Liverpool confirms expansion for Anfield Road Stand

Liverpool Football Club’s proposed expansion of the Anfield Road Stand has been confirmed.

The project, which has been undergoing enabling works throughout the off-season in anticipation, will begin with an official ground-breaking ceremony planned for next week.

Liverpool City Council awarded the club planning permission in June 2021, which included the right to hold up to six concerts and major events at the stadium for a period of five seasons.

The redevelopment of the stand will see 7,000 more seats added to Anfield, taking its overall capacity to more than 61,000. Following two stages of public consultation and feedback on the initial plans, Anfield Road’s expansion project will reroute Anfield Road itself around the footprint of the new stand.

Akin to the construction process undergone by the recently redeveloped Main Stand, the Anfield Road Stand will be worked on throughout the season while matches continue to be played.

Liverpool Managing Director Andy Hughes outlined the steps taken by the club to ensure that the Anfield Road Stand redevelopment could go ahead.

“We have been clear from the beginning that in order for this expansion to go ahead we needed the co-operation of local residents and the community, to successfully navigate the complex planning landscape, and to ensure the project is financially viable,” he said.

“We needed certainty for this project to progress and are now in a position to be able to move forward. We began this journey in 2014 and are grateful to everyone for the contributions they have made to bring the project to this stage.”

When complete, the expanded Anfield Road Stand is expected to create around 400 matchday roles in addition to the 2,200 people currently employed in various operations at each home game, of which 95 per cent are known to live in the Liverpool City Region.

The redeveloped Anfield Road Stand is anticipated to be ready for the 2023/24 season and its design will see the lower tier retained and refurbished with a new upper tier built above it.

As well as an increased capacity, the redeveloped stand will be similar to the Main Stand, with improved concourses and sports bar lounge hospitality facilities. This stand will also see the relocation of the Family Park to a covered position.

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Next CEO of Football Australia steps into the hot seat

Whoever the new Football Australia CEO is. They will face tough challenges.

Last Thursday James Johnson announced his resignation as CEO of Football Australia (FA) after five and a half years at the helm.

James Johnson over his tenure has presented over much activity in Australian football.

He’s overseen Australia’s co-hosting the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with New Zealand.

This event produced a record influx of girls and women to all levels of the game and highlighted that the current footballing system didn’t have the capabilities to sustain this increase.

He was partied to the A-Leagues break from the FA into the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) in 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.

Only recently he was instrumental in the FA’s creation of the National Second Division (NSD) to develop the footballing pyramid.

Many of these initiatives had and continue to have a significant impact.

Yet the complexity and work for these undertakings continue.

Though who is going to be the successor?

Heather Garriock, ex Matilda, has been confirmed as Interim CEO.

She has had experience in this type of role serving as CEO of Australian Taekwondo and as a director on the FA Board since 2021.

Garriock currently serves on the Asian Football Confederation’s Technical Committee and is an exciting fit.

Other than Garriock’s appointment, very little has been spoken on the position.

State Federation CEOs such as Football NSW’s John Tsatsimas and Football Queensland’s Robert Cavallucci are well regarded in the industry.

Would taking them away from their state positions a wise plan or are they even keen to take this huge role anyway?

Maybe from outside the footballing space a CEO of business experience could be valuable.

That being said, caution of people with little ‘football knowledge’ should not be taken lightly.

Football fans know all too well the divisiveness of CEO’s who don’t understand the complexities of the game can be.

What challenges are ahead?

For whoever claims the top spot, they and the FA already face some important hurdles.

First and foremost, they will have to preside over the upcoming start of the NSD in October this year.

A huge occasion in the story of Australian Football and a competition that many clubs, fans and communities are banking on to be a success.

If successful, not only will it bring back into the limelight storied clubs, who’s history have woven the rich tapestry of Australian football, but it’ll open the pathway to a new and improved Australian footballing pyramid, giving clubs the following and support they need to grow and develop.

Things such as funding opportunities, more mainstream media audiences and the chance to stamp their mark into the footballing nucleus.

Though with great expectation comes more chance for disappointment.

The current system for the NSD can be argued to be sufficient, but like all great shifts in football it needs to grow, to expand and importantly to deliver on its goal of a more streamline pyramid.

This push will face funding and support challenges and the NSD, the clubs and the FA will struggle if this new chapter is stagnant.

Which brings us to the next challenge.

The A-League and APL

The A-league is producing an amazing new generation of players for Australia, with increased viewership, fan presence and transfer revenue from home grown talent its producing a record season.

However, under the surface the A-League has struggled since its break from the FA into the APL.

The funding and its recent overhaul paint a bleak picture for the clubs.

On top of this the prospect of future relegation would worry any figures of the clubs, from investors to the club’s lifeblood’s, the academies and fanbases.

Whoever takes up the new role must walk the uncomfortable tight rope of supporting the extensive and growing football scene while not ignoring our highest professional level.

The Women’s Game

The 2026 Women’s Asian Cup is just around the corner, providing an exciting opportunity to further elevate Australia’s women’s football journey and continue its impressive momentum.

On-field and tournament success are only the tip of the iceberg as the continuation of the game’s development is critical.

The positives of this progression far out way the negatives but the FA and its incoming CEO must make smart and well-constructed plans to keep the progress going.

Funding

James Johnson and the FA recently hatched together a plan for $3 Billion worth of Funding from the Government.

Funding through Government sporting grants is the backbone of football, especially the grassroots system, the highest participated sport community in Australia.

Before leaving James Johnson, the FA and the extensive member federations presented their Securing Footballing Future initiative before the 2025 Federal Election decided our new government.

This document 23 major points, spanning all levels of the game outlines where and how this funding should be allocated over 10 years.

Securing Footballing Future is bold and focuses on key aspects that have been present issues for football.

The new CEO should make sure that this initiative is a crucial deal to ratify with the government to stabilise funding for years to come.

The federal governments $200 million “Play Our Way” grants program in 2023 was created in the euphoria of the Women’s World Cup.

Though not centrally football focused and far smaller amount of funding, it’s proof that government funding can be acquired and allocated.

As the Sydney Morning Herald reported this week, the FA will record $8.3 million loss at the next general meeting on May 23, funding will become a fundamental issue.

Now more than ever the FA is calling for Garriock and its next potential CEO to be ambitious, show strong leadership and be open to taking calculated risks.

It’s a monumental task ahead, but for the passionate and invested football fans around Australia, they know that optimism for the future while simultaneously being grounded in the present is part of the beautiful game.

As the saying goes, ‘one game at a time’.

Whoever is appointed as Football Australia CEO, whether Garriock or another candidate, should seize the opportunity and lead with purpose.

Minns Labor Government announces commitment to women’s football legacy.

The Minns Labor Government has announced an investment of $400,000 towards women’s football as a bonus of NSW hosting 11 games at the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

The NSW Football Legacy Program includes five key initiatives designed to grow and support women’s football at every level, ensuring a lasting impact from NSW hosting matches during the tournament — including the Final at Stadium Australia on 21 March.

Here’s what the program offers:

  • Women in Leadership Program: Designed to boost confidence and leadership skills among women in football, helping them step into or grow in leadership roles while building a strong network of advocates for the game.
  • Body Image and Wellbeing Program: Aimed at female players aged 13 to 18 in the National Premier League, this initiative focuses on promoting healthy body image and overall wellbeing.
  • Flexible Football Initiative: Introduces more accessible and adaptable ways for women to get involved in grassroots football, removing traditional barriers to participation.
  • Coach and Referee Mentor Program: Helps develop a strong network of female coaches and referees by pairing them with experienced mentors, creating role models and encouraging more women to take on these important roles.
  • First Nations Football: Supports young First Nations footballers (aged 14–16) and coaches by providing opportunities to train and grow in high-performance environments.

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper stated that the Minns Labor Government aims to build on the success of recent women’s football events to create a lasting, inclusive legacy for women and girls in NSW through the NSW Football Legacy Program.

“Women’s sport has seen tremendous growth and success in recent years, including the unforgettable performances of the Matildas at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023,” Kamper said in a press release.

“The Minns Labor Government wants to ensure that the momentum from that tournament and NSW’s hosting of 11 games at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ leaves a lasting legacy for women’s football in NSW at all levels.

“The initiatives delivered through the NSW Football Legacy Program will ensure football is a safe, inclusive and supportive environment for women and girls to play the World Game.”

Football NSW CEO John Tsatsimas welcomed the NSW Government’s support, saying it will help make football more accessible, safe, and inclusive for women and girls as Football NSW works toward gender parity.

“Football NSW has experienced unprecedented growth in female football and we are delighted with the NSW Government’s continued commitment to our game,” Tsatsimas said in a press release

“The initiatives being supported, including the Empower Her body image and wellbeing program, will help to ensure that football is an accessible, safe and enjoyable sport for women and girls across the state.

“We look forward to seeing the impact of these new and expanded programs over the coming years as Football NSW continues towards the goal of gender parity in our game.”

The $400,000 investment and the initiatives within the NSW Football Legacy Program mark a significant step forward in strengthening women’s football across the state.

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