Northern NSW Football kick-off Women in Football Scholarship Program

Northern NSW Football has launched its Women in Football Scholarship Program in an effort to help break down barriers for females in football and to increase representation of women and girls in football.

The scholarship, part of the NSW Football Legacy Program, will upskill women in non-playing roles and enhance female voices within the football community.

Female match officials, coaches and club administrators will have access to education and development opportunities as part of the program. It will include referee, coach and volunteer education and development.

The referee education and development will include all-female level three and four referee courses, all-female level three assessor courses, a regional match official development program and match official camp scholarships.

The coach education and development will include all-female skill training certificate, MiniRoos certificate and Football Australia C Licence courses. There will also be individual scholarships for FA/AFC B licence and Sport NSW Fast Track for Female Coaches workshops.

The volunteer education and development will feature a partnership between NNSWF and Online Services Australia to provide a range of web-based courses to club volunteers free of charge.

“The Women in Football Scholarship Program is a really great chance for women and girls in football to access education and opportunities,” NNSWF Legacy Plan Manager Annelise Rosnell said in a statement.

“We want to see more female coaches, match officials and club administrators in the game and this scholarship program will certainly help facilitate that outcome.

“I would definitely encourage anyone interested to look into these courses and workshops to see how they could enhance their career in football.”

The NSW Football Legacy Program is a $10 million investment from the NSW government to support female football through the construction of new community facilities, participation initiatives, high performance, leadership and development programs as well as tourism and international engagement.

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Western United ruled out of 2026–27 A-League season

Western United’s participation in the A-Leagues has officially been terminated, ending the club’s immediate pathway back into Australia’s professional football competitions.

The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) terminated Western United’s Club Participation Agreement on Monday, following months of discussions over the club’s future.

The decision comes after Western United’s attempt to secure a return to the A-League for the 2026–27 season was unsuccessful. Football Australia had previously determined that the club did not meet the requirements to retain its licence.

Western United has now turned its attention towards rebuilding the organisation under new ownership, with the club targeting a return to the A-League for the 2027–28 season.

In a statement, Western United said the termination creates an opportunity for “new custodians, new investment and a fresh start”, while emphasising the importance of maintaining the club’s identity in Melbourne’s west.

The club’s financial problems have been a major issue over the past two years with the club being placed into a conditional hibernation ahead of the 2025/26 A-League season.

The APL said its decision was made following the club’s breach of several obligations under the agreement, including compliance with Football Australia’s National Club Licensing Regulations.

The club’s proposed 2027–28 comeback will therefore depend on securing new investment, addressing its outstanding operational requirements and demonstrating that it can meet the conditions necessary to re-enter the A-Leagues.

While Monday’s decision brings an end to Western United’s current participation agreement, the club maintains that it is not the end for Western United.

Now, the club that won the A-League grand final just four years ago, will now turn its attention to restructuring the business and building a sustainable platform for a potential return to Australia’s professional football landscape.

 

 

Football Queensland Welcomes Musco Lighting as Official Lighting Partner

Football Queensland has welcomed Musco Lighting as its Official Lighting Partner, bringing world-class sports lighting expertise to football clubs and facilities across the state.

The partnership will support Football Queensland clubs as participation continues to grow across the state, helping communities access safer, higher-quality and more accessible football facilities.

Musco Lighting is a global leader in sports lighting, with more than 50 years of experience delivering lighting solutions across sporting venues worldwide. The company was also the first in the world to be certified by FIFA as a Preferred Provider for Floodlight Systems and provided lighting for 12 of the 16 stadiums used at the recent FIFA World Cup.

Through the new partnership, Football Queensland clubs will have access to Musco’s specialist expertise and solutions as they look to improve and develop their lighting infrastructure.

Football Queensland CEO Robert Cavallucci said the partnership represented an important step in supporting the continued growth of football across Queensland.

“I’m proud to see this partnership between Football Queensland and Musco come to life.

“With participation continuing to grow across Queensland, the need for quality football infrastructure has never been greater. This partnership will help our clubs access world-class lighting expertise to create safer, better and more accessible facilities for their communities.

The partnership provides an opportunity to combine Football Queensland’s extensive network across the state’s football community with Musco’s global expertise in sports lighting, supporting clubs as they continue to invest in facilities that meet the needs of their growing participation bases.

Football Queensland and Musco will work together to help clubs identify lighting solutions that can enhance facility quality and accessibility, supporting more opportunities for players and communities to participate in football.

Football Queensland Official Lighting Partner – Musco Lighting

With more than five decades of experience in sports lighting, Musco has delivered projects across some of the world’s most significant sporting venues and events.

The company’s FIFA Preferred Provider certification and involvement in the recent FIFA World Cup further demonstrates its expertise in delivering lighting systems to the highest international standards.

The partnership with Football Queensland will bring this expertise closer to Queensland’s football community, providing clubs with access to a specialist lighting partner as the game continues to grow across the state.

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