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

Avatar
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.

Previous ArticleNext Article

Chelsea FC partners with Strava in landmark lifestyle partnership

Avatar
Image credit: Stock1987 / Shutterstock.com

The London-based giants announced the launch this week, marking a first-of-its-kind partnership for both the Premier League and Women’s Super League (WSL).

Connecting with fans

As clubs across the world look to find new and exciting ways of connecting with fans, Chelsea are showing that the answer – more often than not – already exists.

Strava is a running and fitness platform with over 195 million users across the globe. But the app represents more than just tracking speed – it is a social and lifestyle symbol through which users can connect.

And with presence in 185 countries, the app has the power to unite users from all over the world, making it a perfect fit for the globally-followed Blues.

“We are always looking at ways we can use our global brand to bring people together, often in unexpected ways,” said Brand Director for Chelsea Football Club, Scott Fenton.

“By working with Strava and becoming the first Premier League and BWSL teams to establish an official presence on Strava, we can lean into participation culture, understand where our fans are while offering new experiences for them and strengthen the bonds that unite our global community.”

Two brands with a huge international presence. One partnership which promises to encourage community, movement and healthy-living.

 

The intersection between sport and lifestyle

At first glance, Chelsea FC and Strava appear an unconventional partnership. Indeed, it is the first time a club has established an official presence on the app.

But at its core, the two organisations serve similar purposes: uniting people with a common passion for sport.

At its beginnings in 2009, Strava promised to replicate the feeling of team sports and unlocking new achievements, making a deal with Chelsea FC – one of the world’s most successful teams in recent years – a true full-circle moment.

“Chelsea FC joining Strava as the first Premier League and BWSL team to establish a global club on the platform is a powerful demonstration of how brands are engaging with their communities,” explained Director of Athlete and Community Partnerships at Strava, Mel Jarrett.

“We believe shared passion for movement creates real connections, and this collaboration brings that to life for Chelsea’s global fanbase.”

GIS expands global footprint through new MENA partnership with Squad Academy

Avatar
Image Credit: Global Institute of Sport

The Global Institute of Sport (GIS) has announced a new strategic partnership with Squad Academy, strengthening its presence across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and creating new pathways for aspiring sports industry professionals.

Under the agreement, Squad Academy will become an official representative of GIS throughout the MENA region, helping connect students and industry professionals with GIS’s globally recognised sports education programs and international network.

The partnership reflects GIS’s ongoing commitment to making high-quality sports education more accessible while supporting the development of the next generation of leaders across the global sports industry.

By leveraging Squad Academy’s regional expertise and established presence, GIS aims to expand opportunities for students seeking industry-led learning, professional development and international career pathways in one of world sport’s fastest-growing regions.

The collaboration also aligns with the increasing investment in sport throughout the Middle East and North Africa. From hosting major international football tournaments to significant infrastructure projects and growing domestic leagues, the region has emerged as a key driver of global sports growth, creating greater demand for skilled professionals across administration, management, events, marketing and performance.

Squad Academy will play an important role in introducing prospective students to GIS’s range of undergraduate, postgraduate and executive education offerings, while connecting them to the institute’s extensive network of industry partners and experts.

In announcing the partnership, GIS described the collaboration as another significant milestone in its mission to develop future sports industry professionals around the world.

“This partnership represents an exciting step in our mission to develop the next generation of sports industry professionals around the world.”

The announcement continues GIS’s strategy of expanding its international footprint through partnerships that broaden access to education and strengthen connections between emerging sports markets and the global sports industry.

As football and the wider sports sector continue to experience rapid growth throughout the MENA region, the partnership is expected to create greater opportunities for students and professionals looking to build careers in one of the world’s most dynamic sporting landscapes.

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks

Send this to a friend