily impacted.  

Football Queensland launched a dedicated Flood Support Hub in the wake of the flood event, providing a go-to place for clubs to seek assistance from the football community, find information on fundraising and relevant funding opportunities, and connect them with volunteers willing to help in their clean-up efforts. 

The Flood Support Hub is also providing clubs with access to relevant webinars and helpful resources from our partners to help them get back on their feet, and will continue to be updated as more resources become available.  

With the support of Football Australia, Football Queensland wrote to the Queensland Premier advising of the impacts of the flood event being experienced by so many of our clubs and seeking assistance in football’s recovery efforts. We were delighted to hear the Queensland Government announcement just days later of disaster recovery funding being made available for sporting organisations, and encourage all impacted clubs to apply for funding of up to $20,000 via the Queensland Government website once applications open. 

We have also been working with both the State and Federal Governments and relevant local councils to accommodate a return to football as soon as possible, and we’re delighted to have been able to get many competitions back up and running across the state from this weekend. 

We understand that even those clubs and participants not directly affected by flooding have been impacted in recent weeks as we’ve been forced to postpone fixtures at all levels of the game in certain regions, and we thank you for your ongoing patience and cooperation. 

Whilst our focus remains first and foremost on supporting our clubs and volunteers who still have a tough road ahead of them, we are also excited to get players at every level of the game back out on the park in many regions from this weekend onwards. We know this will lift the spirits of so many across our game who have been personally impacted by the flood event. 

It has been truly incredible to see our football community band together over the last few weeks to provide support wherever it was needed. Whilst the sport is what unites each of us, it is the unwavering community spirit off the pitch that makes football the beautiful game. 

As we continue to navigate the ongoing challenges of flood recovery alongside many of our clubs, the resumption of competitions this weekend is a timely and welcome reminder that even in the hardest of times, football will always return. 

Ben Richardson
President
Football Queensland

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Securing Our Football Future: Football Australia’s $3 Billion Plea

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Image Credit: Football Australia Website

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

Grassroots Strain: Participation Outpacing Facilities

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.

Competing Football Promises as Election Day Approaches

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Matildas vs France Women's World Cup
Image credit: CommBank Matildas

This Saturday the Australian public will shape the future of the nation when they head to the polls to vote in the 2025 Federal election.

Another factor that could sway some voters is the promises made by the major parties to support local sports clubs and reserves, especially those focused on football.

The Albanese Labor Government has already made major strides when it comes to funding the future of soccer in this nation, particularly for women’s and girl’s involvement.

On the back of a successful FIFA women’s World Cup campaign on home soil which saw the Matildas make it to the Semi-Final, the Albanese Government announced the “Play Our Way” program.

This program would provide greater opportunities for women and girls to access, participate and remain involved in sport and physical activity.

Women and girls in Australia are under-represented in sport and physical activity, so, the Play Our Way program will support and provide more opportunities for equal participation in sport and physical activity, as well as access to sporting facilities, equipment and initiatives.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted the importance of the program.

“The Matildas have given us a moment of national inspiration, this is about seizing that opportunity for the next generation, investing in community sporting facilities for women and girls around Australia,” he said in a press release.

“Sport is a great unifier and a great teacher – it brings communities together, it teaches us about teamwork and resilience and the joy of shared success.

“We want women and girls everywhere in Australia to have the facilities and the support to choose a sport they love.”

The Australian government has provided $200 million for the Play Our Own program which will run over three years from 2024-25 to 2026-27.

Looking ahead, Labor has made several commitments to supporting the growth of football across the country.

One example is the pledge to commit $1.2 million to upgrade soccer facilities in Creswick and Daylesford if the Federal Labor Government is re-elected.

In April, Catherine King, the Member for Ballarat, announced that the funding promise will go towards upgrades at Victoria Park in Daylesford and the Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve in Creswick.

According to Ms King, the Daylesford and Hepburn United Soccer Club has around 150 players, including 40 female players, and has been forced to cap its intake because current pitches cannot accommodate this growth.

Labor’s pledge will help rectify this issue as well as create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all women and girls. 

Other pledges by Labor include $10 million towards a new mini stadium for Melbourne City FC, facility upgrades at Alamein FC/ Ashburton SC, $3.5 million towards female-friendly facilities at St Albans Saints FC, and more.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Party has also pledged strong support for the future of the sport, promising funding if elected.

One notable example is the party’s pledge to commit $2 million to upgrade Heidelberg United Alexander FC facilities should it win the federal election.

In April, Liberal candidate Chris Parr made the announcement in the Jagajaga electorate, joined by local MP Keith Wolahan and Senator James Paterson.

The funding will go towards major improvements to the club’s facilities, including a new Olympic Museum, bigger training areas, more open green space, and larger clubrooms to better serve the growing community.

The announcement has been seen as a big win for local families, sports lovers, and volunteers, with the Coalition highlighting its commitment to supporting communities by working closely with local groups and the Banyule City Council.

Another notable pledge by the Liberal Party is to upgrade Devlins Road Recreation Reserve in Ocean Grove.

In March 2025, the Liberal Party confirmed that the first stage of the upgrade would receive $5 million if the Coalition wins the federal election.

This project would bring new soccer fields with lighting and fencing, a pavilion, and a new home for the Surfside Waves Soccer Club, establishing a permanent base for junior soccer and other sports at the reserve.

However, in the following month, the Albanese Labor government pledged to match the election promise made by the Coalition meaning the first stage of the Devlins Road Reserve upgrade in Ocean Grove will get a $5 million kickstart regardless of which party forms the government next month.

This is just one of many instances where both parties have clashed over election commitments to local clubs and reserves, with other examples including FC Eaglehawk, Dwyer Street Reserve, Phillip Island Soccer Club just to name a few.

According to Football Victoria, the 2025 federal election has resulted in a total funding commitment value of $93,560,000 in just the state alone.

So, as Australians head to the polls, it’s clear that the battle for votes extends beyond national issues, with local football sports funding emerging as a key play in shaping community support.

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