Empowering Grassroots: Clubs Unite at 2026 Football NSW Conference

Over 220 attendees gathered at Valentine Sports Park on Saturday, 7 February for the 2026 Football NSW Club Development Conference.

With registrations continuing to roll in for the 2026 season, representatives from more than 110 community football clubs across Sydney Metropolitan, regional NSW, Northern NSW and Capital Football attended what proved to be a jam-packed day of workshops, panel discussions and special guest speakers.

Hosted by Stephanie Brantz, the conference featured an impressive line-up of presenters from FIFA, the Australian Sports Commission, Football Australia, Pride Cup, Safe Sport Solutions, the CommBank Matildas (Paramatildas), the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, and Governance Institute Australia.

Following the successful third edition of the conference, Football NSW Program Manager – Club Development, Trevor Huxley, praised the strong support from across the football community.

“The conference is about strengthening the heartbeat of football — our community clubs and their volunteers — and giving them the tools, knowledge and connections to grow the game in their communities,” said Huxley.

“It has been inspiring to see grassroots clubs in attendance from Northern NSW, the ACT, metropolitan and regional NSW, illustrating a remarkable commitment to supporting football in their local communities. It’s vital that Football NSW continues to lead in this space, providing support to the volunteers and local administrators who are pivotal to the ongoing growth of our game.”

In addition to keynote presentations, attendees were able to tailor their experience by selecting breakout sessions most relevant to their club or role. Topics included safeguarding, finance, sponsorship, Club Changer, governance, volunteer engagement, marketing and data analysis, infrastructure and grant funding, referee retention, women and girls’ football, diversity and inclusion, and grassroots coach education.

A number of partners and sponsors hosted exhibition booths, providing members with valuable insights and resources ahead of the upcoming season. Exhibitors included Pila Goalposts, GHG – The Turf Specialists, Tiny Mobile Robots, Kappa, Veo, Deploy Football and the Heartbeat of Football Foundation.

The direct engagement with partners delivered immediate benefits for some clubs. Roselea Raptors secured a Veo 2 camera for their club thanks to Veo Sports, while Wagga United received a $500 online voucher from Deploy Football.

Guest Speakers Included:

• Max De Vylder, Head of Football Development Operations – FIFA

• Catriona Rose and Tom Finch – Australian Sports Commission

• Hayley Conway – Pride Cup

• Matt Sibley – Safe Sport Solutions

• Grace Lambourne – Football Australia

• Maddison Kamolins – Football Australia

• Delfina Moresco – Two Circles

• Carly Salmon and Tahlia Blanshard – ParaMatildas

• Ian Londish – Governance Institute Australia

• Rob Laws – Director, R.W. Laws and Associates

• Paul Grundy – Former Technical Director, Lindfield Football Club

• Nikki Riddle – Hills Football Association

• Mark McKee – Club Coach Coordinator, Rouse Hill Rams FC

For more information and access to club resources, visit the Football NSW Club Hub.

Clubs can also subscribe to the monthly Club e-newsletter to receive the latest news, updates and community football resources.