Football NSW announce HG Turf as Official Supplier of Hybrid Grass

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HG Turf Partnership FNSW

Football NSW have named HG Turf Group as their Official Supplier of Hybrid Grass.

HG Turf Group are the market leader in Hybrid Grass solutions. Since 1999, their Hybrid Grass solutions have improved the quality of sport fields across Australia and New Zealand, with some of their most significant installations including: ANZ Stadium, Bankwest Stadium, Eden Park, the Gabba, MCG, Optus Stadium and Sky Stadium.

In addition, international sporting events such as the 2000 Olympic Games, 2015 AFC Asian Cup, 2006 and 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2003, 2011 and 2019 Rugby World Cups have also used HGTG’s Hybrid Grass.

Over the years Football NSW and HG Turf Group have developed a strong relationship, with the latter building two FIFA certified synthetic turf pitches at Valentine Sports Park (VSP) in 2014. Since their establishment, these synthetic turf pitches have been heavily utilised and have increased the capacity of usage of the facility.

In an effort to improve the durability and performance of the natural grass pitches at VSP, HG Turf Group approached Football NSW with a Hybrid Grass solution – SISGrass®.

SISGrass uses needles to push artificial grass fibres into natural grass. The resulting mix of 95% natural grass and 5% artificial grass improves the stability and durability of natural grass, providing up to 3x more playing hours. It also improves the playability of the natural grass, with optimum ball roll and ball bounce, and ideal footing when turning and sliding.

Football NSW Chief Executive Officer Stuart Hodge welcomed the partnership with HG Turf Group.

“The SISGrass® hybrid solution synergises with the NSW Football Infrastructure Strategy and the key pillar, ‘improve existing venue capacity’. Maximising the carrying capacity and activation of existing Football pitches and venues is a key objective,” he said.

“With the installation at Valentine Sports Park, Football NSW Associations and Clubs, as well as local Councils, can inspect our venue to see the SISGrass® technology and its benefits first hand. We look forward to working with HG Turf Group to introduce their products to the wider football community.”

HG Turf Group Owner and Director Hamish Sutherland expressed his appreciation of Football NSW for the opportunity.

“We are very fortunate to be partnering with Football NSW again. Football NSW advances football in so many ways, and the installation of SISGrass® at Valentine Sports Park has created a new standard for natural grass pitches,” he said.

“By protecting the natural grass, SISGrass® delivers increased usage, durability, consistency, and better play, all year-round. Associations and Clubs can also enjoy the benefits of SISGrass®.”

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Football NNSW Releases Infrastructure Strategies as Participation Growth Outpaces Facilities

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Northern NSW Football has unveiled bespoke infrastructure strategies for each of its seven member zones, providing an evidence-based roadmap for facility investment across the region as continued participation growth exposes critical gaps in the sporting infrastructure available to support it.

The Member Zone Infrastructure Strategies draw on data across participation rates, population growth and existing facility conditions to map what each zone has, what it needs and where investment will have the greatest impact. Identified gaps include drainage, lighting and inclusive changerooms – the foundational infrastructure that determines whether facilities are functional, safe and accessible year-round.

NNSWF Government Relations Manager Gary Fisher said the strategies represented a significant step toward smarter, more targeted investment across the region.

“By bringing together key data on participation, population growth and existing infrastructure, these strategies give us a stronger understanding of where the needs are greatest and where investment will have the most impact,” Fisher said. “Ultimately we want to create more inclusive and accessible environments for everyone involved in the game while building stronger, more sustainable clubs and communities for the future.”

Northern NSW Football has previously noted that participation across the region is at record levels and still rising, with women’s and girls’ football a significant driver of that growth. Infrastructure that was built for a smaller and less diverse participation base is increasingly unable to meet current demand, let alone accommodate future growth.

The strategies are also designed to strengthen NNSWF’s alignment with government funding priorities, providing the evidence base needed to support grant applications and long-term facility planning across all seven zones.

Football Victoria launches inaugural Club State Championships amid World Cup fever

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Image Credit: One-Nil Media

Football Victoria (FV) has unveiled the inaugural Victorian Club State Championships, a new statewide tournament set to transform the winter football calendar and provide a major platform for emerging talent across the state.

Taking place from July 2–5 at The Home of The Matildas, the event will coincide with the FIFA World Cup 2026 period. This alignment a strategic move aimed at capitalising on heightened global football engagement.

The tournament will feature both boys’ and girls’ teams from U9 through to U17 age groups, bringing together clubs from Advanced and Community competitions in a bid to crown Victoria’s best-performing clubs across each division.

A statewide stage for club football

In what shapes as a major addition to the Victorian football landscape, the championships are designed to create a high-level tournament environment outside regular league competition. This offering players valuable exposure to knockout football, elevated match intensity and cross-league competition.

Football Victoria described the event as a celebration of the “strength, depth and talent” within the state’s football ecosystem, while also positioning it as a unique opportunity for clubs to test themselves against opponents they would not typically face throughout the season.

The decision to host the competition at The Home of The Matildas further reinforces FV’s intention to elevate the stature of the event, utilising one of Australia’s premier football facilities as the centrepiece of the tournament.

Creating a World Cup atmosphere in Victoria

FV believes the timing of the championships, running during the FIFA World Cup, will help generate a carnival-like atmosphere around the game at grassroots and pathway level.

Each participating team will play a minimum of four matches, with assistant referees appointed from U12 onwards. Disciplinary outcomes will also carry into regular season records, adding further competitive weight to the tournament structure.

Importantly, academy-only and social teams will not be eligible, reinforcing the event’s focus on recognised club pathways and structured competition.

A new piece in Football Victoria’s long-term strategy

The launch of the Victorian Club State Championships comes as Football Victoria continues to reshape and modernise its competition structures across both elite and community football, with the governing body placing greater emphasis on player development, competitive alignment and statewide engagement initiatives.

For clubs, the tournament presents not only the opportunity to compete for silverware, but also a rare chance to benchmark themselves against the broader Victorian football landscape during one of the sport’s biggest global moments.

With registrations now open, the Victorian Club State Championships could quickly become one of the most anticipated additions to the state football calendar.

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