From the Matildas to the World Stage: FCA Hosts Star-Studded Women’s Football Panel

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Football Coaches Australia

Football Coaches Australia will present a special expert panel workshop on Monday February 16 at 7:30pm (Melbourne time), bringing together leading voices from across the women’s game to preview the upcoming AFC Women’s Tournament in Australia this March.

The online event will feature an experienced and diverse lineup of coaches and football leaders, offering unique insights into tournament preparation, player development and the continued growth of women’s football.

The evening will open with Steve Darby, a former Matildas coach who worked with the national team during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Darby will reflect on the early evolution of the Matildas program and share his experiences preparing national teams for international competition, drawing on extensive coaching work across Australia, Asia and the United Kingdom.

Philippines Women’s National Team Head Coach Mark Torcaso will then provide an inside look at his squad’s preparation for the upcoming tournament. Melbourne-born Torcaso offers a valuable perspective on international team development and high-performance planning.

Current Matildas Assistant Coach Emily Husband will outline Australia’s preparation for the tournament, before FCA Executive Board Member and former Matilda discusses the current state and future direction of the women’s game in Australia.

Scottish Women’s National Team Head Coach Mel Andreatta will also join the session, contributing to discussion and donating two 12-month FCA memberships to be awarded to female attendees.

Each presenter will deliver a short presentation followed by an interactive Q&A session with participants.

Coaches and attendees can register via Eventbrite.

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Football NSW partners with Deploy for Association Championships

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Image credit: Deploy Football

In an announcement released on Thursday this week, Football NSW revealed Deploy as the Naming Rights Partner of the Football NSW Association Championships.

New competition, new talents

The Association Championships, set to take place in July 2026 at Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex in Mudgee, will replace the former Association Youth League.

Although the tournament has changed name, its purpose remains consistent: giving youth players the platform to showcase their talent on the football pitch.

In a display of unity and collective ambition, 18 Associations across New South Wales will enter representative teams, each one featuring gifted grassroots players looking to prove themselves against their peers.

“The Deploy FNSW Association Championships will provide a fantastic platform for our Associations to come together and celebrate the best of elite community football,” said Football NSW CEO, John Tsatsimas via official press release.

“This tournament is all about giving young players, coaches, and referees from every corner of the state a chance to shine and develop in a competitive, supportive environment.”

The partnership between Deploy and Football NSW, therefore, is not merely about a name alteration. It is a collaboration which presents future grassroots talents with a platform and opportunity to compete.

 

Built on shared values

No partnership can succeed without both parties sharing a common goal or set of values. In this case, the alliance between Football NSW and Deploy is built on a commitment to supporting grassroots football and supplying players with quality resources and experiences to showcase their talent.

“Deploy is proud to partner with Football NSW as the Naming Rights Partner of the Association Championships. Community sport plays a vital role in bringing people together and building future leaders, both on and off the field,” explained Chief Commercial Officer at Deploy, Kurt Johnson.

“As long-time partners with Football NSW, this aligns perfectly with our strategy of creating balls designed for each age and skill level of the game, ranging from junior training balls to professional match balls perfect for the competitive environment like the Association Championships.”

Furthermore, with hundreds of participants including players, referees, coaches and supporters due to attend the tournament, the partnership’s impact will extend right across the state of New South Wales.

Victorian Parliament Hosts Landmark Launch Event for Level the Playing Field Initiative

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Image Credit: Football Victoria

Victoria’s football community gathered at Parliament House on Thursday for the launch of the Level the Playing Field initiative, bringing together government representatives, councils, administrators and grassroots clubs in a rare show of unity for the game.

Held in Queen’s Hall at Parliament House Melbourne, the event marked the formal introduction of the campaign and highlighted the growing collaboration between football stakeholders and government to support the sport’s rapid growth across the state.

The launch was organised through the Parliamentary Friends of Football Victoria, a newly established group aimed at strengthening ties between football and policymakers at federal, state and local levels.

Speaking at the event, co-convenor Anthony Cianflone emphasised the significance of bringing the sport’s diverse ecosystem together under one roof.

“This is the very purpose of establishing the Parliamentary Friends of Football Victoria,” he said.

“It’s about bringing together federal, state and local governments with the entire football ecosystem – something that has never been done before.”

Cianflone described the gathering as a historic moment for the sport in Victoria, noting that the state’s parliament had never previously hosted a dedicated football event of this scale.

“Queen’s Hall being booked out for football has never happened before,” he said. “Hopefully it leaves a lasting impression about what football means to local communities and why continued investment and support is so important.”

The event drew representatives from clubs across Victoria, alongside administrators and officials from across the football landscape, reflecting the sport’s deep grassroots foundations and broad community reach.

Leaders from Football Victoria also addressed the gathering, highlighting the role football plays in promoting health, social inclusion and community connection across the state.

The launch comes at a time of significant momentum for the sport nationally, following the record-breaking success of the Australia women’s national soccer team and growing participation numbers at grassroots level.

With football participation continuing to rise across Victoria, organisers said the event represented an important step toward strengthening collaboration between clubs, governing bodies and government to support the future of the game.

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