Posts by Mark Stavroulakis
Football NSW Referees Branch Gears Up for 2026 Season at Pre-Season Seminar
Valentine Sports Park played host to more than 150 senior referees from the Football NSW Referees Branch last Sunday, as match officials gathered to prepare for the upcoming 2026 football season. The annual pre-season seminar remains a cornerstone of preparation for referees who will officiate across the Football NSW National Premier Leagues and Leagues competitions,…
Read MoreCraig Fisher Awarded Football NSW Referees Branch Life Membership
Football NSW Referees Branch has proudly awarded Life Membership to Craig Fisher in recognition of his outstanding service and lasting contribution to refereeing in New South Wales. The honour was presented at the Referees Branch pre-season seminar, marking a significant milestone in a distinguished officiating career. Craig began his refereeing journey at the state level…
Read MoreNSW Officials Reach A-Leagues Milestones in 2025/26 Season
Football NSW has congratulated 11 match officials who have reached significant career milestones after making their debuts in the A-League Women and A-League Men competitions during the first half of the 2025/26 A-Leagues season. The appointments highlight the continued strength of the refereeing pathway in New South Wales, with officials progressing from grassroots and state…
Read MoreNSW Referees Named on FIFA International Referee List for 2026
A number of NSW match officials have been recognised with selection on the 2026 FIFA International Referee Lists, reflecting the strength of the state’s refereeing pathways and its continued contribution to the international game. Among those appointed is NSW referee Tim Danaskos, who has been named on the FIFA International Referee List for the first…
Read MoreNSW Referees Shine at National Futsal Championships
Football NSW congratulates the 28 NSW referees and seven match official staff members who represented the state with distinction at the 2026 National Futsal Championships on the Gold Coast. The Championships were held from Tuesday, 13 January to Saturday, 17 January 2026, across two premier venues, the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre and Carrara…
Read MoreIan Holmes OAM Recognised in Australia Day 2026 Honours
Football NSW Board Member and long-serving football administrator Ian Holmes OAM has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to football, particularly community football, in the Australia Day 2026 Honours List. Ian has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition of more than five decades of dedicated service to the game…
Read MoreA-Leagues to operate Central Coast Mariners’ Academy for season 2026
The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) can today confirm it will operate the Central Coast Mariners’ Academy (CCM Academy) through to the end of the 2026 National Premier League (NPL) season. Last week, the APL announced that it had taken over the management of the Central Coast Mariners FC on an interim basis while a sales…
Read More2026 Football4all Gala Day Save the Date Announced
Football NSW is pleased to announce that the annual Football4all Gala Day will be held on Sunday, 21 June 2026, at the Home of Football NSW, Valentine Sports Park. The Football4all Gala Day is a celebration of inclusion and community, bringing together children and young adults with disability or additional needs for a day of…
Read MoreRegents Park Saints FC Pushes for Women’s Football Legacy Funding
With women’s and girls’ football participation continuing to grow rapidly across New South Wales, grassroots clubs like Regents Park Saints FC are calling for legacy-focused investment to ensure facilities keep pace with demand ahead of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026. Regents Park Saints FC has outlined a Wishlist of proposed upgrades to their home ground of…
Read MoreFootball NSW Crowned 2026 Mitre National Futsal Champions on the Gold Coast
Football NSW have been crowned the 2026 Mitre National Futsal Champions, following an outstanding week of competition at the 2026 National Championships held on the Gold Coast. The title capped off a highly successful tournament for Football NSW, highlighted by multiple Grand Final victories across several age groups and categories, reinforcing the state’s strength and…
Read MoreFootball NSW Coaches Deepen Global Connections Through 2026 Japan Coach Education Exchange
Football NSW has proudly celebrated the success of the 2026 FNSW Japan Coach Education Exchange, an international learning experience that further strengthened the long-standing relationship between Football NSW (FNSW) and the Japan Football Association (JFA). A cohort of 14 coaches travelled to Japan to take part in a high-performance coach education program, gaining rare insight…
Read MoreFootball NSW Statement: Central Coast Mariners
Football NSW have been made aware of the resumption of the Central Coast Mariners licence by the APL. Football NSW have sought clarity from the APL in relation to its management of the current situation and its plan for its programs that participate in the FNSW competitions for men and women’s and boys and girls…
Read MoreKappa Extends Partnership as Official Apparel Supplier of Football NSW
Following an extensive and highly competitive tender process, Football NSW is pleased to announce that Kappa has been re-appointed as the Official Apparel Supplier through to the end of 2030. The new agreement extends the strong partnership between the two organisations to nine years and reinforces Kappa’s long-term commitment to supporting football at every level…
Read MoreVipers Bite Again to Secure Back-to-Back Open Men’s Titles
Mascot Vipers sealed consecutive Futsal Premier League Open Men’s championships with a thrilling 7–4 victory over Eastern Suburbs Hakoah at Valentine Sports Park on Saturday evening. Carrying strong momentum into the Grand Final, the Vipers once again rose to the occasion, delivering a ruthless attacking performance that ultimately proved the difference, as Hakoah were left…
Read MoreMalone the Hero as Hakoah Complete Extra-Time Comeback Classic
Eastern Suburbs Hakoah completed a remarkable comeback to defeat Dural Warriors 4–3 after extra time in a thrilling Futsal Premier League Open Women’s Grand Final at Valentine Sports Park on Saturday night. In a contest where neither side deserved to lose, the Warriors produced a spirited and disciplined performance but were ultimately denied as Hakoah…
Read MoreQuake Strike Late to Seal Back-to-Back Championships Over Phoenix
Macarthur Quake Futsal Club claimed consecutive Futsal Premier League 2 Open Men’s championships with a commanding 4–1 victory over Phoenix Futsal Club at The Centre – Dural on Saturday afternoon. In warm conditions, the Quake produced a composed and clinical performance to retain their title in a rematch of the 2024 Grand Final, once again…
Read MoreSD Raiders Futsal Run Riot to Clinch FPL2 Open Women’s Crown
SD Raiders Futsal produced a dominant display to defeat West City Crusaders 4–1 and claim the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Women’s title at The Centre – Dural on Saturday afternoon. After falling just short last season, the Raiders went one step further in 2025, controlling the Grand Final from the outset with an assured…
Read MoreStars Shine at 2025 Futsal Gala Dinner
It was Futsal’s night of nights as hundreds of proud and passionate club members, players and supporters gathered at Doltone House Hyde Park on Thursday 18 December for the annual Futsal Gala Dinner. The prestigious event celebrated an unforgettable 2025 campaign across the Futsal Premier League, Futsal Premier League 2 and the NOVA Employment AWD…
Read MoreFootball NSW Delivers Record Growth Through Sporting Schools Program
Football NSW has recorded a landmark year in 2025 through the Australian Sports Commission’s Sporting Schools Program, cementing football’s position as the leading sport delivered in schools across New South Wales. The Sporting Schools Program is a government-funded initiative designed to increase children’s participation in sport and strengthen connections between schools and community sporting organisations.…
Read MoreWest City Crusaders FC Crowned 2025 AWD Futsal League Champions
West City Crusaders FC were crowned 2025 AWD Futsal League Champions following a dominant 11–2 victory over the South Coast Taipans in the Grand Final. The Final was played on Saturday at Football NSW’s headquarters, Valentine Sports Park, providing a fitting stage for the season decider. The championship caps off a remarkable season for the…
Read MoreFootball NSW Claims Bronze at 2025 National Para Football Championships
Football NSW secured the Bronze Medal at the 2025 National Para Football Championships in Melbourne, delivering a commanding 6–0 victory over Football Queensland on Friday. After narrowly missing the Championship Final for the first time since 2008, the NSW side entered the Bronze Medal match determined not to leave the Home of the Matildas empty-handed.…
Read MoreEnd of an Era: Football NSW to Play for Bronze After 15-Year Finals Streak Ends
For the first time in 15 years, Football NSW will not feature in the Final of the National Para Football Championships, instead preparing for a Bronze Medal showdown with Football Queensland tomorrow at 9am at the Home of the Matildas in Melbourne. Day 3 began in emphatic fashion for the NSW squad, who stormed to…
Read MoreFootball NSW stunned by Football West in Day Two of the National Para Football Championships
Football West have made history on Day Two of the National Para Football Championships by defeating powerhouse Football NSW 5-3 for the first time in their history at the Home of the Matildas on Wednesday. Delivering the decisive moment was CommBank Pararoo Rafferty Bacon, whose match-winning strike carried far more weight than just securing the…
Read MoreFootball NSW kick off National Para Football Championship campaign with opening victory
Football NSW launched their pursuit of a 15th consecutive National Para Football Championships crown with a powerful opening performance, led by a clinical hat-trick from captain Augustine Murphy in their 7-1 win over Northern NSW Football at the Home of the Matildas in Melbourne on Tuesday. Fresh off a standout CommBank Pararoos campaign at the…
Read More2026 Football NSW Competition Fixtures Officially Released
Football NSW has today confirmed the full release of all match-day schedules for the 2026 Football NSW competitions, covering every tier from elite NPL programs through to youth development pathways. The announcement includes complete fixtures for the NPL Men’s and Women’s, Senior Men’s and Women’s Leagues, Boys’ and Girls’ Youth Leagues, MJDL and GJDL competitions,…
Read MoreNSW Shines at School Futsal National Championships in Brisbane
The 2025 School Futsal National Championships lit up the Nissan Arena in Brisbane from Monday 24 to Wednesday 26 November, showcasing some of the best young futsal talent from across Australia. New South Wales enjoyed strong representation across the tournament, with teams qualifying through their performances at the NSW State Futsal Championships. NSW fielded sides…
Read More2025 Football NSW Goalkeeping Coaching Conference Sets a New Benchmark for Australia
More than 120 goalkeeper coaches from across NSW and interstate converged on Valentine Sports Park for the inaugural 2025 Football NSW Goalkeeping Coaching Conference, the first event of its kind in Australia and a milestone moment for the nation’s goalkeeper development pathway. Delivered through an intensive one-day program, the conference featured theory and field sessions…
Read MoreMt Druitt Town Rangers Announce New Era as Western City Rangers FC
Mt Druitt Town Rangers have officially announced a bold new chapter, confirming they will transition to their new identity as Western City Rangers Football Club. The rebrand reflects the club’s growing ambition and its commitment to representing the wider Western Sydney region, while maintaining the proud heritage established in 1970. Club officials emphasised that although…
Read MoreFootball NSW Strongly Represented in Inaugural Australian Championship Final Appointments
Football NSW will feature prominently on the national stage this Saturday, with Referee Eric Saba and Assistant Referees Cameron Wright and Alessandro Llana appointed to officiate the inaugural Australian Championship Final between South Melbourne FC and National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW side Marconi Stallions at the Olympic Village. This trio’s appointment is a significant recognition…
Read MoreClub Capability Building Workshop Kicks Off the 2026 Season
The Football NSW Club Technical Development Team delivered the first Club Capability Building Workshop of the new season on 1 December 2025. The session opened with a presentation on compliance clarity from Stephen Bott and Will Tan, setting the tone for a day focused on shared learning and practical development. Attendees then split into two…
Read MoreFootball NSW congratulates Graham Arnold on induction into the NSW Hall of Champions
Football NSW proudly acknowledged Graham Arnold on his induction into the NSW Hall of Champions at the 2025 NSW Champions of Sport Ceremony, held on Monday 24 November at the Sydney Event Centre – The Star. Football NSW nominated Graham for this honour in recognition of his extraordinary achievements as both a player and coach,…
Read MoreFootball NSW Launches First AFC Women’s Asian Cup Schools Activity Book Session at Birchgrove Public School
Football NSW has taken an exciting step towards celebrating the upcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, delivering its first Schools Activity Book session at Birchgrove Public School on Friday, 21 November. The session marks the beginning of a new initiative that brings the tournament into classrooms through fun, football-themed learning experiences. As part of the…
Read MoreCoaches Unite for a Landmark 2025 Football NSW Coaching Conference at Valentine Sports Park
It was another weekend to remember at Valentine Sports Park, the home of Football NSW, as more than 1,000 coaches from across New South Wales and interstate came together for the sold-out 2025 Football NSW Coaching Conference. Over two action-packed days, the event once again reinforced its standing as Australia’s largest coaching conference, uniting coaches…
Read MoreValentine Sports Park Comes to Life as 2025 Football NSW Coaching Conference International Guests Inspire Coaches
Valentine Sports Park came alive on Thursday as coaches from all levels of the game descended on the home of football for a full day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration. Football NSW (FNSW) proudly delivered a series of free CPD workshops for coaches, technical directors, and coach education tutors headlined by a world-class lineup of…
Read MoreFootball NSW Pursue Remarkable 17th Straight National Para Football Title
Football NSW’s Para Football squad will be chasing history next month as they look to secure an extraordinary 17th consecutive National Para Football Championship title at the 2025 tournament, held at the Home of the Matildas in Bundoora, Victoria. Running from Monday 8 December to Friday 12 December, the Sky Blues, coached by Pete Nowakowski,…
Read MoreHistoric Debuts for Referee Talents at Inaugural Australian Championship
The inaugural Australian Championship delivered not only high-quality football but also a proud moment for the nation’s refereeing community, with three emerging officials making their national debuts through the Football NSW Referee Academy and Football Australia National Referee Academy pathways. Football NSW Referee Academy member Noah Moss, Football South Referees representative Brooklyn Faucett, and Northern…
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