Labor and Liberal finalise NSW Election preparations

Liam Watson
NSW Election
Image credit: Sport NSW

With the NSW Election for 2023 on Saturday, March 25 fast approaching, the Labor and Liberal parties have stated their promises for sporting investment if re-elected.

Football clubs, associations and organisations will be carefully assessing a vote that goes towards their own growth opportunities, in the lead up to an election where cost of living and housing affordability are at the top of the agenda.

Sporting clubs will get their slice of the funding pie, with promises made by the heavyweight governments. Soccerscene takes a look at where funding from Labor and Liberal will go to clubs in NSW if re-instated by the votes over the weekend.

Labor:

  1. Kemps Creek United Soccer Club will receive $50,000 for a new drainage system at their home of Bill Anderson Reserve, as per Nathan Hagarty – Labor Candidate for Leppington. This will go towards improving the overall playing surface and improving the ability to deal with significant downpour and wet weather.
  2. Revesby Rovers Football Club will receive $80,000 from Labor Candidate Kylie Wilkinson for the upgrade of the amenity building and changerooms at Amour Park. With only 25% of NSW of amenities being female friendly, this would bridge the gap for equality across the state.
  3. At the start of February, Labor responded to the ‘Playing Catch Up’ Report by increasing the Organisation Support Funding for State Sporting Organisations. This Sport NSW report was designed to address the need for funding and requesting more than the current level on offer, which Labor is committed to building if they win the election.

Liberal:

  1. Helensburgh Thistles Football Club will gain $5 million from the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government to give Rex Jackson Oval a complete makeover with two new multipurpose courts, a synthetic field, upgraded lighting and improved amenities – all to promote greater participation year-round.
  2. Queen Elizabeth Park will enjoy infrastructure improvements that cater for the only all-female club in Football Canterbury, and in the state electorate of Drummoyne, which is Russell Lea Women’s Soccer Club. The funds will create an inclusive and welcoming club to be part of.
  3. Menai Hawks FC will welcome $1.5 million to go towards their home of Buckle Reserve, where NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet and Liberal Candidate for Holsworthy, Tina Ayyad, were on site to unveil plans for a new hybrid surface with drainage and irrigation – extending the life and quality of grass.

Labor and Liberal have made their intentions clear before NSW residents hit the polling booths, as these sporting commitments show that there is still room for investment in the game.

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Inspiring the future of women’s football: The Growing Football Community grant now open

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Image Credit: Football Australia

Grassroots football is where the game grows. It is where players find their first team, coaches develop skills, and clubs function as part of local communities. Football Australia’s Growing Football Community Grant is designed to strengthen those foundations, with a particular focus on creating more opportunities for women and girls to play, coach and stay involved in football. The 2026/27 program is now open, and eligible clubs and associations can apply for grants of up to $5,000.

What is the Growing Football Community Grant?

The grant forms part of Football Australia’s Growing Football Fund, which was established with the support of CommBank following the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 hosted in Australia. Its main goal is simple: help clubs and associations attract and retain women and girls in football. Funding can support projects that improve the experience of existing players or create new pathways into the game. It can also help clubs develop coaches and build more inclusive, safer environments.

The program is about more than getting people onto the pitch. It aims to create the conditions that encourage participants to keep coming back.

Who does it support?

The program is aimed at eligible football clubs and associations across Australia. For participants, that can mean new opportunities to play, and for coaches, it can mean better access to education and development. For clubs, it can provide practical support to remove barriers that can make participation harder.

Previous grants have supported a wide range of grassroots projects, and these have included ‘come and try’ programs, female-only football activities, subsidised registration fees, improved playing uniforms, coaching education and leadership programs. The program also has a strong regional and community focus. Football Australia says 93 of the 297 clubs supported across the first three grant rounds were from regional and remote communities.

What is the community benefit?

The biggest impact can extend beyond the individual player. A club that creates a stronger pathway for girls can help build participation across an entire community. Better coaching can improve the experience for players. More women in coaching and leadership can create new role models. Removing financial or practical barriers can also make football more accessible.

That can help clubs build stronger connections with families and their local communities. Football Australia’s stated objectives include providing quality experiences for new and returning participants, developing community coaches and helping clubs create inclusive and safe environments that support the retention of women and girls. Recent recipients show how that can work in practice. Broulee Stingrays Soccer Club is using grant funding to support a female coaching pathway in the Eurobodalla region, including subsidised coaching courses for girls from the age of 14.

How can clubs apply and key dates

Applications for the Growing Football Community grants opened on the 8th of September. The deadline is 10 pm AEDT on Tuesday the 20th of October. Clubs and associations should first review the Growing Football Community Grant guidelines and check their eligibility.

Applicants then need to develop their project and budget before completing the online application. The application asks clubs to explain how their project aligns with the program objectives, the barriers they face and how the funding will help address those barriers. Successful applications are scheduled to be announced in December, with funded projects to be delivered during 2027.

For clubs looking to grow women’s and girls’ football, the grant offers an opportunity to turn a local idea into a practical community project. The impact does not stop with one season. Stronger pathways, better coaching and more welcoming clubs can help build a football community where more women and girls can start playing, stay involved and find their place in the game.

Manchester City Charges Put Financial Governance Under Spotlight

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Image Credit: Shutterstock

Manchester City’s reported guilty verdict on 114 of 115 Premier League financial charges has created a major business and administration challenge for the club. An independent commission reportedly reached its findings after a lengthy hearing into alleged financial-rule breaches between 2009 and 2018 last week.

The Premier League has not confirmed the verdict publicly, while City says the process remains ongoing and is expected to appeal. The next decision could have significant financial consequences.

No punishment has been announced; however, potential sanctions include a points deduction, financial penalties and/or expulsion from the Premier League, all of which would have significant and varied financial impact. The club must continue operating while it awaits the commission’s full decision and any appeal process, which could affect recruitment, player contracts, budgets and long-term investment decisions.

City generates substantial income through broadcasting, commercial partnerships and matchday operations – as of 2026, Manchester City’s revenue sits at $1.56 billion (894 million pounds). A significant change to the club’s Premier League status could therefore affect several revenue streams at once.

Commercial partners will also be watching the next weeks closely, and must assess how any sanction could affect their association with the club. City’s global commercial operation has become an important part of its business model during its period of sustained success. Other Premier League clubs have discussed potential compensation claims linked to the alleged breaches. Any successful claims would create another financial liability for City beyond a league sanction.

City has consistently denied wrongdoing and says it has respected due process, and its expected appeal means the forthcoming sanctions may not represent the final outcome. That leaves the club managing two priorities at once: defending its position through the regulatory process, and protecting its commercial and operational stability.

For the Premier League, the case also tests the strength of its financial regulations. The final sanction, and any appeal that follows, will shape the financial and administrative consequences for Manchester City and could influence how clubs approach financial compliance in the future.

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