Overview of Football Queensland’s 2020-2022 Strategic Plan

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Last Friday, Football Queensland (FQ) released their 2020-2022 Strategic Plan for football in Queensland.

FQ claims their vision is to unite football in Queensland, focusing on an improved pathway structure for the game in the state.

The governing body have identified four key strategic pillars for the next three years.

They are participation, infrastructure, clubs and community, and leadership and people.

Participation: The main targets in this pillar are to improve participation numbers across the board. By 2022, FQ hope to have 90,000 registered players. This would be an increase of 20,000 players on current numbers.

The governing body hopes to have 3,000 more coaches registered by 2022, lifting the number of coaches in the state to 8,820.

With the continued rise of women’s football in Australia, FQ wants to capitalise on this by trying to attract 7,500 more women and girls to play football by 2022.

Finally, referees are also targeted in the plan, as FQ hopes to double the number of registered referees by 2022. This would result in 2,200 referees registered in the next three years.

Infrastructure: FQ want to clearly identify the required amount of state-wide facilities necessary to keep up with the increased demand (especially because of rapid growth in the women and girls’ sector). While quantity is important, that should not compromise the quality of the facilities.

FQ hope to have productive interactions with the State Government, to secure appropriate funding to improve the health of the game in Queensland.

Other plans include creating a home for football in Queensland, as well as researching the feasibility of a 20,000-seat football stadium to improve the professional side of the game.

Establishing centres of excellence around the state will be considered, with a large focus also on all football facilities being female friendly.

Clubs and Community: FQ will introduce a new shared services model for clubs across the state. This will help with the administration side of football, giving the clubs and community support in the areas of finance, marketing, referees and competitions.

The implementation of the National Club Development program and Academy Star Ratings, will further improve clubs as they strive to reach higher standards. Minimum standards will also be in place across the various levels of football in Queensland.

Coaches, referees and administrators will be not be left behind, as they will be provided with substantial education and development opportunities.

Talent pathways which are accessible for all are promised in the devised plan, including the implementation of Indigenous, culturally diverse and all abilities programs.

Leadership and People: FQ will conduct a review into the governance of football in Queensland. They will look to improve and tweak the administration model in the best interests of the game.

Strategies will be introduced to focus on improving the recruitment of volunteers, as well as retaining them and rewarding them adequately. These volunteers will be led and supported at all levels, on the back of improved governance practices and policies.

The governing body wants to enhance Football Queensland’s brand presence, whilst also investigating options and support for additional A-League/W-League teams.

FQ will assess their success in this category, in a variety of ways. This includes a hopeful increase in diversity among leadership positions within Football Queensland. Other factors measured include a Net Promoter Index Score, which will be decided by a survey completed by all participants and stakeholders.

FQ’s strategic pillars are followed by five areas of focus that are followed in everything they set out to do.

These five areas are:

Connected competitions – Creating pathways for players and clubs

Women and girls are the future – Making the most out of the potential of women in football

Transparency and accountability – Open and honest and taking responsibility

Love the game – Give others the chance to experience the same

Accessibility for all – Equal opportunities for all players, coaches and so on

You can access Football Queensland’s 2020-2022 Strategic Plan here:

 

 

 

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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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