Football NSW to Unite State’s Associations for Landmark Championships
Football NSW is set to launch the inaugural Deploy Association Championships, a landmark new statewide tournament designed to celebrate grassroots football talent across New South Wales.
The Championships will be held from Tuesday 7 July to Thursday 9 July 2026 at the Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex in Mudgee, bringing together all 16 Football NSW Member Associations in a unique celebration of players, coaches and referees from across the state.
Football NSW Head of Football Development Edward Ferguson said the initiative was created to better recognise the depth and strength of football across the organisation’s footprint.
“The Association Championships aims to recognise the quality of football that exists across our landscape within grassroots football across players, referees and coaches,” Ferguson said.
“All 31 Associations were invited to participate in the inaugural Deploy Association Championships being held in Mudgee to showcase their region and celebrate the work their member clubs are doing in providing great football environments for their members to thrive.”
Ferguson said the new format was introduced following a review of previous representative models that limited participation opportunities for member associations.
“Football NSW recognised that previous models of Association representative football did not allow participation for all its member bodies and sought a way to ensure Associations, whether regional or metropolitan, could participate within their capacity limits and enjoy a competitive and grassroots-focused tournament,” he said.
He added that earlier structures were no longer meeting the needs of the broader football community.
“Previous models for Association representative football were not inclusive of the landscape, with competition requirements making it difficult for Associations to participate as they had to complete all five youth age groups. In addition to this, Football NSW did not offer a female Association competition or tournament model for representation.”
“After careful review in 2024, it was also determined the previous regional representative model of the Country Cup was not providing the competitive opportunity it once did. As such, all these components were brought together to ensure grassroots football across Football NSW could be celebrated, and all Associations, whether large or small, regional or metropolitan, could participate and have access to a competition offering that allowed them to showcase their members.”
Ferguson said the Championships would also provide valuable development opportunities for players, referees and coaches across the state.
“Aside from the opportunity for Football NSW to showcase its Associations, it is also a fantastic opportunity for players, referees and coaches to test themselves against their counterparts throughout the state,” he said.
“In youth development there is not only one pathway to progression, and we hope this tournament allows members to challenge themselves, showcase themselves and learn from the experience whether they are on the field, on the sideline or holding a flag.”
“Football NSW also sees the tournament as another avenue we can add value to the landscape by offering a unique tournament that is not club based, but rather a recognition of the football family we have.”
The decision to host the inaugural event in Mudgee was made in partnership with Mid-Western Regional Council, with Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex selected as the host venue.
“Football NSW were excited to take the tournament regional and Mid-Western Council were eager to be involved and help us make the idea into a reality,” Ferguson said.
“The facility they boast at Glen Willow Sporting Complex is one of the best in Australia and provides a fantastic platform for players and referees to take centre stage, supported by their coaches and Associations.”
“The team at Mid-Western have been extremely supportive and accommodating, despite the large numbers coming down in July.”
“I would also like to mention the support provided to Football NSW by local club Mudgee-Gulgong Wolves FC. Brett and the committee have been right behind the initiative from the start and are looking forward to welcoming their NSW neighbours to Mudgee to show off their club, their facility and from what I hear, a great BBQ.”
The inaugural Football NSW Association Championships will run from 7–9 July 2026, marking a new era in the delivery of representative grassroots football across the state.
