Posts by Mark Stavroulakis
Vale: Manfred Schaefer
Football NSW was saddened to hear the news of the passing of former Socceroo great and one of the legends of our game, Manfred Schaefer. The defender represented Australia 73 times between 1967 and 1974, 49 of those ‘A’ Internationals. He was a member of our nation’s pioneering first FIFA World Cup squad in 1974,…
Read MoreBoard Members Farewelled
Football NSW has farewelled two Board Members, Louie Apostolovski and Stephen Hayes both of which brought a great deal of insight and direction during their tenures at the state-based sporting organisation. Apostolovski, who served eight years and Hayes, close to twelve, all played pivotal roles in the advancement of football in NSW across many…
Read MorePararoos enjoy VSP experience
Valentine Sports Park recently played host to the Pararoos who held their three-day Sydney Training Camp at the home of Football NSW. Commencing last Friday, Pararoos coach Kai Lammert called up 19 players from across the nation to this March training camp with an eye towards preparing for the 2023 Para Asian Cup set to…
Read MoreManly Warringah FA host C-Licence Course
Manly Warringah Football Association in conjunction with Football NSW recently hosted its first C-Licence Coaching Course just in time for the 2023 Grassroots season kicking off shortly. Cromer Park was the scene as the course kicked off on the 21st of January and ended on the 5th of March as lead presenter Eugene Lawrenz was…
Read MoreFootball NSW State Cup Club Entries Now Open
The 2023 Football NSW State Cups incorporating the All Age Men’s Bill Cullinan Cup and the Grade 21 Men’s Robertson Cup entry process has commenced in what is sure to be a massive year for the tournament. In consideration of the cancellation of the 2022 State Cup and the growing pressure of field availability and…
Read MoreFemale Referee Success at Manly
Manly Warringah Football Referees Association (MWFRA) is committed to increasing female referee numbers; recently running a female only referee course to promote more girls and women stepping onto the field as match officials. On Saturday, March 11 2023, MWFRA hosted a female only Level 4 (entry level) referee course. Leading the course alongside the Manly…
Read MoreFutsal fever hits the Eastern Suburbs
PCYC Marrickville played host to the 2023 Eastern Suburbs Regional Futsal Schools Championships last week. The popularity of the 2023 Futsal Schools Championships continue to grow as 25 different schools which included a total of 67 teams that participated in the event. In what was an extremely competitive week, five of the grand finals were…
Read MoreStand United returns in 2023
Stand United is back thanks to Multicultural NSW. Delivered in an online format, Football NSW continues its partnership Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (MCCI) to deliver cultural awareness and diversity training with the aim of creating a more inclusive sporting community. The Workshops are open to all players, coaches, referees, volunteers, parents, and administrators from…
Read MoreDaughters and Dads program attendees celebrated
Football NSW’s Daughters and Dads program attendees from both the Liverpool and Glenwood sessions recently participated in the A-League Women’s half-time entertainment at the Wanderers Football Park where the Western Sydney Wanderers took on Canberra United in their round 17 clash. This comes off the back of a special visit by Western Sydney Wanderers A-League…
Read More2023 Futsal Schools Championships kick-off at Blacktown
The wait was finally over as the 2023 Futsal Schools Championships kicked off for the new year as the Stanhope Leisure Centre played host to the opening region, Blacktown, where over 23 different schools took part. Overall, 65 teams participated with schools across the Blacktown region with age groups ranging from the Under 14 Boys…
Read More2023 Sapphire Cup Club Entries Now Open
Club entries to be part of the 2023 inaugural Sapphire Cup have opened as the state’s first ever senior women’s knockout competition further highlights a massive year ahead for the women’s game in NSW. Clubs from the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s and Football NSW League One competitions are invited to participate, as are senior…
Read MoreEastern Suburbs FA on the road to improving gender parity
Eastern Suburbs Football Association (ESFA) will use the $11,000 NSW Football Legacy Fund grant to improve gender parity and increase female participation throughout its clubs. ESFA aims to increase the number of female participants throughout the numerous clubs in the district – from football players to coaches – as interest picks up as a result…
Read MoreLeanne Millar announced as 2023 ‘Bankstown Woman of the Year’
In a fitting acknowledgement on International Women’s Day, hardworking Bankstown District Amateur Football Association General Manager Leanne Millar was announced as the 2023 ‘Bankstown Woman of the Year’ for her invaluable contribution in supporting the growth of football in the area. Leanne’s love for the game started with the East Bankstown Football Club as a…
Read MoreEmu Plains FC to launch females in football program
Emu Plains Football Club (EPFC)has been awarded a grant from the NSW Football Legacy Fund that will go towards funding its EPFC Females in Football Initiative, aimed primarily at young female footballers aged between 8-12 years old. The EPFC seeks to promote gender equality and opportunity through the provision of the Females in Football Initiative,…
Read More2023 Futsal Winter League ready for take-off
Following a successful inaugural season in 2022, Football NSW’s Winter Futsal League for both Open Men and Open Women is gearing up for yet another exciting season. Kicking off on the 18th and 19th of March, Valentine Sports Park and the Centre at Dural will play host to these matches including a finals series set…
Read MoreElite NSW Women’s football launches in style
The 2023 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s and Football NSW League One Women’s competitions were launched on Saturday at Valentine Sports Park in what is set to be one of the biggest seasons to date. Host Stephanie Brantz and co-host Adamo De Nigris were joined by players from all 28 clubs, referee representatives, club delegates,…
Read MoreJohn Crawley spearheads ‘C’ Licence Goalkeeper Diploma
Australian National Team Goalkeeping Coach John Crawley had the opportunity to lead and educate as the main presenter at a recent Football NSW ‘C’ Licence Goalkeeper Diploma held at Valentine Sports Park. Assisted by Ken Greenhead, Crawley focused on several areas that each of the 12 participants enjoyed in assisting them with their knowledge on…
Read MoreFootball NSW announces NSW Sapphire Cup
Ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™, Football NSW has launched the new ‘Sapphire Cup’ knockout competition for the 2023 season. Clubs from the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s and Football NSW League One competitions will participate as will senior association women’s clubs from across the state. The Sapphire Cup will replicate the existing…
Read MoreCoaches enjoy Advanced Coaching ‘B’ Diploma at Valentine Sports Park
As many as 24 budding coaches have commenced Part 1 of their Advanced Coaching ‘B’ Diplomas at Valentine Sports Park led by Presenter Chris Adams and supported by Warren Grieve and Dan Sheppard recently. Former German Bundesliga star and now Hills United player Nicolai Muller was one of the attendees while as many as nine…
Read MoreNSW Football Legacy Program assists with female coaching development
A total of nine women spent their last two weekends undertaking the first half of their Advanced Coaching ‘B’ Diploma at Valentine Sports Park, eager to progress their coaching qualifications. The large female representation was made possible by the awarding of Legacy Scholarships as part of the NSW Government’s $10m investment into women’s football, as…
Read MoreFootball NSW supports inaugural Heart Health Round
Football NSW has joined Heartbeat of Football in the launch of the inaugural ‘Heart Health Round’ – Make It Red! – in 2023. The national awareness campaign will be turning football grounds across the nation red for heart disease and sudden cardiac arrest. When you play or participate in red, you will be raising funds…
Read MoreGoulburn hosts successful Football NSW Regional SAP Gala Day
Cookbundoon Sporting Complex in Goulburn recently hosted a successful Football NSW Regional SAP Gala Day. Teams from Southern NSW and Western NSW SAP as well as Albury-Wodonga FA, Football Wagga Wagga, Macarthur Rams, Gungahlin United, Belconnen United, South East Phoenix, Bathurst FA and Southern Tablelands FA all participated in what was a great weekend of…
Read MoreFemale Football NSW Academy referees gain valuable experience
It was a fantastic moment that five rising young female Football NSW academy referees will not forget in a hurry after being invited to experience a meet and greet with FIFA referees as well as Football Australia referee elite at the recent Matildas v Spain Cup of Nations match at CommBank Stadium. Selina Harden (Shoalhaven…
Read MoreManly United FC wins NSW Good Sports Club of the Year
National Premier Leagues NSW side Manly United have been named the “2022 NSW Good Sports Club of the Year”. The announcement was made recently, following the club’s recognition of adopting practices and strategies to improve the health and wellbeing of its members, inspiring positive change and building a healthier, and family-friendly club environment. “Manly United…
Read MoreForest Rangers Football Club praised as road safety heroes
Football St George Association side Forest Rangers FC have been awarded the 2022 Good Sports Safe Transport Award for prioritising the safety of its members, by developing and implementing safe transport practices to ensure everyone gets home safe and sound. Hosted by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation at Parliament House, Canberra in February 2023, the…
Read More2023 Australia Cup Journey starts for 127 Grassroots clubs in NSW
Football NSW has conducted its draws for Preliminary Rounds two and three of the 2023 Australia Cup which featured an incredible 127 grassroots clubs from across the state. In an official draw conducted at Football NSW Headquarters, the fate of 127 clubs from various associations as well as League One and Two Men’s teams were…
Read MoreRound 4 Preview – League One Men’s
Another full set of Saturday Football NSW League One Men’s fixtures await us in round four of the competition this coming weekend. So crossing our fingers that there are no weather interruptions this weekend, let’s take a look at the weekend in front of us. Match of the round: Dulwich Hill FC v Blacktown Spartans…
Read MoreProctor Park Challenge success for upcoming female referees
As many as 60 promising young Football NSW referees recently took part in the 2023 Proctor Park Challenge, a tournament famous for being a pre cursor to the commencement of the female football season. In what was a huge weekend of female football action at Proctor Park, as many as 250 matches took shape across…
Read MorePlayer registrations on the rise in 2023
Football teams are filling up fast across Sydney with Football NSW experiencing its strongest start to its annual registration campaign in 2023. Heading into the third week of February, 119 244 players had registered for the new season, representing a 16% year-to-date increase on 2022 numbers. The record start to the year comes off the…
Read MoreValentine Sports Park to host 2023 NAIDOC Cup
More than 120 First Nations players aged between 13 and 16 will converge on Football NSW’s headquarters Valentine Sports Park for the second annual NAIDOC Cup in July. The NAIDOC Cup will return this year, with the tournament expanded to a three-day event from Monday 3 July to Wednesday 5 July. The NAIDOC Cup coincides…
Read MoreFootball blessed with WestInvest
Western Sydney has benefitted from a huge boost in funding for sports facilities thanks to the NSW Government’s $5 billion WestInvest program. The WestInvest Program is funding transformational infrastructure projects that will enhance communities throughout Western Sydney. WestInvest Community Project Grants – Competitive Round will provide approximately $1.6 million in funding to projects across 15…
Read MoreDream come true for rising young NSW stars in Turkey
As many as eleven NSW based rising stars capped off a memorable few days following their involvement with the Australian Under 17’s side in the recent U-17 Antalya Youth Cup held in Turkey. Coach Brad Maloney, a NSW born coach himself and ex-Socceroo who played for the likes of APIA Leichhardt, Sydney Olympic, Marconi Stallions…
Read MoreManly and Hills set to host Female Only Referee Courses
Females wishing to take up officiating in both the Manly Warringah Football Association and Hills Football will have an opportunity to partake in courses in early March. Manly Warringah Football Referees Association Manly Warringah Football Referees Association will be hosting its female only course on Saturday 11th of March at the Curl Curl Sport Main…
Read MoreFootball NSW hosts first Community Coach Development Workshop for 2023
Football NSW recently hosted its first Community Coach Development Workshop for 2023 at Valentine Sports Park in what was an opportunity to promote and push the latest updates and events to various Associations across the state. Football NSW’s Head of Football Edward Ferguson opened the workshop presenting the vision and delivery objectives for 2023 while…
Read MoreSuccessful Coaching Workshops hosted at Proctor Park Challenge
Football NSW held two successful Coach Development opportunities during the 2023 Proctor Park Challenge last weekend with coaching workshops taking place in what was a record breaking weekend at Bathurst. As many as 121 clubs descended to Bathurst to participate in what was one of the biggest Proctor Park Challenge tournaments ever held. There were…
Read MoreFemale football continues to soar following Proctor Park Challenge success
Female football was alive and kicking as an incredible 121 teams descended to Bathurst and took part in the 2023 Proctor Park Challenge across five age groups in what was one of the largest pre-season tournaments ever staged The record number of teams from across all levels of football as well as three different Member…
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