Victorian government to invest $22 million into state football facilities

This week, Football Victoria announced that the state government will be investing nearly $22 million into footballing facilities across the state.

With junior participation rates at an all time high in Australian soccer, now appears to the perfect time to maximise resources in the industry.

Here is the media release in full:

Football Victoria welcomes the Victorian Government’s 2019 Budget commitment of $21.6 million for community football facilities across the state.

The announcement includes $20 million for The World Game Fund over the forward estimates, and, coupled with other State Government funding initiatives and recent local government contributions, secures more than $118 million for football facilities across Victoria.

Football Victoria CEO Peter Filopoulos said grassroots facilities funding was vital for enabling the future of many local clubs struggling to meet booming participation demands.

“The 2019 Victorian Government Budget commitment is great news for our game and a testament to our approach of working hand-in-hand with government for many months.

“But more needs to be done. When you consider population growth and the ongoing rise in participation rates, football will need the equivalent of another 420 full size pitches by 2026”, he said.

Mr Filopoulos said that in addition to supporting local facilities, Football Victoria was also seeking to work with the State and Federal Government to secure funding towards a state-of-the-art facility for the Westfield Matildas, and a home for football in Victoria.

Football Victoria has received expressions of interest from various local government authorities seeking to host the proposed development including the cities of Brimbank, Casey, Darebin, Maribyrnong, Maroondah, and Greater Shepparton. La Trobe University has also made a formal submission as part of redevelopment plans at its Bundoora campus

“While we’ve secured $200,000 in State Government funding towards a feasibility study for a Home of Football and $15 million from the Federal Government, we know more will be required to get this designed and delivered.

“Just as we’ve worked with the Andrews Government to ensure the game has the support it needs at the grassroots, we’re reaching out to government to ensure our Matildas – Australia’s favourite national sport team – can have their home in the sporting capital of the world”, Mr Filopoulos said.

For more information on Football Victoria’s Local Facilities strategy and the Home of Football campaign, please visit https://www.footballvictoria.com.au/.

*ENDS*

This is sure to be a worthwhile investment, one that will significantly improve the sport of soccer in Victoria and down the line, for all of Australia.

 

Previous ArticleNext Article

Victory unites with Roasting Warehouse in culture-led partnership

Avatar
Image credit: Melbourne Victory

The Melbourne-based anf family-owned business will join the Victory family, uniting two institutions which represent the city’s culture and identity.

A partnership with local roots

As the newest partner of Melbourne Victory, Roasting Warehouse joins forces with a vital part of the city’s sporting landscape.

The club’s Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, outlined why the partnership bears so much value to both parties.

“We are excited to collaborate with Roasting Warehouse, a community-oriented destination for high-quality coffee, proud of its foundations in Melbourne,” said Carnegie via official media release.

“Football and coffee sit at the epicentre of Melbourne’s culture. The two go hand-in-hand, consistently at the centre of the conversation that stirs Melburnians, which is no different to the conversation sport and Melbourne Victory stir in the State.”

Indeed, this is a partnership which combines the identity, passions and culture of an entire city, therefore giving it the foundations required for long-term, mutual success.

Representing the best of Melbourne

Both Victory and Roasting Warehouse are hugely successful in their respective industries. They are institutions with community-oriented philosphies, who pride themselves on craft and quality.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with Melbourne Victory, a club that represents the heart, passion, and ambition of Melbourne,” revealed Roasting Warehouse Head of Brand, Alexander Paraskevopoulos.

“As a Melbourne-founded, family-run business, supporting a team that means so much to the local community feels very natural for us.”

Furthermore, through their high-quality blends, Roasting Warehouse will look to prepare Victory’s players and staff for high performances on the pitch as the seasons nears completion.

But this is about far more than just fueling athletes.

This is a partnership which embodies and unites two of Melbourne’s greatest strengths and cultural markers – a connection forged from the city’s very own DNA.

 

For more information about Roasting Warehouse, click here.

Marie-Louise Eta makes history as new Union Berlin head coach

Avatar
Image credit: FC Union Berlin

In an historic appointment, Eta will take over as head coach of Union Berlin until the end of the season.

History in the making

Previously the first female assistant coach in Bundesliga history with Union Berlin, Eta will now take the reigns of the men’s first team on an interim basis.

Currently, the club sit in 11th place in the Bundesliga table, but with only two wins so far in 2026, relegation appears an all-too-real prospect, and one which the club is desperate to avoid.

“Given the points gap in the lower half of the table, our place in the Bundesliga is not yet secure,” said Eta via official media release.

‘I am delighted that the club has entrusted me with this challenging task. One of Union’s strengths has always been, and remains, the ability to pull together in such situations.”

Eta will begin as Union’s new head coach with immediate effect, and will be in the dugout for the club’s matchup against Wolfsburg this weekend.

 

A step into an equal future

Eta’s appointment signals a major step towards a more level playing field in the football landscape.

Furthermore, Eta joins other coaches including Sabrinna Wittmann, Hannah Dingley and Corinne Diacre who, in recent years, have blazed a trail for female coaches to step into the men’s game.

Wittmann currently manages FC Ingolstadt in Germany’s third division, and was the first female head coach in Germany’s top three divisions.

In 2023, Dingley became caretaker manager of Forest Green Rovers, and thus the first woman to lead a men’s professional team in England.

Diacre, now head coach of France’s women’s national team, managed Ligue 2’s Clerment Foot between 2014 and 2017.

 

Final thoughts

The impact therefore, is that Eta’s appointment will show future generations of aspiring female coaches that men’s football is an equally viable and possible pathway as the women’s game.

The time is now to level the playing field.

And while it may be a short-term role, its effect on attitudes towards equality and fair opportunities in the game will hopefully resonate long after the season ends.

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks

Send this to a friend