Victorian NPLW gets a revamp – What does it mean for your club?

Liam Watson

Looking ahead to 2020, Football Victoria have announced big changes to the way the NPLW competition will be structured.

The huge development for next season is that Southern United FC and Galaxy United FC have not been offered the full NPLW license, meaning they will not participate in the top flight for women’s soccer in Victoria.

In a bid to make the league a little more competitive, the NPLW senior competition will feature eight teams from last season – Calder United SC, FC Bulleen Lions, Alamein FC, South Melbourne FC, Box Hill United, Heidelberg United, Bayside United and Senior NTC.

With a revamped eight-team league, there will be 21 rounds plus finals starting from 2020.

While Southern United and Galaxy United won’t be part of it, they will be able to continue playing in the Victorian Senior women’s State League 1 level, while current U12, U14 and U16 junior teams are unaffected, with that competition remaining a 27-week season in 2020.

This is all a proposal that both clubs are evaluating and are given until Friday August 30 to respond. Acceptance of the offer will mean the senior and U19 (reserves) teams will be moved to the State League 1 tier for women’s soccer in Victoria.

While a decision has been made for NPLW status of Southern United and Galaxy United next year, both clubs will at least have the chance to reapply to get back into the NPLW in the lead up to season 2021, which is part of an open and transparent process for all FV clubs.

FV remains committed to the development for the women’s game and striving towards an optimal competition structure for junior girls.

Rebel Sport teams up with Auckland FC

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Image credit: Top Athletes NZ Instagram

Auckland FC and Rebel Sport have entered into a partnership that will make the renowned Kiwi sports retailer the club’s new sponsor for training kits and the AFC development centre.

As New Zealand’s hub for sports, Rebel Sport is dedicated to motivating all Kiwis to engage in sports, particularly by fostering participation at the grassroots level. This partnership represents one of the ways the company demonstrates its commitment to supporting both professional and community sports.

The Rebel Sport logo will be featured on all Auckland FC training kits worn by players and coaching staff, and Auckland FC players will be featured in Rebel Sport promotions across stores, online platforms, and broadcasts.

This year, Rebel Sport introduced a new Grants program available to grassroots sports clubs. Additionally, the company sponsors three young women through the Tania Dalton Scholarship Programme, including footballer Farina Anchico. These initiatives reflect the company’s commitment to encouraging and supporting greater Kiwi participation in sports.

Rebel Sport Managing Director, Rod Duke, expressed his delight about this deal.

“We’re delighted to be there from the start to help launch Auckland FC. We stand behind grass-roots sports as a business and we’re proud to help provide pathways for up-and-coming kiwi football talent through the Rebel Sports AFC Development Centre,” he said via press release.

“This is a partnership that we are excited to be a part of. The momentum and excitement that surrounds Auckland FC, and not just in Auckland, is phenomenal. With so much excitement and so many people playing football it offers a lot of opportunities for both brands.”

Auckland FC CEO, Nick Becker, expressed pride in joining forces with Rebel Sport for their inaugural season as both the training kit sponsor and talent development partner.

“Rebel Sport are an iconic New Zealand business who are passionate about football and helping to create talent pathways for young footballers. They have been at the forefront of NZ sporting business and have helped to inspire many generations of talented sports stars,” he said via the clubs website.

“Right from the first conversation, Rebel Sport have shown that we both have aligned values and the partnership feels very true to who we are as a club that is embedded in the local football community.

“It is a fantastic partnership, and it is great to see our players training and out in the community wearing their Rebel branded kit.”

Football is rapidly growing in popularity across the country, with over 165,000 registered players. Furthermore, 17% of those aged 5-17 have played football within the past week.

With only over a month remaining until the 20th anniversary of the Isuzu UTE A-League Men commences, Auckland FC are making a strong statement by partnering up with major companies for their first season who want to enhance community involvement through sports.

Adelaide United confirmed a new deal with 1KOMMA5° Australia

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Image credit: Adelaide United Instagram

Adelaide United confirmed a new partnership with 1KOMMA5° Australia, a global leader in decarbonisation and renewable energy, specialising in solar power, battery storage, air conditioning, heat pumps, and energy control systems.

Through this collaboration, 1KOMMA5° will serve as the official back-of-shorts sponsor for Adelaide United’s 2024/25 Isuzu Ute A-League Men’s season. Their logo will be prominently displayed on both the home and away shorts for the duration of the season.

1KOMMA5° aims to empower individuals to manage their energy usage by reimagining energy solutions. Their mission is to help people live sustainably by using solar and wind power indefinitely, encouraging energy independence over reliance on external sources.

As an innovator in renewable energy and sustainable air conditioning, 1KOMMA5° is transforming energy consumption by combining advanced technology with efficient systems for homes and businesses.

The company’s objective is to lower energy costs and move away from traditional energy sources by harnessing clean, renewable power.

The deal also improves the carbon footprint and sustainability of Adelaide United which is becoming more popular amongst football clubs.

With local expertise from Kozco Energy Group, based in South Australia and now part of 1KOMMA5°, the company continues to push its mission forward with a strong local presence supported by global leadership.

Directors Wayne Faranda and Danny Mudronja spoke on the partnership building the relationship between them and the fans.

“We’re thrilled to team up with Adelaide United. This partnership offers an excellent chance to strengthen our connection with the fans and support the Club’s efforts both on and off the field,” they said in a joint statement.

Adelaide United’s Head of Commercial, Fabrizio Petrone also commented on the partnership.

“We are delighted to welcome 1KOMMA5° as our back-of-shorts sponsor for the next two seasons. Having both a global leader and a locally rooted company on our kits is a testament to the strength of this partnership,” he said via club statement. 

In August, Adelaide United revealed their 2024/25 home kit, featuring the iconic red shorts, which have received great praise from fans.

This partnership represents Adelaide United’s mission to improve their carbon footprint whilst also securing important finances for the upcoming season and adding to their corporate portfolio with another local business.

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