Q&A with Football NSW CEO Stuart Hodge

2020 has been a challenging year for all sporting administrators due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Stuart Hodge is the current CEO of Football NSW and has held the position since June 2017.

In a wide-ranging chat with Soccerscene, Hodge shares his thoughts on the notable events of the year gone by, the opportunities the Women’s World Cup will bring, a national second division and the future plans for Football NSW.

Q: We’ll start by speaking about the recent Australian Coaching Conference. Could you just expand a little on the process and preparation of organising an event like that virtually…and are there any plans or a strategic focus to host other industry events like that in the future?

Stuart Hodge: Yeah look obviously the impact of COVID this year has forced a re-think in many industries on how they deliver on conferences. For example, our state coaching conference in 2019 was held at Valentine Sports Park and was sold out with 400 coaches in attendance. We had some fantastic presentations made in person, but obviously with COVID and the restrictions in place we took the opportunity to explore a virtual coaching conference this year.

Arsene Wenger presented at this year’s Australian Coaching Conference.

It really allowed us to open up our coaching conference to a much wider audience and at the same time, we were able to attract an incredible calibre of speakers from around the world. Having Arsene Wenger present was a fantastic coup for us.

In the end, we had over 1800 people register, so our ability to be able to deliver education in this space was enhanced by the choice to do it online. The great thing is that those registered can go back and re-watch those sessions, so it’s not only a fantastic opportunity to be engaging with it on the day, coaches can go back in a few months’ time and refresh their learnings.

We had terrific support from the FFA, Football Coaches Australia and some of the other state member federations, with people from different parts of the world registering and involving themselves in that conference.

It gives us a real potential to drive this forward and use the platform now to potentially look at doing other types of conferences, such as Football and Law, Sports Medicine and Sports Science, Capability Building projects for clubs…there’s a whole heap of possibilities now that we can explore from our experience.

Q: 2020 has been a tough year for most, how has the organisation been impacted (both positively and negatively) and what did you personally find the most difficult about the COVID situation?   

Stuart Hodge: The most difficult (aspect) was the unknown. As people have said, there was no playbook for this. There was no manual you could pull out and say ‘these are the steps you need to follow’. It was unprecedented.

It was having different impacts in different states and so really the challenge of everyday, working with government and stakeholders on trying to understand where things were going to head…and trying to predict the future, was very difficult.

Some of the positives to take out of it I think, was the great spirit shown by the football community in coming together and working collectively to get football back onto the park.

We were having a tremendous amount of engagement with our associations, our NPL clubs and other stakeholders. There was just such a fantastic spirit of cooperation.

When I have gone out and about and spoken to some club presidents of community clubs, they said it was so important for football to be played, especially for young people, and for the many people who went through difficult times, football was that release. The physical and the mental health value of playing football was absolutely vital.

It wouldn’t have been possible without the tremendous efforts of volunteers, who implemented all of the COVID safety measures. Volunteers, who always do a fantastic job, were asked to do more and they stepped up and were fantastic.

On another positive note, we also launched our NPL.TV platform and is now up to over 25,000 subscribers who are registered to the service.

On the negative side, it was a very challenging time for everyone involved. For Football NSW, all of our stakeholders and employees it was difficult. We did have standdowns, there was a lot of uncertainty.

Q: In regards to the recent Football NSW vs Football QLD State of Origin series, what do you see as the benefits of this initiative?

Stuart Hodge: It’s a tradition that goes back to the 1800’s for NSW and Queensland to play each other in football. It’s a treasured rivalry and from my understanding the last time it was played before this was 2003. I think there’s a tremendous pride in playing for your state. We see it happen in Rugby League, when the Blues play Queensland, it’s such an amazing occasion.

Rale Rasic at the Football NSW jersey ceremony.

We believe, the quality of our NPL is fantastic and also believe in the pride of representing NSW. We think it’s a great concept to bring back for our senior players. There’s been a great reaction from them. We had a fantastic jersey presentation with Rale Rasic in the build-up, and also Robbie Farrah. You can see it means a lot to the players, it’s another level.

It’s a tradition that was unfortunately lost and as a sport, we’ve decided to embark on a history and heroes project. We want to start recognising those who have contributed to the game at all levels and all aspects. Historically, football has not done enough of that. So this match was part of our push to start recognising the traditions of the game. The history project will also start to look at the naming of assets to appropriately reward those heroes’ service to the game.

Q: With the winner of the FFA Cup now getting a half spot into the Asian Champions League, do you think this will incentivise NSW member federation clubs to further lift their standards and professionalism across the board?

Stuart Hodge: It certainly provides a wonderful opportunity. But obviously in order to be eligible for that, the clubs need to meet certain requirements by the AFC. This does offer an incentive for clubs to look at what those requirements are and how they can develop and grow in order to meet those levels.

It’s a great chance to play off for that ACL spot, but not only that, because you would have had to win the FFA Cup to get there, which obviously no NPL club has done yet and is a huge achievement in itself.

I applaud the FFA for this incentive, to really try, in many cases, and lift the profile of the FFA Cup. I think it’s a fantastic competition, we see some great matches especially those involving member federations clubs against A-League clubs.

You really see how much it means to those federation clubs when the results go their way, and the large crowds that come along to see a Sydney club play against one of the Sydney A-League clubs.

The way they (FFA) have broken the competition into zone areas for the Round of 32 I think is also going to create some more of those derby games which are a fantastic aspect of the tournament.

Q: What’s your overall view on a national second division with promotion and relegation, is it currently realistic?

Stuart Hodge: I think everyone in football would ultimately like to see a second division with promotion and relegation. It’s something that is very unique to our sport and we see it happening all over the world. But, it has to be with the right circumstances all put in place. I think having the discussion around the second division is healthy, similar to the FFA Cup, the notion that a second tier may come at some point is also important to inspire those aspirational clubs to continue to grow and develop.

Q: How big of an opportunity is it for girls playing football in New South Wales to witness a Women’s World Cup in their backyard? 

Sam Kerr celebrates her goal against Brazil at Penrith Stadium in 2017.

Stuart Hodge: The Women’s World Cup will provide an incredible legacy opportunity for the game of the football, even beyond just girls. We’ve seen when the Matildas have played in NSW, the superb crowds of boys and girls coming to watch them.

I remember going out to Penrith Stadium, when the Matildas played Brazil, it was sold out with a fantastic atmosphere.

It’s incredible to see how the Matildas are just embraced here in NSW, they are so popular here for boys and girls. The Women’s World Cup is going to take all of that to a whole new level. I think the opportunities that will present for the game, not only for inspiration purposes for new players, but also encouraging those in the game to embrace a World Cup on home soil. It’s a once in a life time chance.

Q: Should this help with factors such as facilities in the future, due to the expected participation boom?

Stuart Hodge: It’s time for football to capitalise on this. We are engaging with the NSW Government and they are a tremendous supporter of major events. It’s about promoting a legacy for the game.

In the past, the government have provided legacy programs off major events which have included facility funding, funding for programs and more…and it will be important to connect with them in that process.

We know that facilities are a challenge for our sport, in NSW and around the country. We have a lot of football projects and facility investment that is required (to deal with the expected participation boom). The Women’s World Cup gives us an amazing platform to really advocate for our cause.

Q: Overall Stuart, what are your goals and vision for the organisation in a post COVID setting?  

Stuart Hodge: We have the XI Principles that the FFA have set out, and gives some guidance and direction for where the game may head. We just have to be positioned well to capitalise on the legacy of the Women’s World Cup and use that to benefit all of the game.

Coming out of COVID we want to make sure our associations are strong. We’re embarking on an NPL improvement project which will look at the next three years and how we can boost the governance and the structures of the competitions, in order to maximise those factors.

Football NSW will continue our player development programs and really look at how we can contribute to plugging the performance gap that the FFA has identified.

Finally, continuing to support and grow community football through investment is a high priority of our organisation.

 

 

 

 

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Philip Panas is a sports journalist with Soccerscene. He reports widely on football policy and industry matters, drawing on his knowledge and passion of the game.

Transplant Australia FC Chairman Ante Kelic: “There is no shortage of people who need support”

In an event that has been a long time coming, Transplant Australia Football Club will hold the inaugural Transplant Football World Cup in Cervia, Italy on September 8-14, 2024.

Due to COVID-19 being a major roadblock, the tournament has not been able to lift off – however with the dedication and perseverance of Transplant Australia and the World Transplant Games Federation, it is now going to be a reality.

It is headed by Transplant Australia, which is a charity that supports transplant recipients and their families, while also lending support to people on the waiting list, donor families, living donors, healthcare professionals and everyone associated with organ and tissue donation.

Transplant Australia FC is one example of the many sports and activities on offer that encourage physical activity for an increased chance of survival in transplant recipients.

As the Chairman of Transplant Australia FC, Ante Kelic has gone through his own experience and is now the perfect role model for others in a similar position, while also managing the operations ahead of September’s tournament.

In this interview with Soccerscene, Kelic discusses his involvement with Transplant Australia, an update on the World Cup, building a community and looking ahead over the coming months.

Tell us about your background and why you are involved?

Ante Kelic: I started playing in junior competitions for St Albans Dinamo out in Melbourne’s west.

I grew up with the game very much part of my life, however around the age of 18 years I started having a few health issues and was diagnosed with a liver condition called primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).

There was not too much trouble apart from the initial onset symptoms and flare ups such as a headache and swelling and for the most part I did not feel the full effect of it for another 3-4 years.

In the year 2000, I also got diagnosed with Crohn’s disease which isn’t uncommon for people who suffer from PSC.

At that time, I broke  into the seniors for St Albans, but it all came to a halt when I required surgery for Crohn’s disease at the age of 20. From 80 kilograms being a fit and active player, my weight  dropped down to 54kg.

The recovery was slow and through all the medications and treatments, I was hoping to get back to playing Premier League senior football but the side effects such as weight gain as a result of  fluid retention  lead me to   player in the lower divisions.

At the age of 34 I was playing social soccer, however I was told during that time  I needed a transplant as cirrhosis was getting to a serious stage of liver failure.

It was in 2014 that I got put on the transplant list and needed to wait seven months before I was offered the lifesaving transplant. At the same time my wife was four months pregnant and thankfully my daughter Iva was born soon after without major hiccups.

How did you find out about Transplant Australia FC?

Ante Kelic: It was in 2018 that I found out about the team through the late Matty Hempstalk who established the team two years prior.

I was introduced to the team by participating in an exhibition match which was known as the Doujon Zammit Shield – this was in honour of Doujon who passed away, but his parents donated his organs to save multiple lives.

A few years later, Matt – along with the CEO of Transplant Australia – came up with the idea to create an inaugural World Cup for transplant recipients and I thought that I could give a helping hand as it was something that involved heaps of work to organise.

With Matt’s passing, coupled with the pandemic, it has taken us a bit of time to recover and get back on our feet but now it is something I will contribute towards.

You had an Expression of Interest period for participants, what are the numbers looking like?

Ante Kelic: We ran a large campaign for a couple months that saw around 50 applications from men and women all around Australia who want to join the club.

In addition, we are going to run a development camp in Sydney on March 16-17 to get people together and support each other based on their transplant journeys.

Our main purpose is to help people with ongoing health issues and encourage active participation.

The underlying reason why we are there is to create awareness and educate people on the life saving gift of organ donation and the donation sign up process.

On your role as Chairman, what are the main priorities?

Ante Kelic: There is no shortage of people who need support before and after transplant.

Peronsally I have had not only with liver transplant recipients, but also those undergoing cancer treatment and that shock of being unwell and going into hospital where your life changes from that point – that is where I am willing to offer support and advice drawn upon my health journey.

To have someone to talk to is super important and I have also reached out to people myself when there were instances I lost energy or motivation during the difficult times.

The wait time for transplants can be mentally challenging – I waited seven months but some other recipients in my support group had to wait for more than two years. If you throw in the fact that hospital call ups do not always guarantee a transplant due to an inadequate match occurring, it is not easy to comprehend – I know of someone that had received the news four times.

Unfortunately, you do not know how far you get through the waiting list in terms of pecking order, so this is a challenge that we offer support and advice for.

How is it juggling your responsibilities?

Ante Kelic: There are some challenges to fit it all in with a young family and running my own business, but we do have some staff at Transplant Australia who do an excellent job supporting the club.

Part of the reason that the development camp in Sydney is going ahead is down to the Transplant Australia team securing a grant to benefit recipients.

Particularly for us, one of the factors is the distance between team members, making it costly to hold events due to travel and accommodation costs.

There is representation Australia-wide, so we offer in some instances where possible to subsidise recipients for travel, accommodation and meals for them to be able to attend these camps and remain active

Even though recipients recover from transplants, they can still have ongoing issues with their health they need to manage which affects their work and earning capacity. As a club, and Translpant Australia, we want to build longevity and sustainability to support the recipients in every way we can.

A lot of recipients reach out stating they want to do something more regularly and having a club in local competitions would be a great milestone.

Our goal is to increase the participation numbers and generate awareness through the amazing stories shared about the life saving donations that people have received.

However, we cannot do that without government, community and corporate sponsorship support.

Perth looking to pave new Glory through fresh ownership

The ownership of long-standing A-League team Perth Glory has changed hands, with property mogul Ross Pelligra taking the reins.

The multi-millionaire Melbournian has pledged to Glory fans his intentions of reinvigorating the club into becoming ‘a benchmark club of Australian Football’.

The sole Western Australia club have had to earn their stripes and achievements while accommodating for difficulties, which other A-League clubs have not endured. Initially the Glory were seeking to become a National Soccer League (NSL) tenant in the mid-1970s, given the talent showcased by their state representative side. Due to financial and logistical issues, Western Australia had a football outfit, without a title.

A consortium spearheaded by Joe Claudio, founded a Perth based club, known as the Perth Kangaroos IFC. Although a licence to participate in the NSL never materialised, the club where granted entry into the Singapore Premier League (SPL). Within their maiden, and only season, the Kangaroos breezed through their competition, winning the League Title while remaining undefeated in the process.  Although there was success on the field, the wheels off the field had violently, fallen off.

Italian Australian Entrepreneur Nick Tana capitalised upon the financial failure that was the Perth Kangaroos. NSL representatives, noticing the talent pool within Western Australia given their success in Asia, combined with the potential for another Australian market, led to Perth Glory’s creation, making their debut in the 1996-97 NSL Season, taking place a full year after their materialization.

Acknowledging their early hardships yet successes, the fluctuation from Glory to of the club is somewhat built in its DNA.  Both on and off the pitch, post their success in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Perth had lost its previous ambition. It had taken the club 14 seasons to taste their first A-League Title, with two runners-up medals in A-League Finals.

The consortium that had acquired Tana’s club in 2006, were unable to eclipse the dominance of their previous owner. Recently, the club was almost pawned off to an illegitimate London-based, Cryptocurrency football exchange. Insert, Ross Pelligra.

Perth fans have reason for prosperity, as their new owner is no stranger to the football world. Historic Italian outfit Catania FC had gone into administration in 2022 culminating in all board, playing and non-playing staff to face redundancy. The club where excluded from the Serie C in 2022, with their future in limbo. Pelligra, showcasing passion for his heritage and football, acquired the club in which is the birth place of his mother, in order to save it from termination.

Pelligra and his ambitions resulted in the club swiftly reinterring the third tier of Italian Football, as the club where able to win the Serie D (Group 1), granting promotion. This man oozes passion. In comparison to football club owners on an international scale, in who do have the financial capacity, do not showcase the desire Pelligra possess, in wanting to see his outfits succeed.

To succeed in both off park stability, and on park triumph, football is within Pelligra’s fabric. It is a safe assumption, that Pelligra is not undertaking the financial pressures involved in club ownership, for monetary gain. This is heritage, this is a way of life.

But how is he going to lead Perth to Glory? What does he have within his arsenal?

His passion is combated by football brains in whom represented the Socceroos.

Asian Cup and Socceroo legend Marc Bresciano is rumoured to feature as a prominent figure under the Pelligra hierarchy within the football department. Vince Grella, who is Pelligra’s right-hand man in Catania’s 2023 Serie D Title Win, is also tipped to be involved.

The warning signals haven’t quite rung out yet, however it is best believed that Perth are looking to emphasise the Glory part of their name – the era we are about to see may just be their Glory.

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