Football Queensland encourages clubs to build on World Cup hype

Staff Writer
Women's World Cup
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Football Queensland is running a bold ‘100 Programs’ initiative in conjunction with the Be23Ready campaign to encourage women and girls to get involved in the game, leading up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

Be2Ready is an ongoing campaign that anticipates the participation boom that the tournament will create, allowing clubs to be prepared for an influx of people looking to join a team.

It’s not only welcoming newcomers, but retaining talent who can enjoy the sport for what it is.

Football Queensland CEO, Robert Cavallucci said via press release:

“FQ’s aim is to deliver 100 women and girls’ programs and initiatives to coincide with the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 ‘100 Days to Go milestone’,” he stated.

“100 Programs is an ambitious target and showcases Football Queensland’s commitment to reaching the national 50/50 gender parity target by 2027, providing opportunities for our growing women and girl participation base to develop their playing, coaching and refereeing abilities.” 

Football Queensland Senior Manager – Game Development, Kate Lawson, added that she is excited to see the appointed community Be23Ready Women and Girls Ambassadors in action as they look to be key drivers of club’s programs and courses. 

“Participating clubs can contribute any female-focused activation to the 100 Programs such as, come and try days, social events, Girls United introductory programs, or female-only coaching and referee courses within their community to not only create opportunities for female participation but build the excitement for the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023,” Lawson said via press release. 

“The Be23Ready campaign was implemented to equip Queensland clubs with the tools to build more welcoming and inclusive environments for female participants; the 100 Programs initiative is a great opportunity for clubs to showcase this by finding ways to broaden their product offering to accommodate new and returning women and girls to the game.” 

Clubs are encouraged to join Football Queensland in sharing their photos from successful programs and activations on social media using the hashtags #Be23Ready and #100Programs.  

All participating clubs hosting any come and try days, carnivals or similar activations should submit their club and event information via the Football Queensland Sanction Request Form. 

Any club that completes all three actions of posting event photos with the relevant hashtags, filling out the sanction request form (if required) and completing the post event 100 Women and Girls Initatives Reporting and Feedback Form, will go into the draw to win a 2018 signed Matildas jersey.  

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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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