NSW clubs score impressive community grants to enhance female football experience

In a massive coup for the sport as many as 33 Clubs and Associations from Football NSW have become first-time Growing Football Community Grant Recipients.
Education support for the development of female coaches, summer football programs and enhanced playing experiences are some of the benefits for women and girls as Football Australia celebrates the awarding of another round of the Growing Football Fund Community Grants, supported by CommBank.
Within the Football NSW footprint, 24% of the recipients were outside the Sydney metropolitan region where the grants will go to the heart of strengthening communities in providing tangible assistance to clubs and associations.
Football NSW’s Head of Women, Girls and Schools Helen Armson was pleased with the number of successful applicants in NSW.
“It’s great to see advocates for female football applying for funding to better support the growth of women’s football.
“Our aim is to enable, engage and empower females within the sport to push for equity in participation, education, opportunities and experiences so we can all enjoy the beautiful game.
“Thanks to Football Australia and their partnership with CommBank, these grants will enable NSW clubs and associations to further support this aim.”
Football Australia General Manager of Women’s Football, Carlee Millikin, said all of the recipients’ submissions exhibited initiatives that would aid more growth for female participants in all areas of the sport.
“We are thrilled to see the clubs and associations that have been awarded the grants demonstrating a strong commitment to long-term investment in women and girls’ football within their communities that goes beyond the financial,” Millikin said.
“It means the Growing Football Fund can play its role to help supercharge their ambitions that result in positive outcomes for female participants. The wide breadth of projects is exciting, as it shows a deepening understanding of what is required to develop inclusive and safe environments.
“In partnership with CommBank, we have already seen great results from the round one clubs delivery of initiatives and look forward to witnessing how the latest cohort creates a lasting impact through their programs,” Millikin concluded.
The Round Two grants support a broad range of initiatives that will speak to the fund’s core purpose of providing increased access and opportunities for women and girls’ involvement in football throughout different areas in the game.
Some of the projects include:
- supporting the education and development of female coaches through subsidising coach education;
- driving new participation opportunities by hosting ‘come and try’ days and summer football programs;
- offering holistic health workshops for women’s and youth teams including strength & conditioning workshops;
- fostering a better participant experience for women and girls, by supporting female fitting uniforms and replacing white playing shorts.
ABOUT THE GROWING FOOTBALL FUND
Following the success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™, Football Australia launched the Growing Football Fund in partnership with CommBank to support the continued growth of women’s football across Australia. Through the Growing Football Fund, supported by CommBank, community clubs and associations will have access to a grant of up to $5,000 to support initiatives and programs that look to develop and/or promote women’s and girls’ football. Find out more information HERE.
Below is a full list of NSW’s Growing Football Community Grant recipients.
- AC United Football Club
- All Saints West Oatley Soccer Club
- Ashfield Pirates FC
- Austral Soccer Club
- Balgownie Junior Football Club
- Box Hill Rangers AFC
- Collaroy Cromer Strikers Football Club
- Colo Soccer Football Club
- Enfield Rovers Football Club
- Fairfield Bulls Football Club
- Figtree Football Club
- Football Canterbury Association
- Forest Rangers Football Club
- Future Leaders Australia FC
- Gordon Football Club
- Gosford City Football Club
- Leichhardt Saints Football Club
- Leppington Lions Soccer Club
- Lindfield Football Club
- Millthorpe Junior Soccer Club Inc
- Narooma Football Club
- Narromine Soccer Club
- North Epping Rangers Sports Club
- North Turramurra
- North West Sydney Football Association
- Pennant Hills Football Club
- Pitt Town Football Club
- Ropes Crossing Strikers Football Club
- Russell Lea Women’s Soccer Club
- Sydney Uni Soccer Football Club
- Wagga United Football Club
- Warradale FC
- West Griffith Soccer Club