Manchester City open new training centre for Women’s First Team

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Image credit: Manchester City

The training centre opened earlier this week, following years of planning, investment and ambition for Manchester City Women.

State-of-the-art facilities

Recently crowned WSL Champions, Manchester City Women will now be able to train, prepare and recover in a truly special, purpose-built facility.

Covering 17,000 square feet, a world-class gym, strength & conditioning facilities and dressing room, the site will help players  to maximise performances on the pitch.

But given the facilities also received input from players and staff, inspiring added touches like social spaces and recognition for players with over 100 appearances, it is clear that this is a deeply personal project for all involved at Manchester City Women.

As Managing Director of Manchester City Women, Charlotte O’Neill, highlighted, the training centre is a symbol of excellence and ambition.

“This building is about so much more than bricks and mortar,” O’Neill said via press release.

“It is about creating an environment here our players can thrive, where standards are set at the very highest level and where the current squad has everything it needs to continue to compete for and win silverware.”

A winning project, for a winning team. The training centre is sure to propel Manchester City Women to even greater heights in the seasons to come.

 

Continuing investment trends

Furthermore, as the result of an AUD 18.6 million (GBP 10 million) investment and purpose-built for Manchester City Women, it is yet another example of the current strength of WSL investment.

Just a few weeks ago, Brighton & Hove Albion unveiled plans to construct a new venue for its women’s team, delivering on a clear intention to support commercial growth and infrastructure in the women’s game.

But even after winning their first WSL title this season, the message from the board is clear: Manchester City Women are a fundamental part of the club’s long-term vision.

“This new facility marks the next logical step in our long-term commitment to Manchester City Women, and is an important milestone for the club as a whole,” said Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.

“We have always believed in investing to create the right environment for players and staff to develop and succeed. That approach has underpinned every aspect of our work since the professional relaunch of Manchester City Women in 2014.”

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Football Victoria joins campaign to fight racism in sport

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Image credit: Football Victoria

With the launch of the Victorian Government’s Racism Doesn’t Belong in Our Game campaign, Football Victoria joins several sporting organisations in the state to ensure sport remains inclusive and welcoming for all.

 

About the campaign

Racism Doesn’t Belong in Our Game aims to raise awareness of racism in community sport, uniting organisations and associations like VACSAL, Vicsport, VicHealth and more.

Football Victoria, as the state’s governing body for the beautiful game, will affirm its commitment to ensuring football is a safe and inclusive place for all who play, coach or support by joining the campaign.

It reflects the leadership and guidance of the Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) and its CMSport initiative, a service provider with over 30 years of experience in supporting diversity in sports through training, coaching and mentoring, and consulting support.

“It has been fantastic to work with CMSport, CMY and the other sporting codes to bring this campaign to life,” said FV Executive Manager of Equity Growth and Government Relations Karen Pearce via media release.

“The Racism Doesn’t Belong in Our Game campaign started with a pledge from all seven codes to tackle racism, and I really do believe that we can achieve that as a cohesive group pulling toward the same goals.”

 

Strength in diversity

Australia is an immensely diverse and multicultural nation. According to numbers from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the population includes 8.8 million people born overseas, representing 32% of the population. 48% have a parent born overseas, while 4% is Indigenous.

It should therefore be expected – and indeed, welcomed – that Australia’s most-participated sport reflects this multiculturalism.

But for many who want to enjoy playing or watching football in their local community, incidents of racism continue to plague their experiences in the game.

“Research tells us over 56% of Victorian community sport have reported experiencing or witnessing racism, a truly alarming number,” Pearce continued.

“We look forward to working together to lower that stat as we try to stamp out racism in sport once and for all.”

Racism Doesn’t Belong in Our Game ultimately embodies not only the goal for all sport going forward, but the best way through which to achieve it.

That is, through unity and championing the diversity which makes Australia a nation to admire.

Central Coast Mariners welcome TSG as new owners

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Image credit: Central Coast Mariners

The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) revealed yesterday the start of a new era for the Central Coast Mariners under the leadership of Total Soccer Growth Holdings (TSG).

 

New beginnings

The news of TSG being at the helm of the next chapter in the Mariners’ history marks an important new era for the club, just a few months on from entering into liquidation. The APL subsequently took over management of the club on a temporary basis while seeking the right buyer.

TSG enter into the frame with a wealth of experience in football club investments, from London to Los Angeles. The privately-owned business is a majority shareholder of Queens Park Rangers (EFL Championship) in addition to holding a stake in MLS outfit, Los Angeles FC.

Under the leadership of majority shareholder, Ruben Gnanalingam, the Mariners will be hoping for a season which moves beyond recent worrying times.

“We appreciate how turbulent and uncertain the last season has been for the Club and we intend to do our utmost to restore energy and enthusiasm for this special football club,” Gnanalingam outlined via media release.

“We were drawn to the Mariners because of its strong community spirit, a characteristic that mirrors other sporting organisations that we have the great privilege of being a part of around the world,”

APL CEO Steve Rosich further addressed the importance of community connection for the club’s future.

“We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the club’s dedicated fans, partners and staff and players, who have once again shown their loyalty and dedication to the Mariners.”

 

Mariners’ Women’s team remains in limbo

However, while TSG’s acquisition includes the men’s A-League team and club Academy teams, the A-League Women’s team does not feature in the deal.

As a result, the APL is continuing its search for investors to secure the future of the women’s team – who were victorious last year against Melbourne Victory in their first Grand Final appearance.

“Through the extensive due diligence process it became clear that the operation of the women’s team was not able to be included within the new operation with TSG,” Rosich continued.

“Seperately, we’ve begun working with parties to seek specific investment in the women’s team – and we’re working to ideally arrive at an outcome on this on or before 31 July to enable the team to operate in the 2026/27 season.”

 

Final thoughts

Fans, players and staff throughout the club will be hoping TSG is the leader they deserve in a new era for the A-League Men’s team and Academy teams.

Yet for the A-League Women’s team, uncertainty will persist throughout the coming weeks. It is vital, of course, that not just any investor comes in, but the right one to join TSG in supporting the club in its short and long-term future.

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