Football Queensland and McDonald’s unite in a bid to boost quality of grassroots football

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Football Queensland

Football Queensland has announced a partnership with McDonald’s as the statewide naming rights sponsor of the Football Queensland Premier League (FQPL) Men and Women competitions and its Official Quick Service Restaurant and Coffee Partner.

McDonald’s were previously in a partnership with Football Queensland, dating back to 2010, where the aim was to invest into the sport at all levels on the Sunshine Coast.

Football Queensland CEO, Robert Cavallucci expressed his pleasure for what has been a strong long-term partnership with the fast food giant.

“This is an incredible opportunity to partner with such an iconic brand; McDonald’s have been proud supporters of football and Football Queensland is excited to expand the relationship across the state, delivering a range of benefits and opportunities for the football community,” he said in a statement.

“The Football 2020+ reforms have enabled these strong commercial partnerships which underpin Football Queensland’s commitment to delivering growth in the commercial sector to keep putting downward pressure on the cost of football for participants, which is key to achieving critical strategic objectives outlined in our 2023-2026 Strategic Plan.”

In their 2023-2026 strategic plan, one of their four major pillars is named ‘Unifying Football’ in which the main ambition is to unite the game and unlock the sports’ true potential in a bid to be more inclusive for people in less fortunate circumstances.

This is a great initiative set by Football Queensland that shows their heart lies where it should, with the grassroots game.

McDonald’s Australia Marketing Manager North East Region, Jessica Altmann, spoke highly of Football Queensland as a partner.

“Maccas are thrilled to be a partner of Football Queensland and are excited to officially support the great game of football,” she added via press release.

“We know that Maccas is already part of the football ritual, whether it’s stopping in on the way home from a game or the early morning McCafé run before taking the kids to their weekend games. It’s great to be taking it to the next level and proudly play an active role in communities across Queensland.”

Football Queensland will also provide marketing support for the McDonald’s annual McHappy Day event, a charity day with funds being raised for the Ronald McDonald House Charities to support families with seriously ill children.

This partnership opens up opportunities for McDonald’s to leverage as well, with a promise to include benefits to participants.

Under this new partnership some regions across the state will have additional opportunities to participate in promotional activations, with more details to be released at a later date.’ it mentions in the article announcing the partnership.

Overall, the collaboration has been a rather successful one for over a decade, providing huge support for the grassroots game in the Sunshine Coast, and the benefits coming out of this new upgraded partnership should provide a huge step forward regarding FQ’s 2023-2026 strategic plan of attracting more participants.

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Victory unites with Roasting Warehouse in culture-led partnership

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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

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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.

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