Western United announce Lakeside Stadium as one of four home grounds – challenge issued by South Melbourne

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Western United FC has announced that they will play home fixtures out of Lakeside Stadium in season 2021/22, only for South Melbourne FC to challenge the announcement hours later.

United, which made a long-awaited update on the construction of its new stadium yesterday, released a statement this morning confirming that Lakeside Stadium – home of NPL outfit and unsuccessful A-League licence bidder South Melbourne – will be included in its rotation of home games this season.

The club announced that Lakeside will host seven home games for the A-League side in 2021/22 season, the first of which will come against Perth Glory on Friday, November 26 in Round 2.

However, South Melbourne has moved quickly to challenge the announcement.

Western United had revealed Lakeside Stadium as one of its home grounds for the 2021/22 season, with a written statement on the club’s website.

“United had limited options for the season due to the lack of rectangular stadiums in Melbourne, and the requirement that stadiums must meet the minimum A-League venue standards,” the statement reads.

“Several other options were investigated during the process but did not materialise as viable. This included Knights Stadium in Sunshine which unfortunately required significant infrastructure investment to meet A-League standards.

“United was keen to continue playing at AAMI Park as per the 2020/21 season, but this option was heavily opposed by cross-town rivals Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City, despite being the only rectangular stadium in Melbourne that meets all requirements to host an A-League game.

“Lakeside Stadium was selected for several reasons including being easily accessible both on public transport and on road networks with ample parking for United fans based in the west of Melbourne. It is also a purpose-built football stadium that can be adapted to meet to A-League standards, which was a critical factor in the decision-making process.”

South Melbourne has since directly challenged that any agreement is in place at all.

“South Melbourne FC notes the announcement by Western United FC of its intention to use Lakeside Stadium for a select number of games in the 2021/22 A-League Season,” the NPL club noted in a statement.

“Lakeside Stadium and Albert Park is the home of South Melbourne FC and has been for over 60 years. Our licencing arrangements with Lakeside Stadium and the State Government ensures it will remain this way for decades to come.

“South Melbourne FC has a stadium, we have a home and we are proud to call it our own.

“Executives at Lakeside Stadium and Melbourne Sports Centres have advised South Melbourne FC that contrary to the announcement made by Western United FC, there is no written or signed agreement in place with Western United FC or the Australian Professional Leagues to allow Western United FC access to Lakeside Stadium for the 2021/22 A-League Season.

“South Melbourne considers Western United to be a direct competitor in the Melbourne, Victorian and Australian football market. Their acceptance to the A-League was based largely on the commitment to having a purpose-built football stadium constructed in Melbourne’s west. It is approaching three years since the A-League expansion clubs were announced and construction works have still not commenced. Western United’s use of Lakeside Stadium is not acceptable and South Melbourne FC will vigorously oppose any such plans.

“South Melbourne can confirm that it will be exercising all rights to prevent Western United FC from playing A-League matches at Lakeside Stadium.

“The club will provide its members, players, parents and supporters with further updates as information is available.”

Whilst the South Melbourne statement alleges that “Executives at Lakeside Stadium and Melbourne Sports Centres have advised South Melbourne FC that contrary to the announcement made by Western United FC, there is no written or signed agreement in place with Western United FC or the Australian Professional Leagues to allow Western United FC access to Lakeside Stadium for the 2021/22 A-League Season”, the official Melbourne Sports Centres account did retweet the Western United announcement earlier in the day.

The tweet has since been deleted.

In a written statement released earlier in the day, Western United confirmed that the club considered a range of alternative venues but was met with a wide range of challenges, including from AAMI Park anchor tenants and cross-town rivals, Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory.

Western United CEO Chris Pehlivanis explained the ill-fated search for a suitable rectangular stadium west of Melbourne’s CBD was a vital reminder of the importance of the club’s stadium and precinct project in Wyndham.

“We’ve been working hard to find the best home ground for us, which is not a simple process in a complex sporting environment topped with a global pandemic,” he said.

“Unfortunately, what we want and what our members tell us they want – a rectangular pitch to A-League standard located in the west of Melbourne – doesn’t exist. That’s why we are building Wyndham City Stadium.

“For this season, we wanted to build a home ground advantage that would not only benefit us on the pitch but provide the best solution for a great fan experience for our loyal members and fans that have been with us from the beginning.

“We’re really lucky as a club, we have tough, relentless and dedicated fans that I know will stick on this journey with us through the tough times as we build towards being a great club for the west for generations to come.”

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The only road to the national stage: FQ Academy Inter-Conference Carnival 2026

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Image Credit: Brook Desbois

Football Queensland (FQ) has confirmed Mackay Football Park as the host venue for the 2026 FQ Academy Inter-Conference Carnival, scheduled for the 14th to 17th of April.

Backed by the Mackay Regional Council, the event unites FQ’s five Regional Academies across the Northern and Central Conferences. This expanded four-day schedule marks a significant shift in regional programming. It allows for a greater volume of match play and enhances talent identification windows for technical staff.

Strengthening the Regional Pathway

The Carnival serves as a critical junction in the state-wide pathway. FQ Technical Director and Player Development, Tom Laxton, emphasized the event’s role in exposing players to new competitive environments.

“The Inter-Conference Carnival remains a key foundational element of the regional FQ Academy pathway,” Laxton said. “Expanding the Carnival in 2026 to four days reinforces our commitment to delivering more meaningful opportunities.”

Importantly, the FQ Academy stands as the only pathway in Queensland recognized by Football Australia for national selection. This event ensures equity amongst regional talent whom often fly under the radar of high-performance scouts. The extended format also benefits referees and coaches, providing a longer window for development and assessment.

Economic and Regional Impact

The partnership with Mackay Regional Council highlights the economic value of youth football tourism. Mayor Williamson noted the expanded timeline benefits the local visitor economy.

“By expanding the carnival to four days, it gives visitors a much better opportunity to explore what our region has to offer,” Williamson said.

The event draws players, support staff, and families from across the northern half of the state. It positions Mackay Football Park as a central hub for elite youth development in Queensland.

Registration and scheduling details regarding the 2026 FQ Academy Inter-Conference Carnival will be released here as they emerge.

Pignata’s OAM Signals a New Era for Football Administration

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Image Credit: Football Victoria

In the Australian sporting landscape, administrative longevity is a rare commodity. The burnout rate for executives in the A-Leagues and state federations is notoriously high. It’s driven by the unique friction between commercial imperatives and grassroots politics. Consequently, the awarding of a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) to Football Tasmania CEO Tony Pignata is symbolic of more than individual recognition.

Pignata joins PFA founder Brendan Schwab, former Soccer Australia CEO Ian Holmes, and Alen Stajcic on this year’s Australia Day honour roll. However, Pignata offers a distinct blueprint for the modern sports executive. His trajectory moves from the banking sector to the Football Victoria boardroom, through high-pressure A-League franchises, and finally to the developing frontier of Tasmania.

A “Turnaround” Specialist

To understand Pignata’s executive philosophy, observers must look past the A-League. The mechanics of the Victorian Soccer Federation (VSF) in the mid-2000s tell the real story. Following the sudden departure of Damien Bown in 2004, Pignata inherited an organisation in crisis. Then-Chairman Manny Galanos described the body as being “on our hands and knees financially.”

Pignata leveraged a 17-year background in legacy financial institutions including NAB, AXA Australia, and HSBC. He applied corporate discipline to a chaotic sporting balance sheet. His tenure at the VSF (now Football Victoria) restored solvency and aggressively pursued commercial assets.

Pignata’s transition to the A-League demonstrated that these fundamental business principles could scale. His tenure across three clubs showed adaptability to different market conditions. Yet, his legacy remains inextricably linked to a singular, market-shifting transaction: the signing of Alessandro Del Piero.

In 2012, the A-League faced a relevance crisis. At its helm, Pignata executed a high-risk strategy that fundamentally altered the competition’s valuation. The Del Piero acquisition proved the league’s capacity to attract global brand equity. Pignata demonstrated that commercial viability requires bold capital investment backed by operational stability.

Bridging the “Old Soccer” Divide

Crucially, the OAM citation acknowledges a contribution that bridges the often-toxic divide between the “old soccer” NPL system and the “new football” professional era. Pignata is not a corporate outsider. His journey began as a junior at Salesian College and a player for Westall Inter and Box Hill Inter. He featured in the Reserves as the club ascended to the Premier League.

This “proximal” relationship with the grassroots gave him a unique license to operate. Long before the ubiquity of social media, Pignata engaged directly with stakeholders on public fan forums. He understood the importance of monitoring the digital pulse of its supporters when most administrators relied on press releases.

His unique ability to speak the language of both volunteer committee and corporate board drove organisational reforms in Victoria. He oversaw the rebranding to Football Federation Victoria and streamlined the V-League Academy by recruiting Eric Hollingsworth. His move to admit the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) into the Premier League ensured elite youth talent had a vehicle for competitive match minutes. He prioritised technical development over short-term club politics.

The Tasmanian Mandate

Now 61, Pignata shows no signs of slowing down. His move to Football Tasmania in September 2023 signals a shift in the state’s ambition. Tasmania currently sits at a critical juncture, aggressively lobbying for A-League expansion and the requisite stadium infrastructure.

By appointing Pignata, Football Tasmania signalled to government partners that they are operationally ready for professionalisation. His presence de-risks the expansion proposition. He knows what a viable A-League licence looks like because he’s ran three of them.

His current focus on “high-performance pathways” addresses the state’s most pressing structural deficit: the talent drain to the mainland. Pignata’s mandate is to build an ecosystem where a Tasmanian junior sees a clear line of sight to professional football without leaving the state.

Ultimately, the OAM recognises a career defined by resilience and ROI. Pignata navigated the transition from the semi-pro era to the corporate demands of the A-League. He consistently delivered commercial growth and organisational stability.

“Football is more than a sport… it is a community, a pathway and a powerful connector,” Pignata said upon receiving the honour.

For the industry, Tony Pignata’s OAM is a benchmark. It rewards the “business of winning” off the pitch just as highly as the results on it. As he steers Football Tasmania toward a potential A-League future, the industry watches with interest. The “Pignata Effect” may yet deliver one final, historic expansion victory.

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