Football Queensland confirm #EQUALISER campaign

Avatar
Image credit: Football Queensland

Football in Queensland is on the cusp of becoming the state’s most dominant sport.

Although rugby league maintains a firm grip upon the most consumed sport by the state’s residents, football remains the current most popular team sport in terms of participants.

While netball is currently the most participated female sport, football remains an ominous presence within the female sporting category with an abundance of potential to claim first upon the podium.

The newly founded state election campaign titled #EQUALISER is designated in ensuring optimal support is exercised for the existing and growing demand for football in the state by campaigning for further investment.

The initiative has come to fruition in order to allocate necessary funding towards football related infrastructure from government representatives, MP’s and electoral candidates across the plethora of Queensland political parties.

Robert Cavallucci indicated how far the game has come in the state via press release:

“The popularity of football has exploded with overall participation growing by 55% in the past five years. The game stands as the state’s largest team and club-based participation sport, delivering significant social and community benefits both on and off the field,” he said. 

“Despite football’s size, reach and influence, the game is in dire need of additional infrastructure to meet its current obligations and to keep up with the continuous growth in demand across all regions and demographics.

“Data gathered from the #EQUALISER survey will enable FQ to engage with state decision-makers, MPs and candidates to reinforce the importance of football infrastructure funding commitments to not only their specific electorates and election outcomes, but also the broader Queensland community.”

#EQUALISER was founded on the premise of football and the government within Queensland creating a fruitful, positive and sustainable relationship all for the advancement of the ever growing sport within the state.

Those involved within the football community throughout the state now have a voice, it now possess the power required for change, all through the installation of the #EQUALISER survey.

Members of the football community have been requested via the FQ website to participate in the state wide survey. All to provide their opinions, requirements and improvements they require within their footballing obligation.

Volunteers, players, club officials, referees, administrators and management staff who provide data on the survey will enable football to prosper further, aligning with the respective strategic plans undertaken by FQ all set to transpire by 2026.

Football in the sunshine state is relishing with 300,000 players as of 2023.

A tremendous 44% increase took place within female participants, all occurring by the first quarter of 2023 as stated via the FQ website.

Now is a better time than ever, especially with the Women’s Asian Cup on the horizon for governing bodies to collaborate for the improvement of infrastructure.

The survey’s findings if heard has the capacity to have quite the emphasis upon the growth of football within the state.

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