Football West Belt Up partnership strives for road safety awareness

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Football West Belt Up

Football West has celebrated the renewal of its longstanding partnership with the Insurance Commission of Western Australia.

Together, the two organisations have committed to a new agreement which will see the Commision support Football West for the next three years, until the end of 2027.

As a part of the deal, the Commision’s Belt Up campaign will feature prominently across West Australian football leagues to help spread road safety awareness, and will become a name partner for the following key competitions:

  • Belt Up Amateur Night Series
  • Belt Up Men’s Amateur, Metro, and Masters leagues
  • Belt Up Men’s Amateur, Metro, and Masters cup finals
  • Belt Up Amateur, Metro and Masters Awards

Additionally, the yearly Regional Festival of Football will be rebranded to the Belt Up Regional Festival of Football.

The Insurance Commision of West Australia will also become a pivotal backer of a range of important initiatives across Football West, including the Belt Up NAIDOC Ball Design Competition and Belt Up Round.

Through their previous work with Football West over the last seven years, the Insurance Commision of West Australia has delivered over 16,000 footballs to clubs across West Australia with Belt Up advertising. Their new renewed partnership will see the Commision continue to provide over 2,000 balls a year.

Football West CEO Jamie Harnwell expressed the importance of the collaboration for the organisation and West Australian football.

“It is fantastic that the Insurance Commission is committed to extending its support for grassroots football in Western Australia through the Belt Up campaign, helping us share the important road safety message in metro and regional WA,” he said via press release.

“We have seen how our clubs have benefited from our agreement, with the Belt Up ball distribution providing them with thousands of footballs each year.

“It is also exciting to have the Belt Up campaign across the Regional Festival of Football, giving further exposure to the campaign.”

Insurance Commission General Manager Governance and Stakeholder Relations, Alison Wilson, outlined how the deal would help improve the delivery of the Belt Up campaign’s messaging.

“The Belt Up campaign is an important initiative to encourage the use of seatbelts every time you get into a car to reduce preventable injuries and fatalities resulting from crashes. Each year, around 100 people are killed or seriously injured in crashes as a result of not wearing a seatbelt.” she said in a press release.

“Our partnership with Football West helps share the important Belt Up message across the football community, and we’re pleased to continue our sponsorship of Football West with an additional focus on regional areas. We’d much rather see you on the pitch than end up as a statistic. Play it safe and Belt Up!”

Through their collaboration, Football West and the Insurance Commission of West Australia will continue to support community football and preach road safety.

 

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Heidelberg United denied qualification to AFC UCL 2

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Image credit: Mark Avellino Photography / Australia Cup

In an announcement made yesterday, Football Australia revealed that, in place of Heidelberg United, Melbourne Victory will now take the AFC UCL 2 spot.

A premature ending

In what is sure to be a disappointing verdict for Heidelberg’s fans, staff and supporters, the NPL VIC side will no longer compete in next season’s AFC CL 2.

The decision comes despite Heidelberg meeting the necessary criteria outlined in Football Australia’s National Club Licensing Regulations.

“We understand that this will be a disappointing outcome for everyone connected to Heidelberg United FC,” said FA Executive Director of Football, Heather Garriock, via press release.

“The club earned enormous respect through its performances this season and should be proud of what it achieved both on and off the pitch.”

Indeed, through defeating several A-League outfits en-route to the Australia Cup Final against Newcastle Jets, Heidelberg did earn widespread respect and admiration across the landscape. Football Australia also strongly advocated for the side’s place in the AFC CL 2 following Newcastle’s qualification to the AFC CL Elite.

But despite the determined efforts of the club’s board to meet all necessary criteria, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) ruled the side ineligible to compete.

 

Victory emerge as replacements

Filling the now-vacant position in next season’s competition is Melbourne Victory, who finished 4th in the A-League this year.

As 3rd-place Auckland FC are based in New Zealand, thus falling under the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), they are also ineligible to compete.

So while the AFC CL 2 will still be arriving in Melbourne next season, fixtures will no longer be built on the underdog success story of Heidelberg’s immense rise from NPL to AFC CL matchdays.

The club, however, will appeal the decision, and has written to Football Australia for further clarity on the Appeals Process.

It remains uncertain whether the appeal will be successful or not, but Heidelberg will undoubtedly enjoy the backing not just of its own staff and supporters, but of the entire Australian grassroots community.

Canada Soccer to begin new National Training Centre project

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Image credit: ACHPF / Shutterstock.com

Backed by the Government of Canada with an investment worth nearly AUD 10 million ($9,826,000), the project aims to establish a world-class facility for athletes, coaches and communities.

Building the sport and community

The investment comes as part of the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF), an ambitious program of the Government of Canada which will provide AUD 51 billion ($51 billion) to infrastructure projects over 10 years.

However, the Canada Soccer Training Centre is one key project which will benefit from such substantial investment. But the project isn’t just for future players – it will help boost economic activity and create a facility built for excellence and growth.

“It is about creating a world-class sport facility where athletes can train and represent Canada at their best,” explained Secretary of State (Sport), Honourable Adam van Koeverden, via press release.

“From the playground to the podium, it is projects like this that provide athletes, coaches, local families and communities with vibrant, accessible spaces to fuel participation, connection, and a growing passion for sport.”

President of Canada Soccer, Peter Auguros, further expressed his gratitude for the investment and what it could bring future generations.

“This support reflects a shared belief in the power of sport to strengthen communities and develop the next generation of Canadian talent. We are proud to partner in building infrastructure that will benefit our athletes and help shape the future of the sport in Canada.”

 

Growth gains momentum

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 set to kick off in a few short weeks, Canada Soccer’s plan for a National Training Centre Project is symbolic of long-term vision.

The tournament is not a final flourish, but a stepping stone to accelerated growth.

And this is not a short-term setup.

As President of Concacaf and Vice-Preisdent of FIFA, Victori Montagliani explained, this is a project designed to survive for generations.

“The development of a National Training Centre in Canada represents an important legacy project for the country and it is always a positive sign when our members invest in infrastructure across the region.”

 

Final thoughts

The project, therefore, perfectly aligns a growing buzz for football across the region with intentional investment and ambition.

And although the action must eventually stop on the pitch, Canada Soccer are ensuring that growth continues long after the tournament’s final whistle.

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