This week’s football funding news ahead of election

Staff Writer

As the Australian federal election approaches, promises of football funding are being rolled out across the country.

Soccerscene breaks down all the funding news of the past week to keep you up to date on who is investing what into our industry.

It was all about Tasmania, as both major parties made major commitments across the state in the lead in to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Labor

Lightwood Park in Kingborough, Hobart was promised a $3 million boost by Federal Labor if elected, reinforcing current developments already underway.

The venue had already been given $6 million of funding from the State Liberal government in May 2021, with both major parties investing heavily in football in Tasmania.

Kingborough Lions United Football Club (KLUFC) has confirmed details of a new $6 million changeroom and clubrooms complex at Lightwood Park.

This new round of funding hopes to see the ground and its facilities become a hub for the Women’s World Cup, with players training out of it.

It was announced by Julie Collins, MP for Franklin.

Liberal

The Morrison government announced $2.3 million commitments towards upgrades to Seymour St Park to Brighton, Tasmania, if re-elected.

The announcement, made by Liberal candidate for Lyons Susie Bower, guarantees a significant rejuvenation of Brighton Storm’s home ground can take place.

Similarly to Lightwood Park, the park has also been promised funding from both major parties. Federal Labor also promised $2.3 million, to build two full-size pitches, lighting, clubrooms and additional facilities.

The State Government opened the beginnings of upgrades to Devonport’s Valley Road Ground, as a part of its $10 million commitment to four venues across the state.

Meanwhile in New South Wales, as a continued part of the state’s flood recovery effort, the NSW Government announced a further $55 million Sport Infrastructure Recovery Fund to help flood-impacted sporting organisations get back on their feet.

Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres and Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke were both present at the announcement.

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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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