Mitre extends with member federations to provide top quality footballs for all competitions

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Mitre have extended their current deals with Football Victoria, Football West and Football NSW to continue providing their Ultimax Pro ball for competitions country wide.

Football Victoria announced that Mitre will continue as the exclusive NPL ball provider for the NPL and VPL competitions in 2024 with an option to extend into 2025.

In Football NSW, the sponsorship with Mitre will extend till the end of 2026. It will remain as the Official Match Ball of the National Premier Leagues NSW, Football NSW Leagues, Football NSW Youth Leagues, and Association Youth Leagues for a further three years.

Football West confirmed that Mitre will be the Official Ball Supplier for another three years, taking the partnership to a total of six years.

Trusted for over 200 years, Mitre footballs have been a foundation of the brand since the early 1900s. Since then, they have been the competition ball of choice for many football associations across the world.

In 2017, Mitre started inside the Australian footballing landscape when they were unveiled as the football partners of the then FFA Cup, now called the Australia Cup.

Since then, Mitre has expanded towards the state member federations to try and grow amongst the local community. They are the Official Match Ball of NPL NSW, NPL Victoria, NPL Queensland, Football West and NPL NNSW.

The Ultimax Pro is Mitre’s flagship Elite-Professional football that is used amongst state competitions and the Australia Cup. It features Hyperflow debossed grooves across the ball, for incredible flight consistency across all speeds. It is Engineered with Hyperfoam, a cushioned, high elastic foam, for maximum power when you strike.  It is also a FIFA Quality Pro approved football which proves that it maintains a top quality and standard.

Football Victoria Sponsorships and Events Manager, Paul Iliopoulos, outlined this is a ‘game changing partnership’ going into the 2024 season and beyond

“We are thrilled to announce a partnership between Football Victoria and MITRE as the official ball provider for our NPL and VPL competitions,” he said via FV.

“The MITRE ball is recognised for its superior quality and performance and this partnership reinforces Football Victoria’s dedication to maintaining the utmost standards in our competitions.

“As we embark on this exciting journey with MITRE, we extend our gratitude to the football community for their continued support.”

Football West General Manager of Football Perry Ielati was excited to continue with the high-quality footballs through this partnership.

“Football West is delighted to continue our partnership with Mitre. Our clubs know they can trust the quality of footballs provided by Mitre and that is hugely important to us. We are excited to move forward together over the next three years.” Ielati stated via Football West.

Football NSW CEO John Tsatsimas was thrilled to see Mitre extend as well.

“We’re delighted to continue the partnership with Mitre. We are anticipating another season of unprecedented success, and we eagerly look forward to achieving it in partnership with Mitre who will provide a great level of professionalism through their product as they have done so in recent years.” Tsatsimas said via Football NSW statement.

Mitre’s relationship with Football in Australia is fantastic for the game with the highest quality footballs being used at all different levels. Ball quality is an integral part of football and clubs from all federations will benefit from the discounted prices and free supplies that Mitre provide to improve the game.

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Central Coast Mariners Women secure future under Holman Barnes Group

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Image Credits: Central Coast Mariners

The future of the Central Coast Mariners Women has been secured after the Holman Barnes Group (HBG) reached an agreement to become the new operator of the club’s A-League Women program. The deal ends uncertainty surrounding the team’s participation in the 2026/27 season.

The agreement between HBG, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) and Total Soccer Growth Holdings (TSG) ensures the Mariners will remain in the Ninja A-League Women competition. It also introduces a new operating model designed to provide long-term stability.

The uncertainty emerged following TSG’s acquisition of the Central Coast Mariners’ men’s side and academy in June. The women’s program was excluded from the original takeover. TSG already owns English football side Queens Park Rangers (QPR) and MLS club Los Angeles FC. The omission placed the future of the 2025 A-League Women champions in doubt. It also prompted the APL to seek a sustainable solution ahead of the new campaign.

A new operating model

Under the new arrangement, HBG will oversee all operational aspects of the women’s team. This includes the football program, staffing and day-to-day management. TSG will retain the club licence and continue overseeing the men’s program and academy. It will also support the women’s operation through its broader football network.

The agreement represents an innovative partnership between the three organisations. It has been designed to strengthen the long-term sustainability of professional women’s football on the Central Coast. HBG’s plans extend beyond the senior team. They include a strong focus on developing participation pathways and creating greater opportunities for female footballers throughout New South Wales.

Attention turns to the new season

The transition comes at a crucial time with preparations for the 2026/27 Ninja A-League Women season underway ahead of its October 16 start. The new operators are expected to begin managing the program immediately. This remains subject to the completion of the remaining regulatory processes. The team currently has no sponsors and games are expected to be moved away from Central Coast Stadium.

The A-League had previously set a July 31 deadline for new owners to be found to secure a place in the upcoming competition. With that now achieved, HBG will be on the clock to ensure the season begins without disruption and becomes a commercial success.

For the Central Coast Mariners Women, the agreement delivers certainty after a turbulent off-season. It also allows the club to shift its attention to the 2026/27 campaign and the team’s on-field performance.

South Melbourne’s Australia Cup triumph reignites promotion and relegation debate

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Image Credit: The Greek Herald

South Melbourne FC’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Adelaide United in the Hahn Australia Cup Round of 32 has reignited debate around promotion and relegation in Australian football, with Co-President Bill Papastergiadis stating the result is further proof that ambitious National Premier Leagues clubs deserve a pathway to the top tier.

The Victorian powerhouse produced one of the competition’s biggest upsets at Lakeside Stadium, overturning an early deficit to eliminate the Isuzu UTE A-League side and secure a place in the Round of 16.

While the result was celebrated as another example of the magic of the Australia Cup, Papastergiadis believes the victory carries a much broader message about the strength that exists outside Australia’s professional league.

Speaking following the win, Papastergiadis said South Melbourne’s performance demonstrated why the Australian football landscape should move towards a connected pyramid featuring promotion and relegation.

“The result was South Melbourne FC’s revenge 22 years in the making,” Papastergiadis said.

“It also demonstrates that clubs in the National Premier Leagues have the quality, professionalism and ambition to compete with A-League opposition when given the opportunity.”

For years, South Melbourne has been one of the strongest advocates for structural reform within Australian football, consistently calling for an open pyramid that rewards sporting merit rather than maintaining a closed league system.

Papastergiadis argued that Australia Cup fixtures continue to showcase the depth of talent throughout the domestic game, with NPL clubs regularly proving they can challenge and defeat professional opponents despite operating with significantly fewer resources.

He believes these performances should not simply be viewed as isolated “cupsets”, but as evidence that Australia’s football ecosystem is ready to embrace a promotion and relegation model that provides ambitious clubs with a genuine pathway to the top flight.

The result against Adelaide United adds another significant chapter to South Melbourne’s storied history. One of Australia’s most successful clubs, South Melbourne has long maintained aspirations of returning to the national stage, backed by a passionate supporter base, strong infrastructure and a proud footballing tradition.

For Papastergiadis, victories such as Thursday night’s reinforce the argument that clubs should earn opportunities through performances on the pitch.

“The Australia Cup continues to show what’s possible when clubs from different levels of the football pyramid compete against one another,” he said.

“Our football should be built on opportunity and merit. Clubs that perform consistently and invest in their communities should have the chance to progress to the highest level.”

South Melbourne will now turn its attention to the Round of 16, where it will look to continue its impressive cup run.

Beyond the result itself, however, the victory has once again fuelled discussion around the future of Australia’s football structure and whether the growing strength of clubs outside the A-League should accelerate the push towards a fully connected national competition.

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