Soccerscene the only online publication dedicated to the Australian and international football industry. It serves as a practical guide for those involved in the business of running a football club and bringing readers up-to-date research and development across all football matters providing insights, discussion and information related to topics that matter.
This week’s football funding news ahead of election
Current Labor Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson and Liberal candidate for Paterson Brooke Vitnell would both see $150,000 invested as part of the #EQUALISER campaign.
After a lobbying process, the upgrades will add to the campaign’s goal to produce more female friendly facilities across the state to increase participation numbers in female football.
The Tynwald Park component forms part of a broader $5 million commitment to partner with the Derwent Valley Council to deliver the New Norfolk Sports Package.
The upgrades would include improvements to changing room facilities for the New Norfolk Panthers.
It is another boost to football in Tasmania, which has been promised a swathe of funding from both major parties if elected in various regions of the state.
Liberal
Also in Tasmania, the Liberal Party announced on Thursday that they will commit $480,000 towards upgrading Cardigan Street, home of the Somerset Sharks.
The announcement was made by Member for Braddon Gavin Pearce and will see the clubrooms and building extended if the Coalition forms government after the election.
On Saturday, February 1st, over 200 attendees came together at Valentine Sports Park for the 2025 Football NSW Club Development Conference.
With registrations for the 2025 season still coming in, over 85 Football NSW clubs from both Sydney Metropolitan and regional areas gathered for a dynamic day of workshops, panels, and special guest speakers, celebrating community football.
Presented by Stephanie Brantz, the Conference included keynote addresses from Karen Jones, Acting CEO of Destination NSW and Chief Executive of the NSW Office of Sport, Dr. Catriona Rose of the Australian Sports Commission, and Matildas cap #167, Ellie Brush.
After the successful second edition of the conference, Trevor Huxley, Football NSW’s Program Manager for Club Development, expressed his excitement over the strong support from the community.
“The Club Development Conference is a fantastic opportunity to bring together all levels of the game to learn from one another, network and discuss best practice for grassroots football,” said Huxley via press release.
“It has been inspiring to see grassroots clubs across the state in attendance, illustrating a remarkable commitment to supporting their local communities. It’s vital that Football NSW continues to lead in this space, providing support to the volunteers and local administrators who are central to the ongoing growth of our game.”
Along with the keynote speakers, attendees were able to choose sessions tailored to their Club or role, covering topics such as safeguarding, volunteerism, marketing and data analysis, infrastructure and grant funding, player and spectator behaviour, women & girls’ football, diversity and inclusion, and grassroots coach education.
The Football NSW Club Development Conference serves as a pivotal platform for enhancing community football by Empowering Clubs, Facilitating Networking, Offering Targeted Education and Showcasing Leadership.
By focusing on these areas, the conference plays a crucial role in strengthening community football, promoting inclusivity, and ensuring the sport’s sustainable growth.
To gain further details and access Club resources, click here.
In a landmark initiative for women’s football, FIFA has unveiled an ambitious strategy aimed at reaching 60 million female players worldwide by 2027.
The comprehensive plan, supported by 13 distinct development programmes, is available to all 211 FIFA Member Associations, marking a significant step forward in the sport’s global evolution.
FIFA also took the announcement to highlight the achievements for women’s football in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Oceanic Football Confederation (OFC).
The recently enhanced FIFA Women’s Development Programme underscores the organisation’s strengthened commitment to expanding the women’s game.
The upcoming 2025 calendar promises several groundbreaking developments for women’s football.
The Philippines will host the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, while Morocco makes history as the first African nation to stage the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The latter tournament sees significant expansion, growing from 16 to 24 teams and shifting to an annual format.
International competition reaches new heights with continental championships scheduled across multiple confederations.
The pathway to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 commences with African qualification matches, while major regional tournaments including the UEFA Women’s EURO and OFC Women’s Nations Cup will crown new champions.
In a significant advancement for club football, all six confederations will host their respective continental club championships for the first time.
This renewed focus comes amid unprecedented growth in participation rates, particularly evident in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-host nations.
New Zealand has reported a remarkable 27 per cent surge in female participation since 2022, with particularly strong growth among Māori and Pasifika communities, showing a 14 per cent increase.
A strategic partnership between New Zealand Football and Māori Football Aotearoa further strengthens grassroots development.
New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell voiced the federations successful results.
“The expansion of football and futsal in Aotearoa New Zealand has been extraordinary, with the Women’s World Cup serving as a genuine catalyst for growth,” he explained via official FIFA press release.
Across the Tasman, Football Australia’s Growing Football Fund Community Grants programme continues to foster development at the grassroots level.
The latest round of funding benefits 118 recipients, complementing the 121 projects supported in March 2024.
This initiative particularly emphasises regional development, with nearly half the grants allocated to areas outside major metropolitan centres.
The grants provide essential support for women’s football development, encompassing coach education, introductory programmes, and vital equipment procurement, further cementing the sport’s foundation at the community level.
Also within the AFC, footballing powerhouse Japan has successfully hosted the continent’s first female-exclusive Pro Licence coaching course.
A collaborative effort between FIFA, AFC, and the Japan Football Association (JFA), represents a significant milestone in professional football development.
The intensive seven-day course attracted participants from fourteen nations, featuring presents such as AFC Technical Director Andy Roxburgh and Japan men’s national team coach Hajime Moriyasu.
Participants gained valuable practical experience through observations of pre-season training sessions at both J.League and Nadeshiko League clubs.
JFA Technical Director Masanaga Kageyama emphasised the programme’s strategic importance and inclusivity.
“This course is a joint AFC/JFA initiative to increase the number of top-level, professionally licensed female coaches in Asia. It aims to provide existing talents with additional advice to help them achieve greater success in their current coaching positions and secure future success,” Kageyama explained via official FIFA press release.
This initiative aligns with JFA’s renowned long-term development philosophy and a significant advancement in creating pathways for women in professional football coaching.
This newly improved strategy at the global scale will hopefully allow for more women in both professional and amateur spaces to get the opportunities they deserve in football.
It also highlight’s that AFC & OFC nations, including Australia, will have a strong place within the growth of women’s football.
Read more on the FIFA Women’s Development Program here.