Subway Country Director Shane Bracken: “The history behind this code is something that we’re extremely proud to be involved in”

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Subway Socceroos
Image provided by Football Australia

Ahead of the Socceroos’ Centenary clash with New Zealand, Football Australia unveiled Subway as the new naming rights partner of the country’s Senior Men’s National Football Team.

The record-breaking, three-year partnership is the largest ever national team sponsorship deal in Australian football history and sees the world’s largest sandwich chain – with more than 37,000 locations globally – secure the naming rights of the Subway Socceroos, Subway Olyroos, Subway Young Socceroos, and Subway Joeys.

As part of the game-changing deal, Subway also becomes an Official Partner of the CommBank Matildas and the Australia Cup, the largest knock-out competition in Australia with over 700 teams from all corners of the country entering each year. Subway will have exclusive category rights for the Socceroos, CommBank Matildas, men’s and women’s youth national teams, and the Australia Cup.

Subway Australia & New Zealand Country Director Shane Bracken attended the Socceroos’ Centenary Gala and spoke on behalf of the leading multi-national fast food restaurant franchise.

He addressed a room filled with Socceroos legends and Team of the Century inductees, as well as representatives from Football Australia amongst a wide range of Australian football’s various stakeholders.

“Spending a couple of hours in this room tonight you hear words like ‘family’. And you hear words like ‘team’. And you just know the history behind this code is amazing and it’s something that we’re extremely proud to be involved in,” Bracken said.

“I’m honoured to be here tonight with Chris Nikou, James Johnson, and so many legends of the game. It’s special to be here on a night where we’re celebrating the centenary, and we get the honour of being able to kick-off the Subway and Football Australia partnership. We recognise that this is a very important moment as football takes its place in the Australian sporting community.

“Subway has a long and proud Australian history and we’re delighted to unite these two green and gold brands. To us it’s a perfect fit; we love what football represents in Australia, particularly the 700+ community clubs. We’re extremely excited about the national and international scale of the Socceroos and Matildas, but we can’t wait to participate at the community level.

“Our business is a franchise business, with 1200 restaurants across Australia. And we form part of a community in just about every suburb in Australia. So, for us it’s extremely important to match our values and vision with Football Australia’s. And we’ve seen that very quickly already in the short time we’ve been involved.

“We value a fresh and healthy approach to food and we feel that Subway has that opportunity to fuel teams and individuals on a game day as well.

“Thank you for welcoming us into the football family and on behalf of everyone at Subway I wish the Subway Socceroos all the best for a successful World Cup campaign in Qatar and beyond.”

The event was followed by the Socceroos and New Zealand match at the same venue of Suncorp Stadium, where 25,392 fans showed their support.

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Fremantle City Launches 2026 NPL Season with Focus on Youth and Community

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Image Credit: Football West

Fremantle City FC has officially launched its 2026 New Balance NPL WA Men’s and Women’s seasons, championing a community-first approach that puts young players at the heart of the club’s future.In a vibrant ceremony at Hilton Park, club juniors presented first-team shirts to senior Men’s and Women’s squads, symbolising a critical pathway from grassroots to elite football within the Fremantle family.

“This is very important for us- our juniors presenting shirts to our NPL Women’s and Men’s teams,” said Club President Tony Estrano. “2026 is the ninth year of our academy, running from under-nines up to under-16s, for both boys and girls. Today’s shirt handover by our Under 13s Academy and JDL teams shows these kids there is a real pathway to the first team.”

Head coach Samantha Geddes has reaffirmed the sentiment, emphasising Freo’s commitment to club unity: “Getting the whole club involved like this is brilliant. It’s great for our young girls to see that connection to the senior team and for senior players to inspire and support the next generation.”

Momentum and Ambition for 2026

Fremantle’s Women’s side enters 2026 riding high after a historic State Cup triumph last season, with captain Annabelle Leek setting her sights even higher: “Winning the State Cup was massive. We’re ready to build on that momentum, with new signings and a renewed focus on finishing in the top four.”

On the men’s side, after avoiding relegation last year and freshening up the roster with key signings, captain Cam Edwards is confident: “We’re ambitious, and with this group, we know we can put on a good show.”

Fremantle City has committed itself to turning club culture and youth pathways into on-field results, inspiring the next generation to wear the crest at every level.

Level the Playing Field: Football Unites at Parliament House to Back Grassroots Growth

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 Image Credit: Football Victoria/Avellino Photography 

Victorian football’s most influential voices gathered at Parliament House last Wednesday to officially launch the Level the Playing Field campaign. The initiative is a united call to strengthen grassroots infrastructure and ensure every child has access to safe, modern facilities.

Hosted by Football Victoria alongside members of the Parliamentary Friends of Football, the event brought together MPs from across the political spectrum, A-League representatives, community clubs and emerging players, reinforcing one clear message: when football thrives, Victoria thrives.

Football Victoria Chair Dr Angela Williams delivered a powerful address, drawing on her professional experience to underscore sport’s social impact.

“You belong when you play football,” she said. “It is the same healthy place to play — regardless of race, religion or background. Young people in sport are healthier and safer. That’s what this is about.”

The campaign comes at a pivotal moment for the game. Participation across Victoria has surged to more than 127,000 registered players, with female participation experiencing significant growth in recent years. A legacy of the recent success of the Australian women’s national team.

Yet, as speakers emphasised, infrastructure has not kept pace.

Former Socceroo and community advocate Carl Valeri reflected on the contrast between elite and grassroots environments, highlighting the importance of stronger community facilities.

“When you walk into a community facility, there’s the same love and passion,” Valeri said. “But the infrastructure doesn’t always match. That infrastructure can turn away the kids who decide to play later, or those who might be facing challenges at home. For me, community football is important because we have to keep kids involved in the game.”

 Image Credit: Football Victoria/Avellino Photography 

Current and emerging players echoed the sentiment. Young footballer Kara Crnac highlighted how quality facilities build confidence and create opportunity, while coach and talent pathway representative Maddison Kamolins stressed the importance of safe, inclusive environments.

Image Credit: Football Victoria/Avellino Photography

Government representatives acknowledged more than $100 million in recent football facility investment, including the state’s landmark commitment to Home of the Matildas at La Trobe University, while recognising further support is required at the grassroots level.

Football Victoria CEO Dan Birrell described the campaign as both collaborative and forward-looking.

“We’re going to be visible; we’re going to be active and we’re going to be strong advocates for our clubs,” he said. “Every elite career begins at a community ground. If we want stronger communities and stronger representation on the world stage, we must invest where it all begins.”

With the AFC Women’s Asian Cup on the horizon and continued momentum across domestic competitions, the message from Parliament was clear: the next generation of Matildas and Socceroos is already here.

Now, it’s time to level the playing field, sign the petition here.

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