Balgownie Junior Football Club named Football NSW Club Changer of the Month for July
Football NSW has named Football South Coasts Balgownie Junior Football Club as its Club Changer Club of the month for July.
Club Changer is Football Australia’s Club Development Program which aims to protect and enhance clubs to make them stronger and more resilient while planning for long-term viability and success.
Balgownie Junior Football Club’s ongoing engagement with Football Australia’s Club Changer program has guided its planning for participation growth, safeguarding, and facility upgrades. This framework has helped the club secure major support for key projects, such as the $825,000 drainage and irrigation upgrade at Judy Masters Oval and the recent Growing Football Community Grant supported by Football Australia and the Commonwealth Bank.
Lachlan Mainwaring, Infrastructure and Club Development Coordinator at Football NSW, was pleased to acknowledge the deserving club.
“Balgownie Junior Football Club has made a real commitment to investing in facilities and programs that will benefit the whole community for years to come. The club’s proactive approach and collaboration with its partners is delivering genuine improvements on and off the pitch.”
These upgrades and grants are making a real difference: the new drainage and irrigation works will benefit not just Balgownie Juniors but the broader community by improving field safety and usability in all weather. The new funding will also deliver an extensive Balgownie Junior FC, Female Player, Female Coach, and Female Manager Education and Mentorship Program, supporting over 271 registered female players, 22 all-girls teams, and more than 54 female coaches and managers at Balgownie Juniors in 2025.
Find out more about Club Changer
CEO of Football South Coast Ann-Marie Balliana was delighted to see the progress being made.
“This is a fantastic step forward for the club. The club was heavily impacted by wet weather in previous years and recent works will ensure quality surfaces and improved return-to-play opportunities. The club has also experienced significant growth, and the focus on player and coaching development will improve the football experience for everyone involved.”
John Kampen – the President of Balgownie Junior Football Club had this to say.
“Being recognised as the July Club Changer of the Month is a significant achievement and thank you to Football NSW for the recognition and to Football South Coast for your ongoing support of our Football Club and the wider Balgownie community as a whole”
Earle Canvin – Vice President, Balgownie Junior Football Club is pleased with the club’s progress.
“The Football Australia and Football NSW Game Changer framework and set of online tools and resources has been an excellent initiative that has supported the club over the last 18 months. We utilised Club Changer as a health check, to see what we were doing well, but also where we had room for improvement.
As a result, it’s great to see so many aspects of the club showing growth; our committee participation, our coaches and managers are well supported, our referee scholarship program is thriving, and there is some great work being done on our female development program.”
Balgownie Juniors has strong partnerships with the City of Wollongong, the NSW Government, Football South Coast, and Football NSW have been key to this success, with more exciting plans in place to complete future projects such as new amenities, changerooms, and toilet block upgrades at Judy Masters Oval.
Balgownie Junior Football Club’s recognition as July Club Changer Club of the Month reflects the dedication of its players, families, volunteers, and committee members who continue to build a welcoming, forward-thinking, and community-focused club for everyone.
Interested Clubs can direct Club Changer enquires to trevorh@footballnsw.com.au or visit the Football NSW Club Changer webpage.
