Football NSW celebrates Indigenous Round
Football NSW is marking 5-7 July as Indigenous Round, kicking off an exciting week of First Nations celebrations across the football community.
Indigenous Round acknowledges and celebrates the history, culture and contributions of First Nations football participants, providing the perfect lead-in to NAIDOC Week 2024.
In 2023, Football NSW appointed its first official Indigenous Advisory Group (FNSWIAG) who have collectively worked to provide insight into current and emerging goals of the First Nations community across the state.
FNSWIAG Co-Chair Bianca Dufty was proud to see the round celebrated throughout the community.
“It’s exciting to see Clubs and Associations embracing Indigenous Round,” said Dufty. “It’s a time of both celebration and reflection for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“It is also an opportunity to celebrate and showcase the oldest surviving culture with the community, and is a chance to share our strengths, achievements, history and culture with the football community.
“It’s so important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander footballers, young and old, to see themselves and their culture reflected in the sport that they love.”
Many clubs will be marking Indigenous Round in their own unique way, with the likes of APIA Leichhardt, Macarthur Rams, Liverpool Rangers FC and Shoalhaven United FC set to feature indigenous designs on their playing shirts over the coming weekends.
This year’s Indigenous Round leads into NAIDOC Week, during which Football NSW First Nations U14 and U16 representative teams will participate in the 2024 NAIDOC Cup from 10-12 July.
Hosted by Northern NSW Football on Awabakal land at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility, Football NSW will be aiming for a third consecutive Cup victory after taking out the 2022 and 2023 editions. All the NAIDOC Cup action can be streamed live on BarTV.
Activating for Indigenous Round or across NAIDOC Week? We would love to know any details around club activations – please email Football NSW Inclusion & Diversity Coordinator, Annabel Meadley.
