Football Victoria confirmed 2024 Club Development Grants

Avatar
Image credit: IOIO IMAGES / Shutterstock.com

Football Victoria has presented the local clubs that have been successful in receiving the 2024 FV Club Development Grants.

This grant program was focused on applicants who wanted to foster a new positive sporting environment at clubs. This grant aims to help with infrastructure development, programs and plans that will enhance Female and community participation and inclusivity.

The application round had a huge amount of clubs eager to engage in the wider goals of upgrading the experience of the sport for all age groups and areas, including a great number of metropolitan and regional clubs.

The Club Development grants are part of the wider “Our Football” Strategic Plan, a re-energised campaign to encourage investment and support of the many grassroots clubs that maintain the largest amounts of participants in football.

For many grassroots clubs, grants are the main source of investment and these programs can completely change the environments at clubs and support the growing numbers of participants.

Below are the clubs that have been successful in the application.

Club
Balmoral FC Korumburra City SC Sandringham SC
Bunyip & District SC Maribyrnong Swifts FC Somerville Eagles SC
Calder United SC Middle Park FC Stawell Pioneers SC
Colac Otway Rovers AFC Morwell Pegasus SC Sunbury United FC
Darebin United SC Nichols Point SC Swan Hill SL
Deakin Ducks FC North Geelong Warriors FC Thornbury Athletic FC
Drysdale SC North Sunshine Eagles FC Truganina Lions SC
FC Birrarung Ocean Grove SC Warrnambool Wolves FC
FC Eaglehawk PEGS SC Whittlesea United SC
Fitzroy Tigers Futsal Club Phillip Island SC Williams Landing FC
Glen Eira FC Preston Lions FC Wodonga Heart FC
Kyneton District SC Rosebud SC

 

For the success of football in Victoria and Australia as a whole, grants such as this are crucial and necessary. Sport always needs investment and for one of Victoria’s most played sports the funding helps build the support for the game.

Not only do these grant-worthy recipients receive the investment needed to continue unlocking the rising potential of future players and Australia’s football culture, this funding will importantly also help maintain the strong sense of community and inclusivity these clubs bring to the average Australian.

The Club Development Grants are a positive step for grassroots sport in Australia and one can hope a success story that can be built upon in the future.

Previous ArticleNext Article

Off the Pitch Podcast: Cisco’s Expanding Role in Australia’s Sports and Entertainment Infrastructure

Avatar
Credit: Allianz Stadium

Cisco’s footprint in Australia’s sporting landscape is growing rapidly, with the tech giant playing a key role in modernising stadium infrastructure across the country.

Cisco Systems, Inc. is a leading global technology company, founded in 1984 and headquartered in San Jose, California.

The company focuses on designing, developing, and delivering networking hardware, software, telecommunications equipment, and a wide range of advanced technology solutions and services used across many industries worldwide.

With a strong international presence, Cisco has played a vital role in shaping and supporting digital infrastructure across Australia’s sports and entertainment sector, helping major venues stay connected, efficient, secure, and ready for the future.

In episode seven of Soccerscene’s Off the Pitch podcast, Regional General Manager at Cisco Manny Spanoudakis shared insights into the various projects Cisco has been involved with across several stadiums in Australia.

“I guess if we just focus on the Australian market, there’s an abundance of projects we’ve been very fortunate to have great success with,” he said on the podcast.

“If I start in Perth, I guess, and work my way east, Optus Stadium is a major project, we’re just doing a major refresh there after the original opening in 2018, Adelaide Oval, another major customer of ours.

“Then as we come up into Sydney, I guess, we’ve got the Sydney Cricket Ground, Allianz Stadium, Accor Stadium up here as well, so that’s off the top of my head, the type of large venues.”

Spanoudakis also highlighted the wide range of projects Cisco has been involved in throughout Melbourne.

“The Melbourne Cricket Ground just underwent significant and is still undergoing significant technology upgrades. It’s a project and a customer we’ve worked on for well over a decade,” he said.

“Marvel Stadium, the Melbourne Olympic Park precinct, the VRC in Flemington, Kardinia Park and GMHBA Stadium and Melbourne Racing Club.

“So there’s a very strong, we have a very strong customer base in Melbourne.”

To hear and learn more about Cisco, you can listen to the full interview with Manny Spanoudakis on episode seven of Soccerscene’s Off the Pitch Podcast, available on all major podcasting apps and here.

5th AFC Coach Education Conference Sparks a Brighter Future

Avatar
Image Credit: AFC

The 5th AFC Coach Education Conference wrapped up successfully on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, reaffirming the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) commitment to boosting the performance of Asian teams on the world stage.

Over three days, the conference featured a series of engaging presentations addressing key topics essential to advancing coach education programs across the AFC’s Member Associations (MAs).

Under the theme ‘Shaping the Future of Coach Education,’ the event kicked off on Tuesday with AFC Technical Director Andy Roxburgh delivering a keynote speech titled ‘Tomorrow’s Coaches’. His address sparked a lively dialogue among attendees, setting a collaborative tone for the conference.

Day two began with a comprehensive session on the UEFA Coaching Convention’s membership criteria, which included discussions on running national coaching courses and increasing the number of female tutors within MA coaching structures.

This session led to in-depth conversations about the unique needs of each association, the value of practical learning, diverse leadership approaches, and embracing new technology.

A standout moment was the panel discussion on the ‘Emotions in Football’ initiative, featuring experts from Qatar Football Association, Aspire Academy, AFC grassroots development, and the Education 4 Peace Foundation. The panel emphasised the vital role of social responsibility within football.

Head of Coach Education at the Football Association of Singapore and former Bolton Wanderers defender, Hasney Aljofree, praised the conference.

“It’s been a fantastic few days with top-tier information sharing. The collective knowledge exchange clearly shows what we are working to achieve together,” he said via press release.

“Having played professionally and now working as an educator, this conference supports my role as football evolves — especially with the pressures players face today through social media and constant public scrutiny.”

The conference also offered an opportunity for coaching tutors to receive updates on the AFC–Japan Football Association Women’s Pro Diploma Course, currently progressing towards its final module.

The final day featured presentations from Saudi Arabian Football Federation Technical Director Nasser Larguet and Football Association of Ireland Head of Coach Education Niall O’Regan, who shared their experiences and sparked further vibrant discussions.

Coach Education Instructor at Football Australia, Faye Chambers, reflected on the conference’s impact to the program.

“The AFC Coach Education Conference has not only enabled us to exchange ideas but also hear of success stories which undeniably motivate MAs in improving their existing programs,” she said via press release.

“Moreover, a lot of work is being done to empower more women coach educators through exclusive courses, and the impact can clearly be seen, as over the years, more and more women are taking up leadership roles in football, which is a clear indication of the progress being made on the Continent.”
This conference not only strengthens coach education across Asia but also paves the way for a brighter, more inclusive future for football in the region.

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks

Send this to a friend