Collaroy Cromer Strikers Football Club (CCSFC) in the Manly Warringah Football Association (MWFA) are a grant recipient in Round 2 of the NSW Football Legacy Fund for 2023-24.
This will go towards the construction of 100 lux LED floodlighting at Inman Park, located within Northern Beaches Secondary College.
The NSW Football Legacy Fund is a $10 million investment from the NSW Government.
This program’s primary focus is the support of the growing women’s football scene through new community facilities, participation initiatives, development programs and international/ tourism engagement.
CCSFC was the eighth largest club in NSW in 2023 and only recently became the biggest club per participation in MWFA with over 2,000 members.
The MWFA itself was the largest association in NSW in 2023 and had an impressive 10% participation from local northern beaches council communities with 20,000 members.
Soccerscene spoke to David Manson, CCSFC Vice President of Girls/Women’s Teams, on this player influx and the new project for the club.
“The club executive team had dedicated a lot of time in arranging the ability to utilise the ground at Cromer High through the Council,” he said.
“The club growth has been finding it difficult to allocate training enough training space on its existing fields within suitable hours.
The Football Legacy Program has given CCSFC a grant of up to $68,000 with a co-contribution from the club itself of $68,000 for the lighting installation specifically. The club also invested another $60,000.00 for the Irrigation ($45,000.00) and the lighting development application ($15,000,00) costs.
“Once the access was granted, the club committed to the installation of an Irrigation system and then new sports field lighting.
“The costs to install lighting is significant so applying for the grant to fund 50% was an easy decision.
“The grant process itself has been very simple and effective process.”
This expansion will importantly allow for an extra field to be open for longer hours through the afternoon, and also help lessen the impact on the other available fields, increasing the quality of all playing sites.
“The inclusion of lighting at Inman Park will enable the club to allocate another area for teams to train and play in winter competitions,” Manson said.
Manson also indicated the wider future community impacts of having another field available.
“It will enhance facilities for the local community by increasing the percentage of children and adults participating regularly in football, increasing the number of facilities designated for football and improve participant retention for football and active recreation,” he explained.
A key part of the investment application is the impact on women’s football, Manson added about the impressive growth the club has had in their women’s participation.
“Since 2020 Collaroy Cromer Strikers have seen its largest growth in women between the ages of U8-U18,” he said.
“Season 2020 has the strikers (CCSFC) players in these age groups at 397. In 2023 we have 577.
“That means a total increase of 180 players at roughly 65% increase in that period.
“Overall female participation rose from 2022 (693) to 2023 (743) a total of 50 more participants” In 2024 the club has a total of 882 registered female players.
This investment in the upgrade in facilities has been accepted as welcomed support for the Club, towards its ever-expanding registration numbers and quality of football.
It also indicates how investment into existing club programs for facilities or equipment upgrades can elevate the local clubs and the footballing opportunities for all in our communities.
