SGM and TX Football partner in support of grassroots football

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In an announcement made last week via social media, Sports Group Melbourne (SGM) revealed that they will collaborate with TX Football to strengthen the grassroots game.

Dedicated to grassroots development

In the latest collaboration between SGM and TX Football, the focus will be on strengthening local grassroots football through local investment and community engagement at SGM competitions and events.

The alliance will see TX Football provide high-quality match balls for SGM tournaments and leagues including the Youth Super Cup, Junior Champions League and Junior Academy League. With TX Football backing multiple tournaments and leading event-day activations to unite players, families and clubs, the partnership stands as a testament to a mutual commitment to the grassroots game.

We spoke to Managing Director at SGM, Rolando Navas, about the ongoing work with TX Football for young footballers across Australia.

“The partnership with TX Football has been really good. We started partnering with them last year – they’ve supported us in the (Junior) Champions League and the Shepparton Cup,” Navas outlined.

“The feedback from all the kids, supporters, players [and] coaches was unbelievable.”

It is clear that SGM and TX Football are an alliance founded on a love for growing the grassroots game. Their history of work together is a testament to both parties’ dedication to supporting the next generation of players.

Responding to increasing participation

Football, despite its challenges and critics, remains a hugely popular and fast-growing sport. In fact, out of all the team sports played in Australia, football is clear at the top as the most participated at 1.93 million people.

Such immense growth at junior level is hugely promising for the sport’s future in Australia, and hasn’t gone unnoticed by the team at SGM in recent years.

“We have seen a massive growth in junior football in popularity, participation and skill level as well,” Navas continued.

Therefore, the team at SGM have committed themselves to creating more opportunities for the ever-increasing number of boys and girls playing the beautiful game. Through their hardwork, and with the backing of organisations like TX Football who share this commitment to supporting grassroots football, youth players are able to enjoy the sport they love all year round.

“Kids are playing all year round; whether it’s futsal, tournaments, the league, academies or for the school, they just want to keep playing,” Navas explained.

“We aim to provide an environment where the kids can compete at their level, get exposed to winning and losing, to development, to pressured times when they have to perform, but at the same time enjoy themselves.”

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FQ Reinstates WinterFest 2026 at the Sunshine Coast

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Image Credit: Football Queensland

Football Queensland (FQ) has confirmed WinterFest, the state’s premier junior football carnival, will return to the Sunshine Coast from 1 to 5 July 2026; this time at a new home in the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC).

Delivered in partnership with Sunshine Coast Council and Visit Sunshine Coast, the five-day carnival will span USC and Sunshine Coast Wanderers FC, hosting Under 9 to Under 11 Boys and Under 11 Girls teams from every corner of the state.

WinterFest is not simply a competition. Within FQ’s development framework, the carnival serves a dual function, to expose elite junior players to FQ Technical staff, whilst providing emerging referees with live matchday experience under the guidance of senior officials.

“The carnival plays an important role in nurturing not only our most promising young players, who can showcase their abilities in front of FQ Technical staff who continue to monitor their ongoing development, but also our cohort of emerging referees from across Queensland,” said Ryan Fett, FQ General Manager- Football, Infrastructure & Club Development.

The shift to USC is deliberate. FQ has signalled an intention to elevate the event experience year-on-year, and a university campus venue, with its infrastructure and capacity, reflects that ambition more than a traditional football ground would.

Beyond the Pitch

The tournament’s footprint, however, extends well beyond the pitch. With thousands of visiting families descending on the region across five days, WinterFest functions as a significant economic activation for the Sunshine Coast during what is otherwise a quieter winter period.

“WinterFest brings enormous energy to the region, the USC and Buderim fields will be buzzing and the talent on show outstanding,” said Sunshine Coast Resilient Economy Portfolio Councillor Terry Landsberg.

The language- “Resilient Economy”- is worth noting. Landsberg’s portfolio title alone signals how local government now frames junior sport: not as community goodwill, but as economic infrastructure.

His reference to Brisbane 2032 made that explicit. “As we move closer to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, these experiences are invaluable for aspiring athletes and equally important for boosting local tourism and supporting our businesses during the winter period.”

Whether a regional Under 11 carnival genuinely feeds an Olympic pipeline is debatable. What isn’t is that the political incentive to frame it that way, with 2032 drawing every level of government into the orbit of sport, is very real.

Football NSW partners with Deploy for Association Championships

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Image credit: Deploy Football

In an announcement released on Thursday this week, Football NSW revealed Deploy as the Naming Rights Partner of the Football NSW Association Championships.

New competition, new talents

The Association Championships, set to take place in July 2026 at Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex in Mudgee, will replace the former Association Youth League.

Although the tournament has changed name, its purpose remains consistent: giving youth players the platform to showcase their talent on the football pitch.

In a display of unity and collective ambition, 18 Associations across New South Wales will enter representative teams, each one featuring gifted grassroots players looking to prove themselves against their peers.

“The Deploy FNSW Association Championships will provide a fantastic platform for our Associations to come together and celebrate the best of elite community football,” said Football NSW CEO, John Tsatsimas via official press release.

“This tournament is all about giving young players, coaches, and referees from every corner of the state a chance to shine and develop in a competitive, supportive environment.”

The partnership between Deploy and Football NSW, therefore, is not merely about a name alteration. It is a collaboration which presents future grassroots talents with a platform and opportunity to compete.

 

Built on shared values

No partnership can succeed without both parties sharing a common goal or set of values. In this case, the alliance between Football NSW and Deploy is built on a commitment to supporting grassroots football and supplying players with quality resources and experiences to showcase their talent.

“Deploy is proud to partner with Football NSW as the Naming Rights Partner of the Association Championships. Community sport plays a vital role in bringing people together and building future leaders, both on and off the field,” explained Chief Commercial Officer at Deploy, Kurt Johnson.

“As long-time partners with Football NSW, this aligns perfectly with our strategy of creating balls designed for each age and skill level of the game, ranging from junior training balls to professional match balls perfect for the competitive environment like the Association Championships.”

Furthermore, with hundreds of participants including players, referees, coaches and supporters due to attend the tournament, the partnership’s impact will extend right across the state of New South Wales.

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