Women’s football reinforced by 118 new community grants

Football Australia has celebrated the latest round of the Growing Football Fund Community Grants, with 118 clubs and associations awarded up to $5000 to support women’s football programs. 

In conjunction with the Commonwealth Bank, the latest grants from Football Australia built upon the first round of the program from March 2024 that saw 121 clubs and associations rewarded with grants.

The grants aim to strengthen women’s football through number of initiatives:

  • Assisting the development of female coaches by subsiding coach training programs
  • Assisting the hosting of ‘come and try’ days and participation programs
  • Assisting health and training workshops for women and girls
  • Assisting the allocation of professional female fitting uniforms

Through the program, Football Australia also illustrated its desire to bolster rural women’s sport by providing 38% of the grants to organisations from regional areas.

Football Australia General Manager of Women’s Football, Carlee Millikin, explained the impact the grants would have on community women’s football.

“We are thrilled to see the clubs and associations that have been awarded the grants demonstrating a strong commitment to long-term investment in women and girls’ football within their communities that goes beyond the financial,” she said in a press release.

“It means the Growing Football Fund can play its role to help supercharge their ambitions that result in positive outcomes for female participants. The wide breadth of projects is exciting, as it shows a deepening understanding of what is required to develop inclusive and safe environments.

“In partnership with CommBank, we have already seen great results from the round one clubs delivery of initiatives and look forward to witnessing how the latest cohort creates a lasting impact through their programs.”

CommBank’s General Manager of Brand, Sponsorship and Content, Di Everett, expressed their pride to sponsor the grants.

“We are so proud of what this fund has achieved so far, and congratulate the recipients of the Round Two grants,” she said via press release.

“We are passionate about making community sport more accessible for all. These grants have enabled clubs across the country to assist coaches through training opportunities and support local families through an expansion of programs to drive participation for young women.”

The clubs awarded with grants from Round Two of the program are listed below via member federation:

Capital Football 

  • BellaMonaro Women’s Football Club
  • Belsouth Football Club
  • Canberra Juventus Football Club
  • Canberra White Eagles Football Club
  • Tigers FC
  • Tuggeranong United Football Club

Football NSW

  • AC United Football Club
  • All Saints West Oatley Soccer Club
  • Ashfield Pirates FC
  • Austral Soccer Club
  • Balgownie Junior Football Club
  • Box Hill Rangers AFC
  • Collaroy Cromer Strikers Football Club
  • Colo Soccer Football Club
  • Enfield Rovers Football Club
  • Fairfield Bulls Football Club Inc.
  • Figtree Football Club
  • Football Canterbury Association
  • Forest Rangers Football Club
  • Future Leaders Australia Football Club Incorporated
  • Gordon Football Club
  • Gosford City Football Club
  • Leichhardt Saints Football Club
  • Leppington Lions Soccer Club
  • Lindfield Football Club
  • Millthorpe Junior Soccer Club Inc
  • Narooma Football Club
  • Narromine Soccer Club
  • North Epping Rangers Sports Club
  • North Turramurra
  • North West Sydney Football Association
  • Pennant Hills Football Club
  • Pitt Town Football Club
  • Ropes Crossing Strikers Football Club
  • Russell Lea Women’s Soccer Club
  • Sydney Uni Soccer Football Club
  • Wagga United Football Club
  • Warradale FC
  • West Griffith Soccer Club

Northern NSW Football 

  • Charlestown Azzurri FC
  • Coffs City United Football Club
  • Cooks Hill United Football Club
  • Corindi Red Rock Sports Association (Football Club)
  • Great Lakes United Football Club
  • Inverell Football Club
  • Moore Creek Football Club Inc
  • Norths United Football Club Incorporated
  • Old Bar Barbarians Football Club
  • Shores United Soccer Club

Football VIC

  • Barwon Heads Soccer Club
  • Bayside Argonauts Football Club
  • Berwick City Soccer Club
  • Boroondara Eagles Football Club Inc
  • Craigieburn city Fc
  • Croydon City Soccer Club Inc.
  • Darebin Women’s Sports Club
  • Daylesford & Hepburn United Soccer Club
  • Deakin Ducks Fc
  • Drysdale Soccer Club
  • Fitzroy Lions Soccer Club
  • Footscray United Rangers Football Club
  • Gippsland United Football Club
  • Glen Eira FC Football VIC
  • Keilor Park Soccer Club
  • Leongatha Knights Football Club
  • Middle Park Football Club
  • Officer City Football Club Incorporated
  • PEGS Soccer Club Football VIC
  • Phillip Island Breakers Soccer Club
  • Spring Hills FC
  • Swan Hill Soccer League
  • Traralgon Olympians Soccer Club
  • Truganina Lions Soccer Club

Football QLD

  • Annerley Recreation Club
  • Bluebirds United Football Club Inc
  • Brighton District Soccer Club Inc
  • Burdekin Football Club Inc
  • Centary Stormers FC
  • Dayboro and Districrs Football Club
  • Gold Coast Knights Football Club
  • Holland Park Hawks Football Club
  • Logan Village Falcons All Sports
  • Mackay Wanderers Football Club
  • Moreton City Excelsior FC
  • Rebels Football Club
  • Redlands United Football Club
  • The Gap Football Club
  • Townsville Warriors Football Club Inc
  • Woombye Snakes Football Club Inc

Football SA

  • Adelaide Ateltico
  • Adelaide Jaguars Football Club Incorporated
  • Campbelltown City Soccer and Social Club
  • Flinders United Women’s Football Club
  • Mount Barker United Soccer Club
  • Sacred Heart Old Collegians Soccer Club
  • South Adelaide Panthers FC
  • Sturt Lions Football Club Incorporated
  • The Pulteney Old Scholars Soccer Club Incorporated

Football West 

  • Baldivis Districts Sporting Club Incorporated
  • Country Coastal Junior Soccer Association
  • Esperance Soccer association
  • Forrestfield United Football Club
  • Karratha Glory Soccer Club
  • Kingsley Westside Football Club
  • Perth Atheletic FC
  • Twin City Saints Soccer Club
  • Westnam United Soccer Club

Football TAS

  • Clarence Zebras Football Club
  • Hobart City Football Clug
  • Launceston United Soccer Club
  • North Launceston Eagles Soccer Club
  • South Hobart Football Club
  • Woodbridge Football Club

Football NT

  • Darwin Olympic Sporting Club
  • Litchfield Football Club
  • Palmerston Rovers Football Club Incorporated
  • Stormbirds
  • Verdi Football Club

For more information on the grants, click HERE.

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UEFA and Unilever renew partnership

UEFA has embraced Unilever as an Official Global Partner of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, kicking off in Switzerland on July 2 until July 27, 2025.

Unilever’s deal with UEFA builds off of their 2024 partnership and will see a wide array of Unilever’s Foods and Personal Care brands ignite their own integrated advertising campaigns to connect with fans and consumers in and out of the stadium, including household names like Dove, Rexona, Knorr and Hellmann’s.

UEFA marketing director, Guy-Laurent Epstein expressed UEFA’s excitement to work with Unilever again.

“Building on the success of our collaboration last summer, we are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Unilever for UEFA Women’s EURO 2025,” he said in a press release.

The support and interest in women’s football is on a sharp upward trajectory, and with Unilever’s portfolio of Food and Personal Care brands reaching billions of people every day, we look forward to celebrating the power of the game and bringing excitement to fans everywhere.”

General Manager of Unilever Foods Europe, Robbert de Vreede conveyed his enthusiasm for Unilever’s involvement in the upcoming Women’s EURO 2025.

“We are thrilled to partner with the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, enabling our Foods brands to connect with a large audience who come together enjoying the thrill of a football match with friends whilst sharing delicious foods,” he said in a UEFA press release.

“Just as a great BBQ brings people closer, football unites fans in a shared experience of passion and camaraderie. In this partnership we will create memorable moments that highlight the best of summer – good food, great company, and beautiful games.”

General Manager of Unilever Personal Care Europe, Fulvio Guarneri detailed why the collaboration between UEFA and Unilever was a perfect fit.

“This is an exciting opportunity for some of our biggest brands to tap into a big cultural moment and connect with millions of consumers who will be watching the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025,” he said via press release.

“It’s a great time for women’s football and this partnership fits perfectly with our Personal Care products which are all about feeling clean and confident, and taking part in sports. Together with our retail partners, we look forward to building on the success of last year’s men’s tournament, delivering unmissable campaigns across a variety of channels that celebrate the power of women’s football.”

Unilever joins an exciting list of brands for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 tournament, including household names such as adidas, Amazon, AXA, Booking.com, EA, Euronics, Grifols, Heineken, Hublot, Just Eat Takeaway.com, Lay’s, Lidl, PlayStation and Visa.

The Club Development Conference highlights community football

Significant Sporting Events Program 2023-24

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.

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