Football West welcomes new life member and two new board members

Football West Welcomes New Life Member and Two New Board Members

Football West has announced a new Life Member as well as two new board members.

Frank Moretti was officially awarded Life Membership at last night’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), held at the Sam Kerr Football Centre.

Frank’s involvement in football dates back to 1966, with his most significant contributions coming through refereeing—a path he began in 1987.

Over the course of a distinguished 14-year career as a referee, he officiated at top-tier events, including National Soccer League (NSL) matches and WA State Team games, notably against high-profile teams like Red Star Belgrade.

After retiring from active refereeing, Frank remained a key figure in the sport, taking on leadership roles in referee training, development, management, and administration throughout Western Australia.

He also served as a match commissioner during the NSL era and continues in this capacity today at the A-League level.

“Congratulations to Frank on his Life Membership, he is a very popular and widely respected figure in WA football who has given decades of service to refereeing,” Football West Chair Sherif Andrawes said at the meeting.

At last night’s AGM, Jade Concei and Greg Sleigh were elected as new Directors, while David Buckingham was re-elected for a second term on the Board.

Jade Concei is a corporate and commercial lawyer, currently serving as Managing Counsel and Deputy Company Secretary at energy provider Synergy.

Football runs in her family—her grandfather played for Perth Azzurri (now Perth SC) back in the 1950s.

Greg Sleigh is the General Manager of Commercial Operations at Optus Stadium for VenuesLive.

He brings a wealth of experience in strategy, sport, communications, and marketing.

He’s also actively involved at the grassroots level as the U16-17 Women’s Coordinator at Murdoch University Melville FC.

Jade and Greg step into the roles previously held by outgoing Board Members Will Golsby and Annette Tilbrook.

Mr. Andrawes welcomed Jade Concei and Greg Sleigh to the Board, praised David Buckingham on his re-election, and thanked outgoing members Will Golsby and Annette Tilbrook for their valuable contributions to Football West.

“Football West is delighted to welcome Jade and Greg to the Board. They are highly skilled professionals and will be great additions to Football West going forward,” Andrawes said.

“And well done to David Buckingham on his re-election. He first joined the Board in March 2021 and has contributed greatly over the past four years.

“I would also like to thank Will and Annette for their service to Football West. Will has done incredible work throughout his eight-year tenure, including as Deputy Chair, and he has been an outstanding asset to the organisation.

“Annette joined Football West just under three years ago, and has been a valued Board Member, especially with her experience in the Asian sphere.”

With this strong mix of experience and fresh perspectives, Football West is well-positioned to continue driving growth and success in football across the region.

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GIS and ACPE join forces to strengthen football coaching and tactical development

The Global Institute of Sport (GIS) and Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE) will support Hills Football Association in delivering a specialist coaching workshop designed to improve player development, tactical understanding and performance analysis.

Taking place on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, at the ACPE campus in Sydney Olympic Park, the workshop will bring together experienced football coaches and performance analysts to explore practical approaches to developing players’ tactical awareness, decision-making and understanding of the game.

Titled Developing and Supporting Players’ Tactical Understanding, the event will run from 6pm to 8.30pm and feature two workshops focused on translating coaching theory and performance analysis into practical learning environments.

Former Matildas head coach Tom Sermanni, who has also led the national women’s teams of the United States, Canada and New Zealand, will present the first session, Working with International Players.

The workshop will examine how coaches can design training sessions that develop tactical execution under realistic match conditions, with an emphasis on practice design, player decision-making and effective coaching behaviours.

The second session, From Video to Understanding, will be facilitated by experienced performance analysts from GIS and ACPE.

Participants will explore how match footage can be used to strengthen tactical learning, encourage player reflection and develop independent decision-making.

The session will also examine how coaches can structure effective video reviews that align with coaching objectives and a team’s playing model.

Supporting the next generation of football coaches

The initiative highlights the growing importance of combining traditional coaching methods with modern performance analysis to support player development across Australian football.

As clubs and football organisations increasingly seek to improve coaching standards, access to practical education and industry expertise remains an important component of developing more effective learning environments.

The workshop is designed for coaches seeking player-centred approaches that encourage footballers to read the game, understand tactical situations and make better decisions on the pitch.

Participants will receive two hours of Football Australia Continuing Professional Development (CPD) recognition.

For GIS, the collaboration provides another opportunity to connect its specialist sports education and analytics expertise with the practical demands of football coaching.

The institute delivers postgraduate sports education through online learning and stadium-based campuses internationally, including Sydney’s Allianz Stadium and SCG.

Its Sydney offering includes the Master of Sports Analytics and Master of International Sports Business, supporting the development of professionals across the sporting industry.

ACPE, established in 1917 and based at Sydney Olympic Park, brings extensive experience in sport, health and physical education, with a strong emphasis on industry-focused learning and practical professional development.

Together with Hills Football Association, the two education providers aim to equip coaches with practical knowledge that can be applied directly within their football environments.

Event details

  • Event: Developing and Supporting Players’ Tactical Understanding
  • Date: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
  • Time: 6pm to 8.30pm
  • Venue: ACPE Campus, 10 Parkview Drive, Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127
  • Presenter: Tom Sermanni
  • Facilitators: Performance analysts from ACPE and GIS
  • CPD: Two hours of Football Australia Continuing Professional Development

Coaches interested in attending are encouraged to register through the event’s official registration channel.

For more information about the education providers, visit Global Institute of Sport and Australian College of Physical Education.

Football NSW backs 20 female coaches with qualification scholarships

Football NSW has supported 20 female coaches to complete their AFC/Football Australia C Diploma qualification in 2026, using scholarships funded through Football Australia and CommBank’s Growing Football Fund to reduce the cost of coach education.

The initiative included a dedicated female-only C Diploma course delivered by Football NSW in April and May, attended by 13 coaches. An additional seven received support to complete courses closer to their local communities, improving access for coaches across metropolitan and regional New South Wales.

Football NSW Head of Women’s and Schools Football Hayley Todd said the scholarships had helped address a key barrier to coaching development.

“These scholarships have helped remove a significant barrier for many female coaches seeking to progress their coaching journey,” Todd said.

Todd said the combination of a female-only course and support for locally accessible qualifications had created pathways for 20 women to develop their skills and contribute to football in their communities.

The program reflects an ongoing challenge for the sport: increasing women’s participation also requires investment in the coaches who lead teams, develop players and help shape club environments.

By helping cover qualification costs, the scholarships give recipients an opportunity to strengthen their coaching knowledge and leadership capabilities while expanding the pool of qualified female coaches available to clubs.

The support also connects to the wider Growing Football Fund, a joint Football Australia and CommBank initiative aimed at creating more opportunities for women and girls in the game.

The fund’s community grant program offers eligible clubs and associations grants of up to $5,000 to help attract or retain women and girls in football, with applications for the 2026–27 round closing on 20 October 2026.

The governing body also offers Women in Football Coaching Scholarships worth 50 per cent of course costs, with applications limited.

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