Eastern Suburbs FA 2026 season off to strong start with growth across pathways
The 2026 season is officially underway across the Eastern Suburbs Football Association (ESFA), with a series of key initiatives highlighting continued growth across youth development, women’s football and refereeing pathways.
Eastern Suburbs Football Association CEO John Boulous said the association remains focused on creating meaningful opportunities across all levels of the game.
“The Eastern Suburbs Football Association is committed to creating more opportunities for clubs, players, coaches and referees to thrive, with a strong focus on participation opportunities to suit participants of all abilities and aspirations,” Boulous said.
“We are proud of the role the Eastern Suburbs Football Association and our clubs play in bringing communities together, and we remain dedicated to growing the game through innovation, collaboration and long-term strategic leadership.”
A key feature to start the season was the inaugural ESFA Development League Gala Day for Under 9–12 boys and girls, which brought together eight clubs ahead of Round 1.
The event showcased emerging talent across the association, with players enjoying a development-focused day of football while strengthening connections between clubs.
Adding to the occasion, Sydney FC players and staff attended the gala day, with A-League Women’s players engaging directly with participants and inspiring the next generation of footballers.
In women’s football, the ESFA Women’s Premier League continues to expand and evolve in 2026, now featuring 11 teams and introducing a new WPL1 and WPL2 structure following the first 10 rounds of the season.
The revised format is designed to create more opportunities for clubs to compete in Premier League football while supporting long-term growth and development across the women’s game.
This season also sees the return of Randwick City, Glebe Wanderers, Easts FC and Sydney University, joining established clubs Coogee United, Lokomotiv FC, Waverley Old Boys, Dunbar Rovers and UNSW FC in what is shaping as one of the most competitive seasons to date.
ESFA clubs also continue to perform strongly in state-wide competitions including the Football NSW Sapphire Cup, Football NSW State Cup and Football NSW Champion of Champions, reflecting the strength of the women’s football pathway across the region.
Another major milestone has been the delivery of ESFA’s first all-female Football Match Official Course, held at Matraville Sports High School.
Led by female liaison committee member Michelle Hilton and 2025 Referee of the Year Ariella Richards, the program welcomed 25 new female referees into the association ahead of the 2026 season.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening female participation in officiating and building clear pathways for match officials across the ESFA system.
With strong growth across participation, development and officiating, ESFA has started the 2026 season with clear momentum and a continued focus on strengthening football across the Eastern Suburbs community.
