Football Victoria recognised at Pride in Sport Awards

Liam Watson

Football Victoria (FV) has been recognised as a Bronze tier organisation at the recent 2021 Australian Pride in Sport Awards.

The awards were able to present the results of the Australian Pride in Sport Index, a national benchmarking tool used to assess LGBTQ inclusion within Australian sport. The Pride in Sport Awards, held on the 13th of April at the Hyatt Regency Sydney, was hosted by ABC journalist and Twenty10 Board Member Mon Schafter.

Pride in Sport is Australia’s first and only sporting acceptance program specifically designed to assist sporting organisations with LGBTI inclusion.

FV’s recognition is a result of the member federation’s continued efforts to promote inclusion and equality within football and the wider community. This announcement of FV as a Bronze tier level organisation marks the highest honour that they have received from Pride in Sport to date.

Executive Manager Growth and Inclusion Karen Pearce shared her delight with the outcome, outlining how FV will strive to build on this achievement heading into the future.

“This recognition is a testament to FV’s dedication to truly make football for all. As an organisation we have continuously worked hard to ensure that we are championing inclusion and are at the forefront of diversity,” she said.

“Everyone at FV is immensely proud of this achievement and we will use this as inspiration to continue to develop and set a strong example for the future.”

As part of the 2021 Pride in Sport Recipients, they marked a milestone with five organisations reaching gold status – the highest benchmark level. They were BlocHaus Port Melbourne, Cricket Australia, MQ Sport, RMIT University Sport and Tennis Australia.

The Australian Pride in Sport Awards delved into multiple areas of sporting organisations and beyond, where they also acknowledged other achievements made by coaches, role models, media outlets and others. For anyone mentioned, their contribution has lead towards greater inclusion of people with diverse sexualities and genders.

FV’s commitment to inclusion was strengthened further when the 2021 Pride Football Victoria Cup took place in Melbourne on April 20. The two competing teams were Melbourne Rovers and Victoria Police who battled it out for a 5th title.

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Football NSW to Build on 2024 Participation Record in 2025

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Image credit: Football NSW

Football NSW are aiming to develop on the extraordinary numbers of the 2024 season that saw more than 260,000 players take to the pitch. The announcement comes as part of the national Play Football campaign.

With NSW being one of Australia’s largest participation states for football, the federation’s push for more numbers is a welcome target for football in the country.

Football NSW CEO John Tsatsimas spoke with enthusiasm about the sport’s trajectory, highlighting its inclusive nature.

“Football continues to be the sport of choice for the NSW and Australian community, providing a positive environment for participants of all ages and abilities,” Tsatsimas mentioned via Football NSW official press release.

“We have had unprecedented growth in players, coaches, referees and volunteers, with exponential growth in the female game.”

The statistics paint a promising picture of the sport’s expansion, with 2024 registering a 9% increase in player numbers from the earlier season. This translates to over 20,000 new participants.

Perhaps most significantly with the effect of the Women’s FIFA World Cup of 2023, female participation surged by 17%, with more than 9,000 women and girls joining the sport, accounting for nearly half of the total growth.

Maintaining and increasing Women and girls’ levels in the sport are crucial points for development of the Australian game and will be key for the continued rise in participation numbers.

The organisation is now actively encouraging early registration for the 2025 season to ensure players can secure spots with their preferred local clubs, with help from the updated Play Football website.

Beyond player participation, Football NSW is expanding its focus on supporting roles within the sport. The 2024 season witnessed record numbers in coaching, refereeing, and volunteering positions, all crucial components of the game’s ecosystem.

The need for more people joining non-player roles through all levels of the game in NSW is evident with John Tsatsimas pointing out himself the necessity for the 2025 Season.

“There’s a place for everyone in our sport, and we look forward to welcoming new and returning participants for the 2025 season,” Tsatsimas explained via Football NSW official press release.

For those interested in contributing to the sport beyond playing, Football NSW has established comprehensive pathways.

The Football NSW Coach Hub provides resources and guidance for aspiring coaches looking to shape the next generation of footballers.

Additionally, the Referee Hub offers opportunities for individuals to engage with the sport from a different perspective while maintaining an active lifestyle.

With football’s exciting growth continuing in Australia with the expansion and promising viewership numbers of the 2024-25 professional A-leagues, it is always important for the sport that the participation numbers of state leagues and amateur local clubs follow the trend.

Register now for 2025 by clicking here.

Auckland FC welcomes Alvarium as Premium Partner

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Image Credit: Auckland FC Website

Auckland FC has embraced New Zealand based wealth management firm Alvarium as a premium partner to the club.

As a part of the collaboration, Alvarium logos and advertisement material will be featured on Auckland FC’s game day shirt sleeve.

This provides Alvarium with exclusive and highly prized visible branding, enabling the club to be seen more easily by a wealth of A-League fans.

Chief Executive Officer of Alvarium, Malcolm McKinnon, outlined his organisation’s enthusiasm for the partnership.

“Our team is always looking for opportunities to support commendable partners who combine high performance with great community engagement. We believe we have found that in abundance with Auckland FC,” McKinnon said in a press release.

Chief Executive Officer of Auckland FC, Nick Becker highlighted the shared aims of both organisations.

“Like Alvarium, we at Auckland FC are focused on bringing together the right mix of ideas and opportunities to achieve the best possible outcomes,” he said via press release.

Auckland FC expresses the deal with Alvarium is reflective of the club’s commitment to “With Everyone, For Everyone”, as the firm has a history of supporting the community. The organisation was a founding advocate of The King’s Trust, which helps enable young people for the future ahead of them.

Additionally, the firm is a key partner of SailGP, a team that seeks to protect ocean welfare and advance environmental concerns across New Zealand and on the global stage.

Furthermore, Alvarium is also a team supporter of the New Zealand Paralympics team, demonstrating the company’s commitment to social change in sport to help positively boost community awareness of diversity and disability.

As a company, Alvarium is excited to join forces with Auckland FC to bolster the firm’s brand to a local audience across New Zealand through a new and lively club with a passionate fanbase, whilst expanding the company’s advertising to an Australian market.

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