New Chair for 2021 Powerchair Football World Cup announced

Liam Watson09/10/2019 6:00 am09/10/2019

One of Australia’s prominent former players has agreed to take the position of the Chair in the Local Organising Committee for the 2021 Powerchair Football World Cup held in Sydney during October.

With more than 320 appearances to his name in the former National Soccer League, Andy Harper has become the new chair and adds to a distinguished committee made up of FFA, Football NSW, Hyundai A-League club and Powerchair Football administrators and players.

Within the committee, both CEOs of the Sydney based clubs, John Tsatsimas and Danny Townsend, are key members. There is also highly-respected local sports lawyer Stuart Corbishley supporting the committee after recently going to the 2018 Invictus Games.

The Powerchair Football World Cup will be held at the Quay Centre in October 2021 and will involve around 10 countries from around the world.

Harper’s appointment as Chair is something that is proud to be leading the way with.

“I’m thrilled to be involved with this inspirational group of people, he said.

“Powerchair football is great to watch, certainly, but the character, passion, determination and perseverance of the players and their support networks is really the most outstanding thing.

“As well as acknowledging and supporting this part of Australia’s football family, the 2021 Powerchair Football World Cup will importantly generate increased empathy for those football lovers amongst us who face acute and very specific challenges every day of their lives.”

The following names are all those who currently have a place on the committee:

Andy Harper (Committee Chair)
Peter Turnbull (Australia Powerchair Football Association)
Matt Cross (Australia Powerchair Football Association)
Michael Keyte (Australia Powerchair Football Association)
Martin Dalrymple (Australia Powerchair Football Association)
Jacob Cross (Australia Powerchair Football Association)
Chris Suffield (Australia Powerchair Football Association)
Stuart Corbishley (Corbishley Law)
John Tsatsimas (Western Sydney Wanderers)
Danny Townsend (Sydney FC)
Peter Hugg (Football NSW)
Charlotte Ercil (Football NSW)
Aaron Dibdin (Football NSW)
Matt Rippon (Football Federation Australia)

The addition of Harper to this panel comes at a very important time as the World Cup preparations are already underway.

Football Federation AustraliaFootball NSWPowerchairWorld Cup

Liam Watson

Liam Watson is the Co-Founder & Publisher of Soccerscene. He reports widely on football policy, industry matters and technology.

Dandenong Thunder to enjoy $700,000 LED lighting upgrade at George Andrews Reserve

Theo Athans3 days ago06/12/2023

Image via Star Journal

Greater Dandenong Council and Dandenong Thunder have recently confirmed that works have commenced for new powerful lighting towers to be built at George Andrews Reserve.

The upgrade will cost $700,000 and is being jointly funded by Greater Dandenong Council ($500,000) and the State Government ($200,000) with a plan to improve the ground’s overall quality for both training and matches. They formerly had 200-lux LED towers and they will be replaced by 500-lux towers.

For the Greater Dandenong local council, the focus was to improve the facility for the community to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits through the increased amount of playable hours at the reserve.

Importantly, the project ensures that the Thunder have a ground that is up to professional competition and broadcast standards which means they can broadcast and host games that are viewed by a national audience, a huge step forward for the NPL Victoria club.

This broadcast upgrade also opens up the possibility to expand to national matches involving the Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City A-League women’s teams and an even more ambitious goal of hosting a Matildas game. The ground can easily hold 5000 people and the lighting and broadcasting standards will be fantastic after this upgrade.

Dandenong Thunder shared the positive implications this light upgrade has for the club.

“The new lights mean the club will be able to host a number of games, not only that but it’s a step forward to the clubs ambition to be part of the NSD (national second division),” a club spokesperson told Soccerscene.

“The support from local council has been nothing but fantastic, Dandenong want to be a sporting hub for the south east suburbs.

“With the FA cup we have seen A-League clubs play at local level clubs, having these new high powered lights we will be able to broadcast at a higher quality, no more yellow light broadcast.”

This news presents an exciting future for Dandenong Thunder and the matches played at George Andrews Reserve. The quality of training, matches and broadcasts has improved tenfold and it matches the size of the NPL Victoria side that have big ambitions.

CPKC and Kansas City Current’s major stadium naming rights deal a win for women’s sport

Nick Davis3 days ago06/12/2023

Image via CPKC

The world’s first professional female-football dedicated stadium – home of the NWSL’s Kansas City Current – will be known as CPKC Stadium, after an historic naming rights deal was agreed with the North American rail network company.

Formed as a merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern rail networks in July this year, CPKC represents the first trans-North American rail network between Canada, the United States and Mexico.

CPKC has been a leading investor for women’s sports in the state of Kansas, and CPKC President & CEO, Keith Creel, was proud to announce the stadium naming rights deal.

“We are incredibly proud to sponsor the Kansas City Current and support this history-making project here in the city that is at the heart of our North American rail network,” Creel said via press release.

“CPKC has been a long-time champion of women’s sports and of investing in our communities. This stadium and this partnership with the Current will build on that legacy as together we write a new chapter here in Kansas City.”

CPKC will also hold naming rights to the stadium’s outdoor space for fans, which will be known as CPKC Plaza. This area provides entertainment for all CPKC Stadium attendees, including the KC Current’s official merchandise store.

It is hoped that the naming rights deal will kickstart further investment in women’s football across the region, which has been the cornerstone of the KC Current’s existence according to co-founders and owners, Angie and Chris Long.

“Our [KC Current & CPKC] organisations share a commitment to strive for excellence, invest heavily in our communities and raise the bar with global influence. We are extremely excited to work with CPKC on this historic agreement and know our partnership will create a long-standing positive impact!”

Further to its substantial investment in women’s football, CPKC’s establishment of a direct line between Canada, the United States and Mexico is expected to have substantial benefits for football supporters attending the 2026 Men’s FIFA World Cup.

Presently, though, the stadium naming rights deal demonstrates CPKC’s intention to be a key investor in women’s football across Kansas and North America.