2024 Annual Report Football NSW

2024 ANNUAL REPORT

IT HAS BEEN an honour to serve as Chair of the Football NSW Board over the past four years and I am grateful for the continued trust placed in me and my fellow Directors.

A heartfelt thank you to my Board colleagues for their unwavering leadership and dedication to the game in NSW. We were pleased to add Strebre Delovski and Neil Gibson as Directors in 2024 and I look forward to their contributions to the game over the coming years.

With gratitude and sadness, I acknowledge that Deputy Chair Steph Brantz and Carlos Gonzalez will conclude their respective Board tenures at the 2024 Annual General Meeting. Steph has been instrumental in driving progress and remains a fantastic ambassador for our game while Carlos has given eight outstanding years of dedicated service. Thank you Steph and Carlos.

We were thrilled to have over 260,000 players registered across the Football NSW footprint for the 2024 winter season. The growth of female football continues to headline participation numbers, with players rising by 17%, referees by 16% and an impressive 36% increase in coaches. We know that this kind of growth is driven at a local level and it is imperative to thank the Club volunteers who are the face of our game and dedicate a countless number of hours every season.

WITH RECORD DEMAND TO PLAY, FOOTBALL REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE

CHAIR’S REPORT UPDATES TO ENSURE OUR SPORT IS ACCESSIBLE TO

With record participation numbers, persistent wet weather posed a significant challenge, leading to hundreds of washouts and rescheduled matches. Despite this, Associations were able to continually adapt through the season to secure as many matches as possible for our playing community. A big thank you to the competition administrators for their tireless efforts and to the Clubs and participants for their patience and understanding.

At the end of 2024, the $10 million NSW Football Legacy Program reached its completion. Over the past two years, we were incredibly proud to support a total of 43 community infrastructure projects, 98 participation initiatives, 740 female football scholarships, 6 leadership programs, 32 Daughters and Dads programs and an expanded NAIDOC Cup. Thank you to the NSW Government for their investment and support of the football community through the Legacy Program which has effectively leveraged the momentum created by the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™.

Continued government investment is crucial to the ongoing growth of football. With record demand to play, football requires significant infrastructure updates to ensure our sport is accessible to all. The significant wet weather challenges faced in 2024 emphasised just how vital this investment is to our community. Ahead of the 2025 Federal election and in preparation for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, we will continue to work alongside Football Australia and our Members to advocate strongly to Government for ongoing investment in the country’s largest participation sport.

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ALL.

Throughout 2024, we were delighted to see so many Football NSW juniors representing Australian national teams. In March, Football NSW talent played a major role in the Young Matildas’ AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2024™ bronze medal, with 13 representatives then being selected for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup 2024™.

Seven Football NSW juniors were part of the Australian Joeys team that won the 2024 ASEAN U16 Boys Championship in July, while strong representation was also seen in the Junior Matildas’ AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup squad, the Matildas’ 2024 Olympic Games campaign and the Futsalroos’ semi-final appearance at the 2024 ASEAN Futsal Championships. We are incredibly proud to see Football NSW continue to play a pivotal role in the development of Australia’s top footballing talent.

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to our CEO, John Tsatsimas, and the Football NSW staff for their hard work and dedication throughout the year. John continues to lead with passion and energy, supported by a highly motivated team.

As we continue to make progress towards key outcomes of the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, l am filled with confidence about Football NSW’s future and what can be achieved.

GILBERT LORQUET Chair

CEO’S REPORT

IT HAS BEEN an incredible year for our football community and I am privileged to continue working alongside our valued members as CEO of Football NSW.

Community football registrations reached record levels in 2024 with a 9% increase in players, led by a 17% growth in female registrations. It was fantastic to see this growth replicated across coaches, referees and volunteers, helping to ensure our community is well placed to effectively cater for increased player numbers.

A heartfelt thank you to our Clubs, Associations and the thousands of local volunteers who make it possible for participants of all ages and abilities to take the field each week. I acknowledge the additional challenges that came with persistent wet weather in 2024 and a special thank you goes to the competition administrators who worked tirelessly to maximise the matches played across the season.

In early 2024, we proudly hosted our inaugural Club Development Conference, which welcomed over 150 community representatives. The event showcased a range of topics affecting community football and represents our ongoing commitment to providing resources and support to our valued Clubs and Associations.

Football NSW introduced several data projects in 2024, including Power BI registration dashboards, comprehensive retention reports and the re-introduction of a participant survey. These insights provide considerable value at all levels of the game and allow the game’s decision makers to make more informed decisions for the future.

In the competition space, I was proud to see our NPL NSW First Grade Grand Finals staged together as a showpiece event at CommBank Stadium for the first time. More than 5000 supporters joined us to watch the double header and I congratulate both the Macarthur Rams and the Marconi Stallions on their respective Women’s and Men’s Grand Final victories. A special mention to the Rams for winning an incredible three straight NPL Women’s NSW Championships.

Following an in-depth Player Development Review in 2024, a range of updates to the women’s and girls’ competition were announced which will see the Football NSW Institute cease its operations. Since 2013, the Institute has played a pivotal role in developing young female talent across the state, producing stars such as Ellie Carpenter and Courtney Nevin. However, the closure heralds a positive shift towards Clubs being the primary deliverers of player development, supported by initiatives like the implementation of Club Standards and Benchmarking Framework and the Future Sapphires program.

Throughout the year, our Football NSW representative teams did an exceptional job in illustrating our leadership in player

development on a national level. At the Futsal National Championships, six teams won national titles with Football NSW announced as the winner of the Member Federation Championship. Football NSW teams went on to claim three of the four National Youth Championship trophies in July, in addition to a sixteenth successive National Para Football Championship, capping off a hugely successful representative season.

In November, the 2024 Football NSW Coaching Conference reached new heights with the sold-out event attracting over 800 attendees across the two days of workshops and presentations. The Conference acted as the headline event for an exceptional year of coaching workshops and courses delivered across the community, illustrating Football NSW’s strong emphasis on the importance of coach development to player experience. I look forward to the ongoing development of this space over the coming years.

Thank you to the Football NSW Board for their trust and unwavering support over the past 12 months. A big thank you also goes to the Football NSW staff for their continued dedication to our football community.

Together, we have broken new ground in 2024 and I look forward to building on this momentum alongside the Football NSW community in 2025 and beyond.

JOHN TSATSIMAS CEO

TOGETHER, WE HAVE BROKEN NEW GROUND IN 2024, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING ON THIS MOMENTUM…

IN 2025 AND BEYOND.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

STEPHANIE BRANTZ DEPUTY CHAIR

DEBORAH CHAPMAN DIRECTOR

THANK YOU

CARLOS GONZALEZ DIRECTOR

STREBRE DELOVSKI DIRECTOR

BRETT MICHAEL DIRECTOR

NEIL GIBSON DIRECTOR

GILBERT LORQUET CHAIR

STEVE BOND DIRECTOR

MEGHAN SENIOR RESIGNED 5 APRIL 2024

Football NSW would like to thank the members of its Disciplinary Committee, General Purposes Tribunal and Appeals Tribunal for their contribution and commitment to the operation of grievance and disciplinary matters in 2024. The members are passionate about football and volunteer a significant amount of time and effort to assist Football NSW in ensuring a level playing field for all participants.

In 2024, the members of the Disciplinary Committee, General Purposes Tribunal and Appeals Tribunal were:

DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

• Barry Hoare

• Theo Wisman

• Shane Merry

• Michael Napoli

• Luke Margelis

GENERAL PURPOSES TRIBUNAL

• David Lewis (Chair)

• Ben Jones (Vice-Chair)

• Anthony Scarcella (Vice-Chair)

• Marcelo Valerio

• Robert Iaconis

• Louis Fayd’Herbe

• Mendo Cklamovski

• Duncan Tweed

• Pouyan Afshar

• Lara Nurpuri

• Jane Marquard

APPEALS TRIBUNAL

• Anthony Lo Surdo SC (Chair)

• Judge Graham Turnbull SC (Vice-Chair)

• Iain Todd (Vice-Chair)

• Iain Rennie

• Julia Sorbara

• David Stanton

• Ivan Griscti

• Michael Holmes

• Simon Philips

• Peter Mulligan

Capitalise

Achieve

Being collaborative, transparent and ambitious in the governance and operations of the game

GENDER

VALENTINE SPORTS PARK

Valentine Sports Park (VSP) continues to grow its international profile, hosting teams from Japan, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Samoa and New Zealand in 2024.

THE NSW GOVERNMENT’S Level the Playing Field program was announced in May with Football NSW being successful with two projects. Funding for lighting, cooling, solar and changing places upgrades were received for the futsal stadium, in addition to a grant for drainage and fencing on fields 4 and 5, which are due for completion in 2025. Football NSW were also successful in receiving funding to complete additional upgrade works for the futsal stadium which will expand on lighting and accessibility improvements and increased safety around the football fields.

VSP continues to support the A-League with training facilities and fields for pre-season matches, having hosted the likes of Wellington Phoenix, Macarthur FC, Newcastle Jets, Perth Glory and Sydney FC.

Through the year, the venue hosted Transplant Australia, the Junior Matildas, the Future Matildas, the ParaRoos and the ParaMatildas ahead of their successful international tournaments.

The facility also continued to provide support to the wider football community, NPL NSW and Football NSW Leagues clubs, Member Associations, in addition to multiple school and community tournaments.

MAJOR 2024 BOOKINGS

• Winter Futsal League

• Futsal Premier League

• Football NSW competitions and Grand Finals

• Hills Football Match of the Rounds

• Hills Cup Final

• New Zealand Schoolboys Camp

• Wrestling Australia Senior Camp

• Australian Society of Jujitsu Training Camp

• Rugby League Samoa QLD Camp

• Mie Soccer Academy Camp (Japan)

• Kyoto Ryoyo High School Camp (Japan)

• Chinese Taipei Futsal Women’s Team Camp

• Eastern Athletic Association FC (Asian Champions League Training)

• Transplant Australia Camp

• MiniRoos Programs and Clinics

• FNSW Corporate Kick-Off

• Ninja A-League Women (Wellington Phoenix, Sydney FC)

• Australian Defence Force National Tournament

• Australia Cup matches

• Sapphire Cup Final

• State Cup matches

• A-League Training (Perth Glory, Sydney FC, Macarthur FC, Wellington Phoenix, Newcastle Jets)

• Sydney United Pre-Season Camp

• Kiis1065 Competition Activation

• NSW Powerchair Football Season

• NSWFRA Training and Development Program

• Football NSW Club Development Conference

• Softball Australia

• NOVA Employment Football4All Gala Day

• Female Football Week

• Football NSW Coaching Conference

• Football NSW Futsal Coaching Summit

• Junior Matildas Camp

• Future Matildas Program

• TSP and GTSP Tournaments

• Junior Development Cup

• ParaRoos Camp

• ParaMatildas Camp

• FA Elite Matches

• A Licence courses

• B Licence courses

• C Licence courses

• NSW CP Training & Camp

• Champion of Champions Grand Finals

• Rhythmic Gymnastics state competition

• MFC Cup

2024 SEASON HIRERS

• Hills Football Inc

• Hills United (NPLNSW + Powerchair)

• Sydney Olympic

• Volleyball NSW

• Hills Knights

• Football NSW Institute Program

• TSP

• Powerchair NSW

• Mountain Majik Futsal

• Coptic United

• Glenwood High School

• Send It Volleyball

• 2024 Schools Tournaments hosted

• Sydney West

• Sydney Catholic Schools

• CIS

• Edmund Rice College (Rice Cup 2024)

• NSW PSSA

• CSSA

• CDSSA

• Hills Zone

• St Andrew’s Cup

• AICES

• NSW CIS

• NSW CCC

• NSW All Schools

INFRASTRUCTURE & GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

In 2024, infrastructure funding was notably lower overall compared to previous years, limiting new opportunities for Clubs and Associations to upgrade and enhance facilities.

HOWEVER, VARIOUS FUNDING announcements were made at different levels of government while several significant projects were completed.

After a hiatus, the Federal Government reintroduced sports funding, launching the Play Our Way Fund – Round 1. Football NSW secured over $700,000 through this initiative and directed it toward advancing female programs and initiatives.

The NSW Government’s Level the Playing Field program was announced in May at Valentine Sports Park. Minister Kamper announced the fund recipients with Football NSW being successful with two projects; lighting and change room upgrades in the futsal stadium and drainage and fencing on fields 4 and 5.

There were other successful applicants from the Level the Playing Field program which included the All Saints Hunters Hills Soccer Club who received $1.9 million for a new amenity building. Illawarra Stingrays FC received the maximum of $2 million for the upgrade of Lakelands Oval.

From a regional perspective, Southern Tablelands Football Association received more than $800,000 for field lighting at Cookbundoon Playing Fields. This lighting project will transform Cookbundoon into a fantastic facility for the Association lighting up multiple fields, allowing training and competition to occur at the venue in the evenings for the first time.

Several key football projects were successfully completed in 2024, reflecting significant investments in football facilities. Among these was the redevelopment of Barton Park, redeveloped at a cost of $51.7 million. The redevelopment included the demolition of the old St George Stadium and the construction of three pitches including a main pitch with a 450seat grandstand, two multi-use courts and four tennis courts.

The Sutherland Shire Football Association achieved a milestone with the construction of a full-sized hybrid field at the Harrie Dening Centre, their home of football. This field is the first of its kind for community football in Australia, utilising hybrid technology which was a combination of natural grass reinforced with synthetic fibres.

The Southern District Soccer Football Association (SDSFA) also completed major upgrades at Ernie Smith Reserve with the installation of a new synthetic field. This addition, alongside the newly opened synthetic fields at Hammondville Oval and Fairfield Showground, expanded SDSFA’s synthetic field capacity to three. These fields ensure greater resilience during wet weather, allowing more training and matches to proceed without disruption.

Local council elections were held across NSW in September 2024 with Football NSW leading a targeted campaign to support Clubs in engaging with candidates from all political parties.

The campaign emphasised the critical need for improved sporting infrastructure, particularly drainage and lighting, at football venues across the state.

The 2024 winter season highlighted these challenges as persistent wet weather caused significant disruptions to competition and training.

Over 50% of football fields in NSW lack proper drainage, leaving them highly vulnerable to adverse conditions and further highlighting the urgency of upgrading facilities.

In 2025, Australia will head to the polling booths for a federal election. This platform will once again provide a fantastic opportunity for Clubs and Associations to highlight the pressing need of facility improvement at community football venues across NSW.

Football NSW remains committed to advocating for its Clubs and Associations during this election period and beyond. Together, we aim to secure the quality facilities members need to thrive now and into the future.

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Empowering Clubs and Associations continues to be a central theme across Football NSW’s marketing and communications operations, buoyed by record registration campaigns and the implementation of various data initiatives.

REGISTRATION CAMPAIGNS

Football NSW continued to build upon its registration campaigns in 2024 with a focus on providing a complete suite of assets and resources to empower and support Clubs and Associations with their local promotions.

2024 resources included the addition of a how-to guide around Meta advertising, which complemented the campaign Canva templates created. It was great to see the templates being used online by Clubs both natively and as Meta ads, complementing the coordinated campaign efforts by Football NSW and Football Australia.

As per 2023, Football NSW focused its campaign advertising on Google display ads which continued to provide the most costeffective return on investment. The 2024 campaign more than doubled the Google ads interaction rate helping to achieve a 29% reduction in the average cost per interaction.

Off the back of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ (FWWC2023), a focus on ensuring a coordinated campaign approach across all levels of football helped to maximise 2024 registrations with total playing numbers increasing by 9%, led by 17% growth in female players.

Following the success of a central program and competition search portal created in line with the FWWC2023, the portal was re-introduced for the 2024 mid-year registration campaign. The mini site encompassed summer football, futsal, MiniRoos and other introductory football programs, allowing users to search for any affiliated football activities in their local area. With a modest advertising budget attached, supported by Football NSW’s partnership with Nine Ad Manager, the site received over 62,600 visits as record numbers went on to register for the respective summer football (8%) and futsal seasons (11%).

COMPETITION MEDIA COVERAGE

In 2024, Football NSW returned the broadcast of its premier competitions to YouTube which brought about an exponential increase in viewership. With the increased access and visibility that came with YouTube, the 2024 season saw a total of 1.4million views, representing a 389% increase on 2023 reported viewing numbers.

Football NSW also brought together the NPL NSW First Grade Grand Finals for the first time in 2024 at CommBank stadium. The headline event was supported with a comprehensive digital campaign, with Grand Final day coverage achieving a total organic reach of over 530,000.

Following an exponential increase in reach across Facebook and Instagram pages in 2023, competition content continued to grow its audiences in 2024. Instagram achieved the greatest success with reach increasing a further 36% and 132% for the NPL NSW and Football NSW Leagues accounts respectively.

DATA ANALYSIS

Football NSW continued to develop and progress within the data space throughout 2024, starting with the provision of a weekly updated Power BI Player Registration Dashboard that provided visualised breakdowns to Associations throughout the campaign.

A non-player dashboard was developed in the following months to allow Associations to track the registration progress of all participants within their boundaries. Custom breakdowns were also provided to Associations on request, allowing them the ability to track the progress of individual Clubs, across each key demographic.

Campaign tracking continues to allow the Football NSW community to tailor promotional efforts, estimate growth and assist in competition preparations.

Following the completion of 2024 registrations, Football NSW undertook a detailed analysis of player retention. Individual retention reports were developed and distributed to each Metro Association, illustrating how the Association’s retention rates have tracked in recent years while also comparing their local rates to the Football NSW Association average.

Adding to this data, Football NSW was also able to implement for the first time a retention survey undertaken amongst 2023 players who did not return in 2024. The survey allowed for an analysis of the primary reasons for leaving the sport across key demographics, while also illustrating to Associations where they outperformed or underperformed the Association average.

Finally, Football NSW re-introduced a comprehensive participation survey at the conclusion of the season, covering the experiences of players, coaches, referees and volunteers in 2024. The results will once again provide an opportunity for local Associations to identify their strengths and weaknesses compared to the Football NSW averages, while providing a benchmark score to compare against for future years.

COMMUNITY CAMPAIGNS

Throughout 2024, the Football NSW Marketing and Communications team played a major role in the promotion and implementation of the key celebratory campaigns, including Heart Health Round (26-28 April), Female Football Week (3-12 May), Volunteer Week (20-26 May) and NAIDOC Week (7-14 July), incorporating both Indigenous Round and the NAIDOC Cup. Each campaign made new ground in 2024 both in terms of online engagement and activations throughout the community.

JUNIOR PARTICIPATION

It is vital to the future health of football that the game’s entry-point is attractive and fun.

UNDER THE MINIROOS brand, Football NSW Clubs and Associations continue to do a terrific job in both attracting and retaining players. Football NSW has seen a steady long-term growth in the MiniRoos space, however the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ inspired further interest and enthusiasm to drive exceptional growth over the past two years.

In 2024, MiniRoos player numbers surged 12% year-on-year, with regional areas showing even stronger growth at 14%. Female participation surged more than 20% and the growth of Girls MiniRoos programs across NSW has been a huge factor. Growth in Girls MiniRoos has been strongest in areas where there are new, dedicated offerings.

Given the 2024 growth came on top of what was already a record 2023 is testament to the great product being delivered by local Clubs all over NSW. Clubs are providing a welcoming, inclusive and safe space for kids to learn and love football, and the work they are doing now will ensure the health of the game for years to come.

FEMALE FOOTBALL

Football NSW continues to advocate for gender parity through a dedicated team working with Clubs and Associations to enable, engage and empower women and girls in football.

FEMALE FOOTBALL PROGRAMS

The Girls Love Football and Kick-On for Women programs continued to thrive with 36 programs delivered across 16 clubs in 2024. In total, over 500 women have been introduced to the sport in a friendly, non-competitive and skill-based environment where the focus is on fun, football and friendships.

FEMALE FOOTBALL WEEK

A record number of events were held across the 11 days of Female Football Week in 2024 by Clubs and Associations. These included Clubs celebrating Female Football Rounds, running come and try sessions, providing free skills clinics and hosting festivals of football.

Football NSW provided NPL Women’s NSW clubs with ‘Our Game’ armbands for their First Grade and Reserve Grade captains and delivered a series of events at Valentine Sports Park to support various sectors of the football community.

• Referee Training Session (6 May): Technical session on foul recognition and sanctions using video footage from female football games, with learnings from experienced A-Leagues and NPL NSW referee coaches.

• Coaching Workshop (8 May): Young Matildas Assistant Coach Helen Winterburn delivered a workshop to 45 coaches focusing on working with female players in elite environments.

• Women in Sport Panel (10 May): Football NSW Deputy Chair Stephanie Brantz hosted a panel of guest speakers highlighting various career pathways in football. Speakers included Hannah Lidster (Director of Club Services, A-Leagues), Jennifer Martin (Head of Broadcast, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023) and Nicole Zosh (General Manager – Marketing, Football Australia).

Football NSW also celebrated the contributions to female football of dedicated individuals across the community. With over 60 applications from local Clubs and Associations received, it was pleasing to see so many quality submissions highlighting the positive work contributing to the success of female football. The five 2024 Football NSW Award winners were:

• Female Player of the Year: Tamsin Colley, Hurlstone Park Wanderers

• Female Coach of the Year: Zainab Jaber, Banksia Tigers & Football St George

• Female Referee of the Year: Frieda Maher, Canterbury Football Association

• Female Volunteer of the Year: Robyn Churchland, Orange Waratah Soccer Club

• Community Champion of the Year: Carl Baker, Bradbury Ambarvale Football Club

Tamsin Colley was also announced as the Football Australia National Female Player of the Year.

FEMALE SPECIFIC EVENTS

The Football NSW Women and Girls team further supported Legacy scholarship recipients and female applicants through a range of networking and coaching/refereeing opportunities across 2024 including:

• Tickets to the Matildas game on 3 June with special guest speaker Ebru Koksal.

• Youth Female Development School Holiday Clinics for Institute players turned coaches.

• Mentoring opportunities for B Diploma coaches to assist with building confidence and improve session planning.

• Discounted tickets to the 2024 Football NSW Coaching Conference.

• Mini Game Changers online sessions for female NPL players on mindset, confidence and resilience.

NSW LEGACY FOOTBALL PROGRAM

2024 saw the continuation of many female-focused initiatives in the final year of the NSW Football Legacy Program, a $10 million government investment into the NSW football community as a result of Australia co-hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™.

NSW FOOTBALL LEGACY FUND

Across the two-years of funding, a total of 43 infrastructure and 98 participation grants were provided to Clubs and Associations within the Football NSW footprint. Infrastructure projects included upgrades to lighting, field drainage and amenities improvements while participation initiatives ranged from Come and Try events, skills clinics, female cut uniforms as well as referee and coach development programs.

DAUGHTERS & DADS ACTIVE AND EMPOWERED

The Daughters and Dads Active and Empowered programs were conducted across 15 Associations with 460 families at 32 venues. Targeting school aged girls and their fathers or father figures, the sessions tackle the gender bias girls face every day and encourages and educates the male role model to be a gender advocate for their daughter.

The future remains bright for the continuation of the Daughters and Dads Program with Football NSW securing a license agreement to enable programs to continue. A reconfiguration of the program to 90 minutes with the addition of some online components will also allow a further reach to regional areas and to Clubs with limited facilities.

WOMEN IN FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIPS

A total of 740 scholarships have been distributed to females across coaching, refereeing, administration and volunteering through the Legacy Program.

COACHES

Through Legacy scholarships, 227 community coaches furthered their development by completing a Foundation of Football course, with a further 39 coaches becoming qualified with a Foundation of Futsal course.

210 women joined the advanced coaching cohort completing either a C Diploma, B Diploma or A Diploma. This represented a 172% increase on the current number of advanced female coaches, providing a positive step forward for the future of female coaches.

REFEREES

The Legacy Program supported 152 female participants in completing either a new referee course, upgrading their current qualification or becoming a referee mentor to support and empower female referees to remain in the game and advance their career. The referee scholarships have benefited 31 Associations across NSW.

ADMINISTRATION & VOLUNTEERS

Supported by the Legacy Program, 112 women completed external administration courses in the areas of budgeting, leadership, conflict, communication and interpersonal skills to develop capabilities within their local clubs. 37 of these women attended the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course ‘Governance Foundations for Not-For-Profit Directors’ which introduced participants to responsibilities in governance, risk management, financial performance and strategy.

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

A total of four Women in Leadership programs have been completed with legacy funding for 93 women across 30 different clubs/ branches or associations participating in the 5-week program.

The program is a mixture of live and pre-recorded lectures, selfdirected and face-to-face learning with the aim to develop an individual’s skills and knowledge, whilst building confidence to pursue leadership roles and/or take the next step in their career.

Two ‘Follow Your Lead’ events have also been held featuring several key external guest speakers, providing the female participants with excellent networking opportunities and creating demand for spots on future courses.

Football NSW sincerely thanks the NSW Government and Office of Sport for their commitment to female football via the NSW Football Legacy Program and looks forward to building on these initiatives in the future.

INCLUSION & DIVERSITY

True to its mission of growing football participation across all cultures and communities, Football NSW continues to support various initiatives and events that aim to increase the accessibility of the game to all.

NOVA EMPLOYMENT FOOTBALL4ALL GALA DAY

Football NSW hosted its 14th annual NOVA Employment Football4All Gala Day at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday 15th of June with over 200 participants taking part in the inclusive all abilities event.

Twelve clubs participated in small-sided matches and enjoyed a variety of off-field activities played in perfect weather conditions. The off-field attractions were a major hit with participants engaging with face painting, a jumping castle, an inflatable dartboard as well as enjoying visits from the Fire Department and Police with their emergency vehicles.

The event was supported by numerous Government delegates including Natasha Maclaren-Jones (Shadow Minister for Disability Inclusion), Warren Kirby (Member for Riverstone) and Mark Taylor (Member for Winston Hills). Meanwhile, participants were thrilled to see special guest attendees in the form of ParaMatildas representatives Eloise Northam, Carly Salmon and Charlize Tran, the Western Sydney Wanderers Powerchair team and Macarthur FC players Jake Hollman and Dean Bosnjak, who all assisted with various presentations throughout the day.

Participating clubs included:

• Castle Hills United FC All Abilities

• Nepean Dragons FC

• NWSF Football4All PINK

• Balmain All Abilities

• West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook FC

• Open Goals Kings Langley

• St Ives All Abilities

• Kickaroos Hills Knights

• Active Opportunities – Cromer Park Manly

• Randwick City Purple Hearts

• SNAPPaRoos

• Sydney City Eagles

INCLUSIVE COACHING WORKSHOP

Football NSW hosted an Inclusive Coaching Workshop with Special Olympics Australia at Valentine Sports Park for coaches looking to develop their knowledge in the inclusion space.

Pre-existing football4all coaches attended alongside new coaches looking to start football4all programs at their clubs. The education piece had a great presentation and practical session that was highly engaging and informative for the coaches.

Experienced football4all program coordinators Jenny Crandell from Castle Hill United FC and Christine Rudge from NWSF PINK delivered presentations and spoke about the success and learnings from their programs.

PARA FOOTBALL

The 2024 National Para Football Championships were successfully held in Canberra.

Football NSW claimed its sixteenth successive National title after defeating Football West 3-1 in the gold medal match.

Two of the Football NSW stars were acknowledged for their campaigns with Daniel Campbell awarded the FT3 Player of the Tournament and Will McGrath taking out the George Tonna Medal (Gold Medal Player of the Match).

FEMALE PARA FOOTBALL PROGRAM

The Female Para Football Program saw significant growth in 2024, driven by the success and increased awareness of the ParaMatildas. The program ran successfully throughout the year, highlighted by a special guest session led by ParaMatildas coach Kelly Stirton.

NAIDOC CUP

The success of the NAIDOC Cup event was celebrated in 2024 with Football NSW being named winner of Sport NSW’s Inclusion Achievement of the Year award for its hosting of the 2023 tournament at Valentine Sports Park.

The 2024 NAIDOC Cup marked its third iteration hosted by Northern NSW Football on Awabakal Land at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.

Held in conjunction with NAIDOC Week, the tournament once again showcased First Nations representative teams in a celebration of history, culture and football.

Over three days, participants engaged in cultural activities before Football NSW U14 and U16 teams faced off against Northern NSW Football (NNSWF) representatives on the 11th and 12th July.

Football NSW claimed victory in all four age groups, with a draw in the U16 girls’ group. As a result, Football NSW retained the NAIDOC Cup trophy for the third consecutive year.

Football NSW players also earned Player of the Tournament accolades in three of the four age groups.

FOOTBALL NSW INDIGENOUS ADVISORY GROUP

After holding their first meeting in 2024, the Football NSW Indigenous Advisory Group met on a monthly basis to discuss the development of various First Nations initiatives. Throughout the year, significant progress was made regarding the planning and operations of the 2024 NAIDOC Cup, Indigenous Round, cultural competency training and the Football NSW Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

The IAG also provided support for the rollout of First Nations scholarships for coaches, players and referees which are scheduled to be announced in early 2025.

Throughout the year, the group was joined by Football Australia’s General Manager of First Nations, Courtney Fewquandie. This helped to strengthen alignment with Football Australia’s National Indigenous Advisory Group, ensuring that the goals of both groups are closely aligned while enabling for effective collaboration on future programs.

FUTSAL

Football NSW further cemented its position as the leading Member Federation for Futsal in 2024, with new development initiatives building a framework for future state and national success.

LOCAL FUTSAL

In 2024, local futsal numbers increased by more than 10% to 2980 registered players. Together with state league participants, a total of 4972 futsal players were registered through the year.

Buoyed by the positive numbers competing in futsal school competitions, there continues to be strong potential for future growth, with the availability of suitable indoor facilities remaining a significant barrier.

WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Football NSW delivered a 10-week program, inviting elite female players who were involved in the Football NSW state team program. The purpose of the program was to create a bridge between understanding the principles of the game and the demands of international level futsal ahead of the introduction of the National Futsal Women’s team.

Football NSW also took the opportunity to host an international opponent, Chinese Taipei, in Sydney for a three-match series in the Senior Women’s and U17s girls age categories.

The program set the tone for Football NSW to boast majority representation in the first women’s national team squad.

WINTER FUTSAL LEAGUE

The Winter Futsal League completed another successful season with 12 teams taking part in the Men’s division. Operating as a bridging competition between local futsal and the Futsal Premier Leagues, Mountain Majik came out as the 2024 Champions following a convincing 5-0 victory over rivals Eastern Suburbs Hakoah in the Final.

FUTSAL COACHING EXPO

For the first time, Football NSW held a Futsal Coaching Expo in late 2024, attracting 120 coaches to Valentine Sports Park.

Attendees were provided the opportunity to learn from international keynote speakers, including Gabriel Bussinger (Technical Director at Vasco de Gama), Peter Sturgess (Former English Football Association National team coach and FIFA Futsal Instructor) and current Futsalroos coach, Miles Downie.

FUTSAL SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS

A total of 412 teams entered the Futsal School Championships throughout the calendar year in 2024. The competitions, including the State Championships, provided the opportunity for 1360 players across the state to take part in futsal events.

School teams across NSW qualified for the State Championship Finals from 14 NSW regional competitions, with the Australian Capital Territory Champions also invited to take part.

FUTSAL SCHOOLS STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

FINALS

• U10s Boys: King Park Public School 3-0 Mamre Anglican School

• U10s Girls: St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School Mortlake 2-1 St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School Lurnea

• U13s Boys: Newington College Wyvern 3-1 King Park Public School

• U13s Girls: King Park Public School 4-1 Amity College

• U14s Boys: Crestwood High School 3-2 Moriah College

• U14s Girls: Central Coast Sports College 3-2 William Clarke College

• U16s Boys: Freeman Catholic College 6-2 All Saints Grammar

• U16s Girls: Mamre Anglican School 1-0 Endeavour Sports High School

• Opens Boys: Belmore Boys High School 2-1 William Clarke College

• Opens Girls: Mamre Anglican School 3-0 Endeavour Sports High School

2024 NATIONAL FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 2024 National Futsal Championships (NFC) were hosted by Football Queensland in the Gold Coast with Football NSW once again shining bright with a fantastic tournament, taking home six national titles and being crowned inaugural Member Federation Champions.

FOOTBALL NSW 2024 CHAMPION TEAMS

• U13 Girls Football NSW Thunder

• U15 Girls Football NSW Lightning

• U16 Boys Metro

• Youth Men Thunder

• Open Women

• Open Men Thunder

FOOTBALL NSW RUNNER-UP TEAMS

• U14 Boys Country

• U15 Boys Metro

• U15 Girls Lightning

• U17 Girls Country

• Youth Men Lightning

INDIVIDUAL HONOURS

GOALKEEPER OF THE TOURNAMENT

• Taya Hurcum (U13 Girls)

• Isabella Coelho (U17 Girls)

• Toby Ryan (Youth Men) PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT

• Mackenzie Bradstock (U13 Girls),

• Jay De Gouveia (Youth Men)

• Gisella Pipino (Open Women) COACH OF THE TOURNAMENT

• Amanda Millgate (U13 Girls)

• George Lethbridge (U17 Girls)

• Steve Knight (Open Men)

• Robert Varela (Open Women)

SUMMER FOOTBALL

The 2023/24 Summer Football season was conducted in the afterglow of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™.

THE RAW EXCITEMENT of the tournament drove an astounding 32% surge in summer football player numbers, with growth across all categories but especially strong in female participation.

Summer football continues to provide an excellent product for Clubs and Associations to offer, as a casual and fun competition for players. The small format and close quarters offer a great technical challenge that rewards and encourages creative flair and close control.

Football NSW has seen a steady increase in the number of summer football competitions offering players the opportunity to play all year round, providing an option for those who cannot (or do not want to) commit to a full season of winter football.

Moving forward, Football NSW is looking to develop the summer football offering to bring it into closer alignment with futsal, providing more development opportunities and potential player pathways, especially for junior participants.

DEVELOPMENT

Football NSW delivered its inaugural Club Development Conference on February 17, 2024.

OVER 150 ATTENDEES from 80 clubs attended Valentine Sports Park to hear presentations on best practice within topics such as safeguarding, governance, women and girls’ participation, Club Changer, volunteerism, marketing and communication, infrastructure and grants, as well as player and spectator behaviour.

In 2024, Football NSW continued to support Football Australia’s Club Development program, Club Changer.

Over 235 clubs across Football NSW Associations have now completed 1-star Club Changer accreditation, encompassing modules and action plans based around women’s and girls’ experiences within football. A further 13 clubs completed their 2-star accreditation which incorporates a safeguarding module and three further modules as chosen by the Club.

Football NSW headed out on the road throughout 2024, visiting seven regional Associations and delivering Club Development workshops to over 35 clubs. A further visit was made to the Manly Warringah Football Association while a workshop was also hosted at Valentine Sports Park for nearby clubs.

REFEREE DEVELOPMENT

The 2024 season was one of significant change and investment in the referee space both at a state and national level.

FOOTBALL NSW THANKS

all match officials across NSW for their tireless dedication to refereeing throughout the season and acknowledge the volunteers from referee branches who continue to devote their time and energy into the referee community. Football would not be the same without you.

2024 saw an increase in registered match officials with a total of 6,106 registered referees across the outdoor, summer and futsal landscape.

COMMUNITY

EDUCATION

This year saw Football Australia (FA) launch a new learning and qualification management system which included transitioning the entry level referee course theory component to online modules. The new course content created by FA revitalised the experience of an aspiring referee with interactive online elements, recent video clips and quizzes accessible through the platform.

Football NSW commends the efforts of local referee branches for their patience in transitioning to the new system and for their efforts in adding new referees to the system which saw 1,532 learners enrol in the entry level referee course in 2024.

REFEREE DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS

2024 saw a significant investment in grassroots refereeing with the introduction of Referee Development Officers (RDOs). The role of the RDOs is to assist the Football NSW Community Football Referees Coordinator in supporting local referee branches with the training and development of grassroots match officials on the ground.

Six casual positions (five metro, one regional) were filled in 2024 and the RDOs aided in the delivery of referee training programs in conjunction with local branches across 46 sessions during the grassroots season.

TOURNAMENTS

As per previous years, Football NSW utilised Proctor Park Challenge (PPC) and Bathurst Cup as pre-season training camps for community match officials as part of the RDP program. The regional pre-season tournaments, hosted by Bathurst District Football Inc, are an opportunity for grassroots match officials to participate in the referee camp and receive individualised coaching on each of their matches over the weekend.

In 2024, for the first time, all 227 competition matches at PPC were covered with an all-female referee crew who were also accompanied by a female referee coach. Over 80 referees and referee coaches attended the tournament which saw every Under 12 match allocated a game leader and referee coach, with all full-sized field matches (including finals) having a referee, two assistant referees and a referee coach allocated.

Referee coaches for the weekend included panel members from FIFA, the A-League Women’s and the NPL Women’s NSW, as well as developing referee coaches from community branches.

PATHWAYS

FOOTBALL NSW REFEREES ACADEMY

First established in 2016, the Football NSW Referee Academy (FNSWRA) trains and prepares selected referees for success at the state and national level for potential identification by Football Australia. Since its inaugural year, which has seen eight batches of match officials complete the twoyear program, 18 graduates have been recognised on national panels (A-League Women’s, Men or Youth), with countless others also receiving Football Australia appointments to competitions such as the Australia Cup or attending National Youth Championships (NYC).

In 2024, the FNSWRA consisted of 21 match officials, including 13 males and 8 females, representing 13 different local branches.

A key focus of the FNSWRA is development of the member’s leadership skills and ability to give back to their local footballing community where they began refereeing. In 2024, Academy members took a leading role at tournaments throughout the year, with recently graduated referees from the FNSWRA attending tournaments as coaches and as tournament coordinators.

REFEREE DEVELOPMENT PANEL (RDP)

The Referee Development Panel (RDP) is one of the first steps in the refereeing pathway for talented junior community match officials. The RDP has been an established program in NSW for several years and offers opportunities for grassroots match officials to develop their craft as referees and assistant referees on Football NSW fixtures, with support from experienced referee coaches and instructors.

200 expressions of interest were received for the RDP throughout the year with referees representing 30 different community branches. 140 referees aged between 15 – 21 were accepted into the program and were appointed to over 1,500 Football NSW fixtures throughout the season. A total of 391 coaching reports were submitted for RDP members throughout the season.

FOOTBALL AUSTRALIA NATIONAL YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS (NYC)

At the 2024 National Youth Championships, 17 NSW referees were selected to officiate across the Boys and Girls competitions.

Having sent seven female referees to the NYC Girls tournament in Melbourne, Eliza Skinner (Canterbury Referees Association) and Alana Zic (Hills Football Referees) were named the U15 and U16 Match Official of the Tournament respectively.

The NYC Boys tournament saw three female match officials selected to attend for the first time, including two NSW referees, Charlotte Flynn (Football South Coast Referees) and Mia Velarde (Manly Warringah Football Referees Association). Amongst the ten rising Football NSW officials who attended the tournament

was Rowan Fisher (Northern Suburbs Football Referees Association), who was named U15 Referee of the Tournament.

FNSW REFEREES

BRANCH

In 2024, the Football NSW Referees Branch was established to manage the referees appointed to Football NSW competitions such as the NPL NSW and Football NSW Leagues.

Football NSW thanks the NSW State League Football Referees for their work in this space in the past and the efforts of countless volunteers within the branch who worked to improve refereeing in NSW.

With the launch of the new Football NSW Referees Branch came the establishment of a Referee Technical Unit (RTU) to support the ongoing coaching, training and development of match officials.

• Ben Abraham (Technical Director)

• Chris Young (Head Coach – NPL Men’s NSW)

• Katie Vainauskas (Head Coach – NPL Women’s NSW)

• Matt McOrist (Head Coach – Assistant Referees)

• Adam Vainauskas (Head Coach –Football NSW Leagues)

Registrations numbers increased slightly with a 12.7% increase in the senior membership space compared to 2023 and an 8.8% increase in female referees.

Throughout the season, 90 sessions (including practical training and theory technical sessions) were held for members, including 20 that were designed and hosted by-and-for female match officials. There were also 353 individual match official coaching reports submitted throughout the season for Football NSW branch members across the senior fixtures.

FOOTBALL AUSTRALIA REFEREE ACADEMY AND A-LEAGUES PANELS

In 2024, Alexis Johnson and Molly Godsell were selected to join the Football Australia Referee Academy (FARA). Both match officials also successfully debuted on the A-League Women’s (ALW) competition (Molly as a referee and Alexis as an assistant referee) during the ALW 2023/24 season.

A total of 22 NSW officials were selected for the 2023/2024 A-Leagues season and made appearances in the Women’s and Men’s finals series, including the following officials who were appointed to their respective grand finals:

• Hugh Fenton-White: Fifth Official, A-League Men’s Grand Final

• Kris Griffiths-Jones: Video Match Official, A-League Men’s Grand Final

• Emma Kocbek: Assistant Referee, A-League Women’s Grand Final

• Matt McOrist: Assistant Referee, Australia Cup Final

• Maggie Price: Assistant Referee, A-League Women’s Grand Final

• Kearney Robinson: Assistant Referee, A-League Men’s Grand Final

• Brad Wright: Assistant Referee, A-League Men’s Grand Final

Football NSW recognises Kurt Ams, Stephen Lucas and Scott Edeling on their contributions as leading officials having stepped away from the high-performance panels for the 2023/24 season.

FIFA

Nine referees from Football NSW were appointed to the 2024 FIFA International Referee Panel. This year saw Sarah Ho (Assistant Referee), Lance Greenshields (Assistant Referee), Kurt Ams (Referee) and Darius Turner (Futsal Referee) step away from their positions on the international lists at the conclusion of 2023. Football NSW sincerely thanks them for their time as international match officials and congratulates them on reaching the pinnacle of refereeing in obtaining their FIFA badge during their careers.

There were five new NSW additions appointed to the FIFA International Panel for 2024 including:

• Ben Abraham (Referee): originating from Eastern Suburbs Football Referee Association

• Maddy Allum (Assistant Referee): originating from Canterbury Referees Association

• Nicholas Backo (Futsal Referee): originating from NSW Futsal Referees Association

• Emma Kocbek (Assistant Referee): originating from Nepean Referees Group

• Brad Wright (Assistant Referee): originating from Macarthur District Football Referees Association

COACH DEVELOPMENT

In 2024, Football NSW continued to kick goals within the Coach Education & Development space, raising the level of quality delivered throughout the landscape and offering more opportunities for the 17,000 coaches across NSW, from grassroots to the elite level.

THE COACH EDUCATION department has seen record growth in course delivery with 26 C Diploma courses and six B Diploma courses delivered across New South Wales. Pleasingly, this growth continued to include courses delivered within regional locations with the first ever regional B Diploma being delivered in Goulburn to ensure country coaches receive access to the same opportunities as their metropolitan counterparts.

Outside of the mainstream C and B Diploma courses, 2024 saw further emphasis placed on goalkeeper coach education with six Foundation of Goalkeeping

courses delivered to further support the development of goalkeeper coaches.

Football NSW now have two qualified Coach Education Tutors (CETs) to deliver the Goalkeeper B Diploma Course, making it more accessible to coaches as the course can be delivered locally on the weekends, removing the barrier of delivery during work hours.

Grassroots Member Associations were once again a crucial extension of the Football NSW Coach Education team, delivering Foundation of Football courses and MiniRoos courses within their respective regions to local coaches.

In 2024, Football NSW ensured that Member Associations were supported to deliver best practice coach education experiences with quarterly Coach Education Tutor workshops held at Valentine Sports Park for Association technical staff to receive training and support. The highlight of these workshops was the inclusion of FIFA Technical Expert Sean Douglas delivering a two-day workshop for the Association network.

Outside of formal courses, 2024 saw the relaunch of Football NSW Grassroots Coaching Festivals which were delivered to launch the grassroots football season.

These festivals were held in conjunction with multiple metropolitan and regional Associations and saw grassroots coaches upskilled in the latest coaching activities and methodologies to deliver fun and engaging football environments for their players.

2024 saw Football NSW once again ensure that CPD for coaches across the region was free and accessible. 28 CPD events were delivered in 2024, totalling 32 hours of free CPD for coaches to ensure AFC revalidation policies are upheld.

In a first for Football NSW, five of these events were delivered through online webinars ensuring that CPD is accessible to all coaches no matter their location in New South Wales. Topics ranging from the latest in and out of possession trends through to leadership and culture were delivered by the Coach Education team.

The highlight of the 2024 Coach Education year was once again the annual flagship Coaching Conference held in November at Valentine Sports Park. It was an event to remember where over 800 coaches made the trip to Valentine Sports Park. Hosted by Stephanie Brantz, the Conference saw keynote presentations given by international and domestic special guests with a raft of experience across all levels of the game.

Amongst the many highlights during the weekend were presentations and panel sessions from domestic coaches including Graham Arnold, Sean Douglas and Kelly Cross to name a few.

Football NSW once again invited international guests to our shores for the conference as well as several CPD workshops in the lead up to the event. 2024 saw the arrival of Gabriel Bussinger, Technical Director from Vasco De Gama in Brazil, Peter Sturgess from the English

Off the park, Football NSW continued to deliver fortnightly coach development content via the ‘Technical Area’ e-newsletter, which encompassed industry updates, articles by experts, session plans and video submissions of exercises from throughout the NSW football community. This initiative will continue in 2025 to consistently upskill the coaching network from grassroots to the elite side of the game.

Football NSW thanks its Associations and their membership for their patience during the implementation of the new FA Learning Platform for Coach Education. The tireless efforts of Association staff and Club volunteers ensured the challenge was navigated, courses were able to be delivered and coaches able to access relevant content to prepare them for the season ahead.

None of these events would be possible without the hard work and dedication of the Coach Education team of tutors and Football NSW thanks them for their efforts in ensuring coaches across New South Wales know they are not alone on their journey in seeking to provide the best experience for players.

TALENTED PLAYER PATHWAYS

In 2024, Football NSW once again proved to be Australia’s leading Member Federation with regard to player development off the back of strong National Youth Championship performances and significant player representation across Football Australia’s national teams.

BOYS

BOYS TALENT SUPPORT PROGRAM (METRO)

The Boys Talent Support Program (TSP) has continued to meet its objectives by providing additional high-level match opportunities alongside regular competition, enabling closer tracking and monitoring for state and national team talent identification.

In 2024, the TSP facilitated 84 extra matches across three age groups (players born in 2008, 2009 and 2010). Beyond these regular fixtures, the program hosted seven TSP tournaments at Valentine Sports Park, organised matches against the Melbourne Victory Academy and participated in a successful tournament in the Sunshine Coast (Queensland), where the 2010 Boys emerged victorious.

Currently, 171 players across the 2009 and 2010 age groups are part of the TSP, representing 24 Youth League clubs.

At the conclusion of the 2024 season, 27 TSP players were selected to join A-League academies, including 12 from the 2009 age group and 15 from the 2010 age group.

In addition to its core objectives, TSP coaches observed 99 Youth League match days to assess club practices and identify emerging talent. They have completed over 2,650 player reports across Youth League age groups, contributing to a comprehensive talent identification database for potential selection into the TSP, state teams and national teams.

BOYS TALENT DEVELOPMENT SCHEME MATCHES

In addition to the TSP, Football NSW hosted four Talent Development Scheme (TDS) matches for players in the 2006–2009 age groups. These matches brought together top talent from A-League academies, TSP and the Youth Leagues to support national team head coaches in their selection processes.

Enhanced data collection, including GPS tracking, video analysis, physical testing and bio-maturation measurements, further informed decision-making.

This year’s matches also featured coach workshops led by National Team staff, providing local Football NSW coaches with valuable upskilling opportunities while earning CPD hours.

BOYS STATE TEAMS

In July, the Football NSW State Teams in the 2008 and 2009 age groups competed in Football Australia’s National Youth Championships in Wollongong. Football NSW was tasked with fielding three metro teams and one regional team per age group, providing opportunities for 102 metro players and 34 regional players to showcase their talents to national team staff.

Five of the six metro teams advanced to the knockout stages, with the 2008 Sky team winning the championship and the 2009 Navy team securing third place.

The 2008 metro teams included 34 A-League academy players, 18 of whom had previously been part of the TSP, along with 17 current TSP/Youth League players. The victorious Sky team featured 13 players originally from the TSP, 10 of whom have since been selected into A-League academies.

The 2009 metro teams comprised 29 A-League academy players and 22 TSP/ Youth League players.

Football NSW staff completed a technical report analysing goal-scoring trends across our teams to identify strengths and areas for improvement. This report will be shared with Football NSW coaches at the start of 2025 to inform and educate them on strategies to enhance player development.

NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION

In 2024, 15 players from Football NSW were selected to represent the National U17s (Joeys) in various tournaments, while 24 players were chosen to play for the Young Socceroos in multiple competitions.

U17 JOEYS

Jordan Graoroski, Jai Ajanovic, Nickolas Alfaro, Zane Stevenson, Miles Milliner, Max Anastasio, Jay Maltz, Haine Eames, Marco Santangelo, Akol Akon, Bryce Harrison, Noah Slunjski, Antonio Arena, Gianluca Okon, Danilo Treffiletti

U20 YOUNG SOCCEROOS

Liam Bonetig, Dean Bosnjak, Adam Bugarija, Jesse Cameron, Gus Hoefsloot, Paul Okon-Engstler, Tiago Quintal, Alex Robinson, Max Vartuli, Tyler Williams, Marcus Younis, Zane Schreiber, Frans Deli, Oliver Randazzo, Alex Badolato, Rhys Youlley, Miguel Di Pizio, Anthony Pavlesic, Louis Agosti, Zac De Jesus, Zane Helweh, Ryley Hollingdale, Pearson Kasawaya, Bailey Brandtman

GIRLS

GIRLS TALENT SUPPORT PROGRAM

The Girls Talent Support Program (TSP) continued to evolve in 2024 as Football NSW increased its number of players identified and engagement with clubs.

TSP coaches attended Girls Youth League matches across the season to identify new talent, meet with club officials, and complete player and match assessments with over 450 players identified through the process.

During the year, over 300 unique players came through the TSP program, illustrating the strengthening base of players within the pathway.

Football NSW delivered 48 ‘best v best’ matches across the age groups, including a tournament in April that involved Northern NSW, Central Coast Mariners and Country TSP squads.

A development day was conducted in the July school holiday period that included position specific training and small sided games. A final tournament was held in October to finish off the year.

A total of eight players across both age groups were selected in their respective state teams, whilst six were selected as shadow players. Further to this, 16 players from Girls TSP were identified for the Future Sapphires Program, demonstrating a vast number of talented players coming through. This highlights the relevance of the program for these players as well as its place in the pathway.

GIRLS TALENT DEVELOPMENT SCHEME MATCHES

In addition to the TSP, Football NSW hosted TDS matches for players in the 2005-2010 age groups.

These matches brought together the top talent from various A-League academies, TSP, and Youth League to support national team head coaches in their selection processes. Enhanced data collection, including GPS tracking, video analysis, physical testing and bio-maturation measurements, further informed decision-making.

This year’s matches also featured coach workshops led by national team staff, providing local Football NSW coaches with valuable upskilling opportunities while earning CPD hours.

GIRLS STATE TEAMS

The National Youth Championships continues to serve as a crucial component of the talented player pathway. The 2024 Girls’ National Youth Championships showcased exceptional talent and ability, highlighting the significant role this tournament plays in the development of young players.

Throughout the tournament, players demonstrated outstanding individuality, teamwork and sportsmanship. Their ability to compete at such a high level not only resulted in impressive individual performances but also contributed to Football NSW teams’ overall success.

The success at the National Youth Championships is a testament to the hard work of the players and coaching staff. As Football NSW continue to nurture and support talented players, events like this will remain vital in shaping player journeys and pathways.

Football NSW staff completed a technical report analysing goal-scoring trends across our teams to identify strengths and areas for improvement. This report will be shared with Football

NSW coaches at the start of 2025 to inform and educate them on strategies to enhance player development.

FOOTBALL NSW INSTITUTE

The Football NSW Institute program has been a solid foundation in the development of talented youth players, effectively establishing a pathway that not only promotes football development but also nurtures the overall growth of aspiring footballers.

In 2024, the program ensured that players gained significant competitive exposure through participation in tournaments, Talent Development Scheme matches and participation in the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW and Girls’ Youth League One competitions.

The Institute program emphasised a holistic development model, incorporating mental wellbeing, education and physical training to foster resilience, teamwork and sportsmanship.

The pathway to professionalism is clearly defined within the program, with a number of players successfully transitioning to the A-League Womens and national team environments.

Ten players secured a scholarship or contract with an A-League Womens team, while a further nine players were involved in the Junior Matildas environment this year.

The Football NSW Institute continues to foster a sense of community by encouraging players to engage in a Foundation of Football course. From this, they have utilised coaching skills and techniques obtained and coached at the Girls Love Football clinic at Valentine Sports Park, giving back to the community and thereby reinforcing their ability to be positive role models to young females.

In July, Football NSW announced the Football NSW Institute program will

cease operating at the conclusion of the 2024 season.

The Football NSW Institute program has been vital to the growth and development of the female game in NSW, playing a key role in the progression of many current and ex-Matildas players, as well as a significant proportion of junior national team players and Football NSW state team representatives.

Further to this, Football NSW announced it will be introducing a new program titled the ‘Future Sapphires Program’ which will ensure highly rated talented players continue to access at least four training contacts per week in addition to a game.

The Future Sapphires Program is a supplementary program aimed to run alongside players’ club commitments to prepare players for the National Youth Championships and future national team representation.

NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION

In 2024, seven players from Football NSW were selected in the Junior Matildas 23-player squad to participate at the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2024, with a further three players taking part in the camps leading up to the tournament. Of these ten players selected, seven were a part of the Football NSW Institute program and three were from clubs within the NPL NSW competition.

In the Young Matildas space, a total of fifteen players from Football NSW were selected in a 23-player squad to represent Australia at the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2024, twelve were selected in a 25-player squad for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup 2024, while nine standby players were also selected across both tournaments. All players bar one were selected in the Young Matildas from NSW, all of which play in the NPL NSW competition and have come through

Football NSW development programs. The players that won national team selection were:

JUNIOR MATILDAS

Sienna Dale, Indiana Dos Santos, Mikayla Duong, Tiana Fuller, Alvina Khoshaba, Christina Kiceec, Talia Younis (standby players: Amelia Cassar, Amelia Bennett, Jasmin Selva).

YOUNG MATILDAS

Alexia Apostolakis, Tegan Bertolissio, Milly Boughton (Tottenham Hotspurs), Madeleine Caspers, Claudia Cicco, Indiana Dos Santos, Jynaya Dos Santos, Gemma Ferris, Tahlia Franco, Daniela Galic, Shay Hollman, Kahli Johnson, Chloe Lincoln, Jessika Nash, Peta Trimis, Avaani Prakash, Amber Luchtmeijer, Ella Buchanan (standby players: Jasmine Black, Amy Chessari, Maya Lobo, Sienna Saveska, Mary Stanic-Floody).

Further to this, a total of ten players were identified from Nationals for the recent Junior Matildas extended list. This included four players from TSP/NPL NSW clubs and six players from the Football NSW Institute.

A notable mention to Natasha Prior and Daniela Galic who made their debuts in the CommBank Matildas squad. Daniela debuted on 25th October against Switzerland and Natasha debuted on 1st December against Brazil.

REGIONAL

The TSP Regional program for 2024 saw an increase in match activity in addition to a stronger training focus with more opportunities provided.

In each term, there was a TSP Regional Game Day held in Goulburn, Young and Bathurst which enabled all players across the eight TSP Regional Hubs to

play in matches for their age group. Following the regional game days, there were TSP Regional squads which participated in Elite Game Days at Valentine Sports Park across boys and girls in January, April, July and October.

2024 also saw the addition of Under 14 Boys and Under 14 Girls competing in an invitational tournament held by Football Queensland in Marchooydore, providing another avenue to assess the players against quality opposition and more opportunities to look at the players in the process from Term 2.

The Training Hubs were in AlburyWodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Goulburn, Griffith, Nowra, Orange and Wagga Wagga for both boys and girls with six contacts per Term.

REGIONAL STATE TEAMS

In July, there was the National Youth Championships for the NSW Country Boys and Girls state teams (2009 and 2008).

There was a strong spread of players from across the three regional branches in the boys’ and girls’ teams. The NYC Girls teams were led by Zoe Anderson (U15 Girls) and Michael Babic (U16 Girls), with the Under 16 Girls making it through to the Finals. The NYC Boys teams were led by Brian Vanega (U15 Boys) and Andrew Fearnley (U16 Boys), with both teams finishing their pools in third and competing well in their respective play-off stages.

The NYC provides an important opportunity for regional players from within Football NSW to be exposed to the best potential players in Australia in their age groups, allowing a developmental challenge to the players and coaches to assist them in their football pathway and growth.

CLUB TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT

During

2024, Football NSW implemented the Club Standard and Benchmarking Framework across

sixty-five

Mixed and Girls Junior Development (JDL) programs.

THE FRAMEWORK IS a Football NSW benchmarking, quality assurance and club support process aimed at enhancing services and experiences for players, coaches and clubs throughout the state.

The clubs were supported by Football NSW Technical Advisors, whose aim is to assist in the growth and development of Club capabilities. Throughout 2024, two hundred and sixty training ground and matchday visits were conducted with the objective to provide feedback to Clubs across three key areas; Planning, Delivery, and Progression and Retention.

Subsequently, Clubs received a report highlighting key areas of strengths and those that required further development or implementation in line with the Framework and received a Benchmarking Outcome of either Gold, Silver, Bronze or Development Committed. In 2025, these results will be published.

Football NSW also delivered Club Capability Building Workshops covering specific requirements of the framework. Selected Clubs and their staff presented at these workshops, highlighting the good practice that is occurring in their environments and development of young players.

Whilst Football NSW’s games program for U9-U13 is not based on league tables, the need to provide additional game formats and experiences is recognised. To provide this opportunity, the Junior

Development Cup was introduced and attended by twenty-two Clubs whose mixed and girls programs played in a competition structure with a trophy up for grabs for the respective winners.

With the support of Gareth Long and Kevin Grima, Football NSW developed the Junior Development Leagues (JDL) Coach Development Program which is an age specific coach education course designed for JDL coaching staff. Within the JDL, the focal point of the program is the needs of the children, and the weekend course covers details around ensuring the needs of players are met both on and off the pitch at this crucial stage of their personal and skill development.

2025 will see the change of name from the previously known Mixed and Girls’ SAP to the Junior Development Leagues. The new format will be known as Mixed and Girls JDL and over the weekend of the 1st and 2nd of February, Clubs will attend an official launch as we celebrate the start of a new chapter in Football NSW development and support of both players and clubs.

NPL MEN’S NSW

It was a blistering year of football in the National Premier Leagues

Men’s NSW competition, with exciting football, individual quality and nail-biting tension on display throughout 2024.

ROCKDALE ILINDEN EMERGED as Premiers with a brilliant campaign, ending their 40-year wait for a major title with their consistency and clutch performances during the regular season that saw them a cut above the rest thanks to coach Paul Dee and assistant Nick Stavroulakis.

However, they couldn’t translate their form into the final series as the Marconi Stallions become NPL Men’s NSW Champions for the first time since 2012. A 3-0 Grand Final win over the Premiers was earned in front of over 5,000 spectators at CommBank Stadium.

APIA Leichhardt FC, who were unable to retain their 2023 Premiership, did take home the Waratah Cup with a victory over Rockdale Ilinden.

Moving through the ladder, APIA, Blacktown City, St George City and Sydney United 58 all qualified for the finals series, but it was the top two in Rockdale and Marconi who qualified for the decider.

Wollongong Wolves and Sydney Olympic strayed just clear of the top six, while Manly United and NWS Spirit followed behind to complete the top 10.

Western Sydney Wanderers, who began the season in fine form and on top of the ladder, struggled to replicate it in the second half of 2024, but finished highest of the A-League Men academies.

The latter stages of the season saw an epic five-way relegation battle that lasted to the final day, where Sydney FC escaped second bottom, pushing the Central Coast Mariners down into the relegation playoff in the process.

The Mariners bounced back strongly, winning 5-2 over Bulls FC to confirm their place in NPL Men’s NSW for 2025 along with St George FC, Sutherland Sharks and Sydney.

Hills United, meanwhile, couldn’t find enough consistency in 2024, and will be moving down to the Football NSW League One Men’s competition, being replaced by Mt Druitt Town Rangers next season.

On the awards front, Rockdale Ilinden skipper Alec Urosevski created history by becoming the first ever player in Football NSW history to claim back-to-back Player of the Year and Golden Boot accolades at the end of season Gala Dinner.

NPL WOMEN’S NSW

The 2024 National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition was headlined by unprecedented success for the Macarthur Rams, finishing the regular season as Premiers and going on to claim a third

consecutive Championship.

THE 2024 SEASON kicked off with reigning Premiers APIA Leichhardt FC headlining the opening rounds, losing their first two fixtures under new Head Coach Brad Attard. Manly United started the season on fire and looked as though they would be in the hunt for trophies. The Gladesville Ravens, Sydney Olympic, Illawarra Stingrays and Macarthur Rams also started strongly.

While at the other end of the table, it was obvious the Blacktown Spartans were in for a tough season along with Sydney University and UNSW.

NWS Spirit FC looked strong, playing some attractive football throughout the mid part of the season and building steam, while at North Turramurra, the Northern Tigers were picking up the pace after a slow start to the campaign.

The reigning Champions suffered a major mid-season dip, seeing first place slip away from them with Olympic, APIA and the Stingrays battling for the Premiership. The finals race was battled out by no less than five teams, alongside those sitting in the top four spots as Bulls FC Academy emerged as finals hopefuls. At the bottom of the table, the Spartans struggles continued along with UNSW.

After a slow start for the Macarthur Rams, Stephen Peters’ side showed immense character, going undefeated in their final 12 league games, defeating APIA on the final day of the season to secure the Premiership ahead of their rivals. The Stingrays secured third spot on the ladder and Olympic rounded off the last finals position with some important results in their final games of the season.

In the finals, APIA overcame a stubborn Stingrays side, while the Rams beat Olympic in an exciting second semi-final to book a date at CommBank Stadium. In one of the best finals in recent years, after 120 minutes the two teams could not be separated with a penalty shootout required to decide the 2024 Champions. The Rams went on to secure their third straight Grand Final win and sent their A-League bound coach off in the best possible way.

Macarthur Rams’ Japanese star Miku Sunaga ended the year on an even better note with a Player of the Year award at the end of season Annual Gala Awards night. The midfield star was also offered an A-League Women’s contract with Perth Glory such was the stunning season she experienced.

LEAGUE ONE MEN’S

With four new sides entering the competition in 2024, the Football NSW League One Men’s season was once again an intriguing one from top to bottom.

THE PREMIERSHIP RACE was a tight one with Mt Druitt Town Rangers and Bulls FC Academy pushing each other up until the final round with the Town Rangers emerging victorious. Led by coach Andy Montgomery, they had quality right across the park with the likes of Andre Martins and captain Tom Whiteside leading their charge.

Bulls FC Academy fell at the last hurdle as their promotion/ relegation battle against the Central Coast Mariners ended in a 5-2 aggregate loss which meant that Craig Noone and his young troops would spend another season in the League One Men’s competition.

Hakoah FC and Bankstown City kept the Bulls honest through the season, Hakoah falling off towards the end of season while a strong late run saw City fall just one point short of the Premiers.

At the other end of the table, both Dunbar Rovers and Nepean FC struggled to get going with both sides cut adrift in the competition’s final weeks. They will both look to bounce back when they take on the Football NSW League Two Men’s competition next year.

Elsewhere, UNSW FC for the most part impressed in their first year in the competition, picking up a few notable results over three of the top four sides across the season. While Rydalmere Lions and SD Raiders finished the season on a high with impressive winning streaks.

In terms of individual honours, the aforementioned Andre Martins led the league in goals scored (26), enough to clinch the Golden Boot and Player of the Year accolades for the season.

LEAGUE ONE WOMEN’S

It was another thrilling season in the Football NSW League One Women’s competition which ended with SD Raiders FC named Premiers and Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC crowned Champions.

THE SEASON WAS one to remember for the Rangers who finished second on the ladder, won promotion via the Club Championship system and took out the Grand Final 5-0. Leena Khamis, Rosaria Galea and Renee Krstanovska led the way for the rampant Rangers in the Final to cap off a stunning season for the club.

SD Raiders FC finished the season top of the ladder to take out the Premiership, with the young side proving to be one of the entertainers for 2025, renowned for their late comebacks on their way to earning the silverware.

Bankstown City FC had a solid first campaign back in League One Women’s, finishing third and unveiling a plethora of young talent. Japanese striker Aya Seino led the way in the goal scoring charts with 43 goals to help City reach the semi-finals.

Reigning Champions St George FC fell at the final hurdle but still had a season to be proud of, riding a late wave of results to finish fourth. The Saints won a tense shootout to make the Grand Final before losing to the Rangers.

Hills United FC continue to establish themselves as a strong force in the League One Women’s competition in their third season. The

Hills side held a spot in the top four for the majority of the season before a late fade saw them finish fifth.

Central Coast Mariners FC and South Coast Flame FC both had solid seasons, and both remain a vital pipeline for youth development in NSW.

For the Marconi Stallions, their first year under the management of former Socceroo Michael Beauchamp showed that there was plenty of potential. The Stallions had big moments including two wins against Hills United FC and will no doubt push for promotion in 2025.

Sutherland Strikers FC had a new name and a new attitude in 2024. They brought in some key recruits in A-League stars Lucy Johnson and Tori Tumeth which propelled them to ninth spot. Although a finals spot was out of reach, the Strikers held their own as they look set for an even bigger 2025 season.

It was a challenging season for the likes of Blacktown City, Camden Tigers, Nepean FC, Inter Lions and South East Phoenix FC, finishing in the bottom half of the league ladder.

On the awards front, it was SD Raiders’ Brazilian star Taiana Almeida who was top of the pops taking out the Player of the Year.

LEAGUE TWO MEN’S

An

historic 2024 Football NSW League Two Men’s season saw a remarkable unbeaten run, a runaway top goal scorer and many memorable moments.

THE PREMIERS, THE Newcastle Jets, joined an elite group of teams to go through an entire domestic season undefeated.

Across their 28 matches in the season, the Jets won 23 of them and drew five on their way to creating a special bit of history for the competition.

Newcastle also dominated in terms of goals, with 92 scored and only 24 conceded, representing the best record in the competition.

The Jets finished as Premiers on 74 points, 13 ahead of their nearest competitor in Mounties Wanderers FC, who will also be joining them in the League One Men’s competition for 2025.

Mounties prevailed over Nepean FC in the playoffs following a 0-0

draw in both legs, with their fate decided following a 4-3 penalty shootout success.

They had their highest scorer in Yuki Kanai, who scored 25 goals in 2024, as well as a multitude of other players in the squad to thank for their success.

The season also saw a runaway goal scorer, with Bankstown United FC’s Mitchell Cross scoring a men’s state-high of 35 goals on his way to claiming the Golden Boot. He did so in just 27 matches, scoring in all-but four matches and registering a goal against every other team bar the Jets.

In a remarkable season, which saw a staggering 838 goals scored, the Player of the Year accolades were shared by Mitchell Cross, Inner West Hawks’ Takuma Hirano and Newcastle Jets’ Ben Van Dorssen.

FUTSAL

PREMIER LEAGUES

Headlined by the introduction of live broadcasts across the Futsal Premier League Open Men’s and Women’s competitions, the Leagues featured an array of Australia’s top futsal talent.

FUTSAL PREMIER LEAGUE OPEN WOMEN

In the 2024 Premiership battle, it was the UTS Northside Futsal Club that proved too strong, taking out the title with a strong showing across the 14 matches and finishing six-points ahead of the fast-finishing Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Futsal Club.

However, the Hakoah outfit were able to bring their end of season form into the finals and produce a convincing 7-1 victory over the Premiers in the Grand Final to take out the Championship.

FUTSAL PREMIER LEAGUE OPEN MEN

The Mascot Vipers were able to achieve the double in the 2024 Futsal Premier League Open Men’s competition, clinching both the Premiership and Championship in stunning fashion.

The Vipers were ahead of the pack during the course of the season, winning the Premiership by seven points over their nearest rivals the Enfield Allstars, before going on to defeat them in the Final 3-2 to be crowned Champions.

FUTSAL PREMIER LEAGUE 2 OPEN WOMEN

It was a tale of two teams in the 2024 Futsal Premier League 2 Open Women’s competition, with SD Raiders Futsal Club holding their nerve to take out the Premiership by four points over their nearest rivals Sydney Futsal Club.

However, the Grand Final was a different story with Sydney Futsal Club showing their class to defeat the Premiers 5-0 and lift the Championship trophy.

FUTSAL PREMIER LEAGUE 2 OPEN MEN

It was one of the most exciting years yet with a titanic battle fought between the highly competitive Phoenix Futsal Club and Macarthur Quake Futsal, with the former holding its nerve to take out the Premiership by three points.

Despite finishing runners-up in the regular season, the Macarthur outfit proved too strong in the Final defeating the Phoenix 2-1 to lift the trophy.

NOVA EMPLOYMENT AWD FUTSAL

It was a year to saviour for the South Coast Taipans who claimed the historic double, taking out both the Premiership and Championship in the NOVA Employment AWD Futsal competition.

The Taipans won all ten of its regular season matches to finish nine points ahead of its nearest competition, scoring 89 goals on the road to a dominant Premiership. They finished the season true to form, defeating the Sydney City Eagles in the Final 6-2 to lift the Championship trophy.

CUP COMPETITIONS

Football NSW’s 2024 Cup competitions provided for a successful spectacle featuring the best community teams across the state, while also providing additional trophy opportunities for State League Clubs.

2024 FOOTBALL NSW STATE CUP FINALS

The Football NSW State Cup Finals returned to Cromer Park on the weekend of the 13-14 July, with 30 of the state’s top community football teams vying for the major trophies.

Hosted by the Manly Warringah Football Association (MWFA) for a second consecutive year, the local community had plenty to cheer about with six State Cup titles being claimed by MWFA clubs (going one better than 2023). Making up half of those titles was the Belrose-Terrey Hills Raiders Soccer Club, who won the U13 Girls (6-0), U14 Boys (5-0) and U17 (3-1) Boys Cup Finals.

Also boasting multiple Champions on the day was Football St George (3) and Football Canterbury (2).

2024 WARATAH CUP FINAL

Four NPL Men’s NSW teams emerged out of the Australia Cup preliminary rounds to qualify for the 2024 Football NSW Waratah Cup semifinals.

APIA Leichhardt FC booked their tickets to the Final with a 5-2 win over Blacktown City while Rockdale Ilinden defeated NWS Spirit FC 5-0, setting up a titanic clash for the Final.

APIA Leichhardt secured their sixth Waratah Cup title with a dominant 3-0 win over Rockdale Ilinden at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.

Michael Kouta gave APIA the best start possible with a well taken goal in the 7th minute before Rory Jordan added a second, five minutes before half-time as the Inner West club had one hand on the trophy.

Jack Armson put the result beyond doubt for Ilinden as he got in on the goal scoring act midway through the second half as APIA held the result to register a memorable 3-0 win.

As well as notching the game’s first goal and lifting the Cup trophy, Kouta was also awarded the Player of the Match.

2024 SAPPHIRE CUP FINAL

It was an eventful 2024 Sapphire Cup tournament as a total of 62 women’s clubs, 41 of which hailed from local community football teams from across NSW took part in the prestigious women’s knockout tournament.

Following multiple rounds of knockout matches, four NPL Women’s NSW teams remained for the fiercely contested Cup semi-finals.

Sydney University SFC knocked out Sydney Olympic 1-0 while the Northern Tigers defeated NWS Spirit FC 2-1.

It was the Northern Tigers who were able to secure its first Sapphire Cup following a 2-1 victory over Sydney University in the Final at Valentine Sports Park.

Isabella Keech got the ball rolling for the Tigers scoring in the 22nd minute before Uni equalised via Anna Hunt a minute after the restart in the second half and it was game on.

Cooler heads prevailed for the Tigers however as substitute Bo Burton put her side in the lead and managed to hold on to capture the club’s first ever Sapphire Cup.

On an individual performance, Isabel Gomez was outstanding as she claimed the Player of the Match plaudits post-game.

2024 AUSTRALIA CUP

Football NSW had four clubs that were represented at this year’s 2024 Australia Cup Round of 32 qualifiers.

APIA Leichhardt FC, Blacktown City, NWS Spirit FC and Rockdale Ilinden all flew the flag for Football NSW proudly.

NWS Spirit FC were the only side to record a Round of 32 victory over the Glenorchy Knights before succumbing to A-League side Melbourne Victory in the Round of 16.

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

The 54th Football NSW Champion of Champions finals were played at Valentine Sports Park across two huge days, with eighteen highly entertaining matches that rocked the state governing body’s headquarters.

IT WAS A memorable weekend for the Northern Suburbs Football Association (NSFA) who took out an incredible five titles.

There were also Championship wins for Manly Warringah FA (4), Football Canterbury (3), Eastern Suburbs FA (3), Macarthur FA (1), Blacktown & Districts Soccer FA (1) and the Sutherland Shire FA (1).

From a club perspective, it was NSFA’s Lindfield FC who proved too strong clinching three titles in the 14 Girls, 18 Women’s and 18 Men’s age groups.

Overall, it was a glowing end to what was a tremendous year for the tournament which saw a record 300 plus teams and over five thousand players take part.

FOOTBALL NSW ASSOCIATIONS

BANKSTOWN DAFA

The Bankstown District Amateur Football Association (BDAFA) had a challenging yet highly successful 2024 season characterised by increased participation in small-sided and women’s football, and successfully completing the season despite difficult weather conditions.

THIS YEAR SAW the highest participation numbers in five years, with notable growth in both the small-sided and women’s divisions, as well as an unexpected rise in the 15+ age group, bucking current trends of decline.

In 2023, BDAFA re-evaluated its 40-yearold Premier League format and transitioned from a squad-based competition to a streamlined two-tier system; the Bankstown Premier League and the Bankstown District League. This change aimed to strengthen team dynamics, establish promotion and relegation, and create clearer pathways for clubs to progress to the top-tier competitions for U18s and U21s. While the shift was met

with some resistance, it was a crucial step toward enhancing the league structure.

Additionally, in 2022, BDAFA became the first association to offer free registration for referees, providing them with uniforms and equipment at no cost. This initiative aimed to eliminate financial barriers and encourage more individuals to take up refereeing. As a result, the 2024 winter season saw a remarkable 46% increase in referee registrations compared to 2023, reaching a record total of 176.

Thanks to ongoing efforts and strategic initiatives by BDAFA and the Bankstown District Referees (BDR), the Association has seen substantial growth

in both the number of referees and their overall development.

In 2024, 1,707 out of 1,780 competitive games were officiated by a central referee, achieving an impressive coverage rate of 95.9%, a significant increase from the 84.9% coverage in the previous season.

BDAFA had a positive season in 2024 with minimal incidents of violence and spectator abuse.

Despite improved referee coverage and an increased number of teams, there were fewer red cards issued for serious offences, indicating a notable improvement in behaviour across Bankstown.

The rollout of body cameras at all parks contributed to better conduct among spectators and players, and proved helpful in addressing serious incidents during matches.

Overall, 2024 was a successful year for the Bankstown District Amateur Football Association.

A special thanks to Football NSW for their ongoing support as well as all affiliated Clubs and their dedicated volunteers whose efforts ensure that grassroots football in Bankstown continues to thrive and provide an enjoyable experience for the local community.

BLACKTOWN DSFA

The Blacktown & Districts Soccer Football Association (BDSFA)

managed to deliver as close to a full year of football as possible despite the inclement weather that forced washed out weekends throughout the winter months.

IT IS A testament to all volunteer run clubs who went over and above to get teams on the park, often hosting midweek games in a schedule that resembled that of an elite European competition with League, Cup and Champions League commitments at times.

The hard work of every volunteer often goes unnoticed by many but without them, the game would not function. A huge thanks for all the untold hours of convening, grading and manning the canteen; these volunteers really are the lifeblood of the sport.

The scene was set as BDSFA hosted an epic Grand Finals weekend at Blacktown Football Park, bringing the curtain down on the 2024 season in style; 60 games across three days with thousands of spectators revelling in the spectacle of finals football.

The Association saw a few new staff members this year with Kyle Jordan joining as Head of Football in November 2023, Josh Boyd joining as Competitions Manager in December, Alex Askew coming on board in April 2024 and Alyssa Whinham starting as the Social Media Manager in May 2024.

It is said that the hallmark of a good team is one that performs greater than the sum of its parts and that is most certainly the

case within the BDSFA. The passion for football in Blacktown is obvious for all to see and everyone made sure they went the extra mile for the members.

Alongside the operational elements, the BDSFA undertook several strategic reviews through the formation of Standing Committees in key areas, including the Men’s Premier League, Female Football, Youth Football and MiniRoos.

The level of engagement was high across all meetings, from all walks of footballing life, and meaningful football discussions were had in the Boardroom and across the local community.

The recommendations that came from these committees have now been

adopted with a view to improving the experience for every member in 2025 and beyond.

The BDSFA continues to go from strength-to-strength both in numbers but also in capability.

The Association is blessed with passionate volunteers who do everything they can to ensure that community footballers are either falling in love with or staying connected to the beautiful game.

With the focus on the 2025 season, the objective for BDSFA remains the same with quality competitions, thriving community football clubs, providing pathways to the top and equity of access.

CENTRAL COAST FOOTBALL

The 2024 season marked an outstanding year for Central Coast Football (CCF) as the Association achieved significant growth, overcame unique challenges, and saw notable developments across all facets of the game.

WITH A REMARKABLE 14,403 games played and a thriving player base of 15,821, CCF’s commitment to growing the sport has led to an overall participation increase of 11%, including a 24% surge in female players highlighted by the formation of 117 all-girls MiniRoos teams.

One of the major achievements this season was the distribution of 2,762 CoastKick Packs, providing young players with essential equipment and fostering an inclusive start to their football journeys. The Girls Development Program also thrived, with 299 players aged 9 to 12 participating, contributing to the ongoing growth of women’s football on the

Central Coast. The Women’s Division 1 competition returned and, for the first time, the Association introduced a Women’s Over35 competition, creating additional pathways for players of all ages.

CCF demonstrated an unwavering commitment to referee recruitment and retention. Through innovative initiatives such as Pub Courses, school holiday programs and Cadet Nights, CCF achieved a landmark 100% referee coverage for the first time in any Association’s history. This success builds on the hard work and dedication of the referee staff and volunteer committees, with a continued emphasis on referee culture, mentorship and development. The establishment of a High-Performance Mindset within the referee community, facilitated by Panel 1 reviews and the Referee Development Panel, has been instrumental in maintaining high standards and celebrating individual and collective achievements.

Pluim Park, the home of football on the Central Coast, saw extensive upgrades in 2024, enhancing the experience for both players and spectators. Improvements included new LED lighting on Field 1, a grandstand update and refurbishment of the five-a-side courts, which have contributed to the facility’s long-term sustainability.

Despite weather challenges, including the cancellation of 1,356 games due to heavy rainfall, CCF managed to keep the competition on track, with every Grand Final proudly played at Pluim Park. The season also introduced the Renaye Isarief Medal, a new accolade celebrating exceptional talent and contributions to the sport in our Womens Premier League showpiece game. CCF’s competitive landscape also evolved in 2024, with the return of the prestigious Margins Cup and the formation of a Premier Competitions Committee to enhance the local competitive structure. Events like the North vs. South matches against Central Coast United fostered local pride and provided players with unique competitive experiences.

Looking forward, CCF remains focused on securing additional funding for critical facility improvements to support the Association’s growth and the increasing demands of its community. Through continued innovation, community engagement and facility enhancement, Central Coast Football aims to foster an environment where every player, coach, and official can reach their full potential.

EASTERN SUBURBS FA

The Eastern Suburbs Football Association (ESFA) experienced a highly successful grassroots season in what was a year to remember for everyone involved.

ESFA SAW MORE people, more kids, more adults and more girls playing than ever before. With this solid growth and interest in football, ESFA proudly broke through the 10,000 registered player mark thanks to the amazing efforts of so many across clubs of all shapes and sizes across the Association.

One challenge faced this year will continue to be finding suitable spaces to play. Whilst there have been some brilliant initiatives by local councils to provide new and upgraded amenities towards the football community, such as the City of Sydney’s completion of Perry Park and Randwick Council’s upgrades to Paine Reserve, much more needs to be delivered to support the game’s growth.

ESFA’s community is growing and is passionate about its football; it’s of course much more than a sport.

More all-weather solutions, more amenities, better drainage and better lights are all needed across the district.

On the pitch, a full season of Winter football was possible with tons of wet weather rescheduling and some creative extension to the end of the season.

A wide variety of clubs in finals across all ages and grades culminated in a brilliant series of ESFA Grand Finals at Heffron Park and Hensley.

There were also many significant achievements with several clubs going far in the Football NSW State Cup, Sapphire Cup, Australia Cup and Football NSW Champion of Champions.

The Association set out this year to deliver the fundamentals of football competition, football governance and football development to the highest possible standards in 2024. The aim was to support the tremendous growth in participation with a competitive, fair and enjoyable experience for everyone in and around the game.

ESFA continues to test and learn new ways to recruit and retain referees. The Association is cognisant that coverage and quality are ongoing expectations of players and clubs but will continue to invest in this area.

Of the many initiatives this year, ESFA was pleased to have introduced the Eastern Suburbs Development League and with the help of a few clubs, held several brilliant EDSL Girls Gala days.

The Association’s SAP/GSAP programs were another highlight this year, with all graduating kids now on their own NPL path in 2025.

In 2024, ESFA once again partnered with the John Moriarty Foundation organising football operations of the Moriarty Cup. This is JMF’s marquee event of Indigenous Football Week and the Association is proud of the ongoing partnership.

Overall, a year that ESFA and its valued members and clubs will not be forgetting in a long time.

FOOTBALL CANTERBURY

It’s difficult to think this Association could top its record breaking 2023 season, however Football Canterbury’s 102nd season of community football didn’t just surpass the previous year – it smashed it.

AYEAR AGO, THE thought of 18,000 players in a Winter season was something the Association was looking to replicate. The 2024 season didn’t just see that mark passed, but that of 19,500 as well.

Back-to-back years of over 8% growth has seen the game truly flourish within the confined space of Sydney’s InnerWest suburbs.

Throw in the volunteers that make up the total game, and conservatively Football Canterbury in its 102nd Winter season saw in the vicinity of 23,000 individuals contributing to community football. Added to this, Football Canterbury’s determined move into the social Summer

space has seen almost 3,000 players continue their football engagement through FC Sixes. This unique model allowed Winter clubs to maintain a community football link with their members in the Spring/Summer months, with the majority of clubs entering teams across three FC Sixes hubs. This area of football within Football Canterbury will continue to grow as a cost-effective option for the football community.

Football Canterbury has been fortunate to have significant investment from local Government in facilities used by community clubs. While it is still the professional or semi-professional levels that attract the big public monetary funds, what has and still is being accomplished

within the Association’s footprint remains valuable. As more venues have drainage and irrigation installed, the appropriate grass for Winter sport, and appropriate lighting to permit both night fixtures and a greater spread of training, the local competition becomes less interrupted due to greater accessibility.

Beaman Park is the biggest surface to undergo a renovation in 2024 with four full fields and two stand-alone small sides football fields to come back online for the opening of the 2025 season. Additionally, Croydon Park, and half that of Beaman, is receiving a timely rejuvenation to ensure both parks have less weather impact moving forward and benefit three of our member clubs’ home fixtures.

The 2024 grassroots season was also a significant milestone year for two of the Association’s storied clubs. Belmore Eagles FC and Hurlstone Park Wanderers FC each celebrated 100-years of providing football to the community. They are the second and third clubs within Football Canterbury to achieve that milestone.

Football Canterbury moving forward is looking to further develop the local football landscape in mature aged football, all abilities football, all while maintaining its emphasis on ensuring there is sustainability and reliability in the services the Association and its clubs are providing to the local community.

FOOTBALL SOUTH COAST

After an uninterrupted season and the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, Football South Coast (FSC) experienced significant increases and record growth in winter registrations with total growth of close to 20%.

AS A RESULT of this growth, particularly with female participation, approximately 70 new female only teams across all groups were part of competitions, which was the second-highest increase in female players this season (24%) out of metro Associations. There was also growth in our referees’ registrations of 27%, which included the highest increase in female referees (38%) across associations.

Despite the significant wet weather during the year with rescheduling and season extensions across some of our competitions, additional games were accommodated with a successful final series across all competitions.

There were some great milestones off the field as well.

This year, significant upgrades were completed at Ian McLennan Park, as a result of funding obtained from the Federal Government, NSW Government and Wollongong City Council. This work included the construction of a training and development centre, two new gender neutral change rooms and refurbishment of the grass pitch to compliment the regions only existing synthetic pitch.

A number of clubs also completed much needed upgrades for the installation of upgraded change rooms, irrigation, drainage and lighting from

NSW Government Legacy Funding. Eight projects received over $550k in grants from this funding in addition to close to $900k being obtained for clubs from Female Friendly Community Sports Facilities and Lighting Upgrade Grants Program.

There were also several key competition highlights that the Association witnessed.

In its second year, the Women’s Premier League Grand Finals were held at WIN Stadium with a crowd of close to 2000 attending games across all three grades in what was a huge day for the sport.

The Association also witnessed a record growth and number of teams and divisions across all community competitions.

The continuation of female only teams across all age groups and the reestablishment of an under 18 competition was also a huge milestone.

A number of referee initiatives were also implemented such as armbands for new Level 4 referees and Under 18 referees officiating senior games.

Summer football participation also grew with 2024 registrations at an all-time high of close to 3000 players.

There were also numerous ‘Come and Try’ sessions which were facilitated

across grounds and schools which has been the focus of the FSC Football Development Manager.

Female Football programs were also conducted including; Girls Only Development programs, Kick-On For Women, Girls Love Football and the inaugural over 40s Small Sided competition.

Pre SAP and SAP Development programs continued, as did the partnership with Sydney FC for the Skills Training Program and School Holiday Clinics.

FSC continued to support other community organisations including the Disability Trust and Multi-Cultural Communities Council Illawarra to ensure continued inclusiveness of the sport across the region.

FOOTBALL ST GEORGE

The 2024 grassroots season carried special significance for Football St George (FSG) as it marked 100 years of football in the region.

OVER THE PAST century, the Association has grown from humble beginnings into the largest sporting organisation in the region, becoming a cornerstone of community sport. The journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.

In this landmark year, FSG not only reflected on its history but also continued to push forward.

FSG once again set a new record, with 11,696 registered players in the winter competition which was a 9.1% increase on the 2023 winter player registrations.

Within that, there was extremely strong growth in women’s and girls’ football with a 39% increase in senior women, a 10% increase in junior girls and 20% increase in MiniRoos girls players.

The 2024 season was a challenging year for all, with wet weather interrupting a number of matches.

Thanks to the support of clubs in making their fields available, the referees attending mid-week catch-up matches and to the hard work of the FSG competitions department, the Association scheduled over 800 catch-up games, meaning that the full premiership season was played and a three-week finals series was maintained.

FSG also ran mid-week school holiday gala days and extended the season by two weeks for the MiniRoos players to make up for matches lost to wet weather. These totalled almost 600 extra matches played.

FSG grew its inclusive football programs, with teams participating in the NSW Powerchair competition and representing the region at the National Club Championships held in Brisbane. In the club’s first season, the reserve grade team, captained by Ruby McClean, won the Premiership, and three players took out state level individual awards.

The Association was sincerely grateful for the ongoing support from both Bayside and Georges River Councils and to FSG Patrons and Members of Parliament, with a particular mention to the Honourable Member for Banks, Mr. David Coleman, whose unwavering support over the past five years has been truly remarkable.

The strength of FSG has always been rooted in its people and a huge acknowledgement goes out to commercial partners, Pigeon Football and WT Sports and Recognition, for their ongoing support, and our community partners, Heartbeat of Football, whose collaboration has been invaluable in enriching our programs.

FSG also recognise the backbone of the football community - volunteers, club delegates, officials, coaches, managers and administrators. The Association thanks each of them for their tireless work behind the scenes. Their passion and dedication are the driving forces behind FSG and its member clubs.

A special thanks is owed to the referees. Without their commitment, none of this would be possible. FSG deeply appreciate the ongoing support and professionalism of the St George Football Referees Association.

FSG will continue to evolve and 2025 promises even more opportunities for growth. The Association will be launching a new strategic plan to guide the next five years, reinforcing its commitment to fostering talent, inclusivity and community spirit.

Lastly, FSG acknowledge and thank the Board and staff for their hard work and dedication to football in the region.

GRANVILLE DSFA

It

was a successful 2024 grassroots season which saw participation rates increase in the Granville District Soccer Football Association (GDSFA) for the second successive year.

IT HAS BEEN a challenging year however with the weather once again disrupting the season.

The success of the 2024 season was down to the tireless efforts of clubs who took on the burden of additional games, stretching their volunteers to the limit. The cooperation all clubs and their respective competition secretaries in facilitating last minute changes, hosting extra games and supporting the greater needs of the football community was a credit to the GDSFA football family.

As a football community, the GDSFA suffered a tragic event this year at the 2024 Grand Finals when an Association member passed whilst playing in his All Age Men’s Division 6 Grand Final. His loss was felt not just by his club Auburn FC but by the entire football family. Once again, this tragedy showed the strong bond the Association has as a football community, supporting one another in both the good times and the bad.

Some of the more recent challenges have reminded everyone that family is one of the most important things in life and that the football community helps foster the community, grow its networks and help create family bonds beyond name, race and beliefs.

The 2024 season ended on a massive high for NSW’s oldest Association. The Granville Kewpies were crowned Cottam

Cup Champions, defeating the Sydney United Juniors in an epic match held at Melita Stadium

The Association’s last victory in the Cup was in 2019 when it was won by Holroyd Rangers. GDSFA congratulate the Granville Kewpies and look forward to seeing them defend their title in 2025.

A special mention must go to representative club Parramatta FC who play in the Football NSW Competitions. The club did the GDSFA proud by winning promotion to Boys’ Youth League Two for 2025.

GDSFA looks forward to a bigger and better 2025 season.

HILLS FOOTBALL

The 2024 Hills Football season was a memorable one with records broken as well as the introduction of additional initiatives which further promoted the world game to the community.

THE SEASON MARKED Hills Football’s largest-ever participation for the winter season with 14,500 (10% increase) players joining the local competitions. On the back of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™, female football saw an increase by 23.2%, boosted further by the launch of an additional female only (U8s) competition.

Despite the frequent rain and wet weather washouts, over 2,500 games were successfully rescheduled, ensuring members played as many games as possible.

The 2024 season saw year two of the combined Women’s Premier League competition that featured BDSFA (Blacktown District Soccer Football Association) and GDSFA (Granville District Soccer Football Association) teams along with Hills Football sides in a ten-team competition. Hills Football’s Kellyville Kolts proved too strong in the end, taking out the Premiership in what was a memorable year for the club.

It was a great year in the coach education sector which saw a restructure of the coaching courses managed by Football Australia (FA), who introduced the Foundation of Football course. This year, clubs were active in encouraging coaches to complete a community coaching course to upskill themselves and their players.

2024 brought about the Association’s first ever Foundation of Goalkeeping course

hosted by North Rocks SC which saw a staggering 24 participants in attendance. The year also saw the return of the Female Coaches Network, the introduction of the Youth Coaches Network and also featured the return of the Hills Football Coaching Expo, providing aspiring and existing coaches with knowledge and upskilling information. A special mention to Football NSW, Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE) and DEPLOY for their assistance and attendance at the Expo.

It was another promising year for refereeing with the continuation of female only referees’ courses and the Female Referee Network. Referee coverage for the season reached 94.4%, a 7% increase from 2023.

Hills Football Referees also had an outstanding year within the referee pathway system with officials appointed to the State Cup All Age Women’s Final and the U16 Girls Champion of Champions Final.

Additionally, three Hills Football referees were selected to officiate at the FA National Youth Championships where Alana Zic was honoured with the prestigious Referee of the Tournament award. This remarkable achievement, along with the acceptance of three Hills Football referees into the Football NSW Referees Academy, showcased the high calibre of talent within the Association.

The 2024 season was the most successful year yet for the Hills Football Association Youth League (AYL) program, with three teams reaching the Grand Finals. The U13s won their league as well as making the Grand Final, the U14s secured a Grand Final spot and the U18s made it to the semi-finals. The hard work and dedication of the players and coaches in the AYL program were key contributors to this season’s success, building a solid platform for future achievements.

Player Pathways in the Hills became more aligned this year with the introduction of Development Squads for players aged 7-9 to help ensure that players from the area received high quality coaching. Currently, 60% of players in the Hills United programs and Hills Football AYL have come from a Hills Football Member Club.

The 2024 season was a remarkable one, filled with milestones, challenges and growth. The efforts of volunteers, coaches, referees and players made this season memorable and set the stage for continued success in the years ahead.

MACARTHUR FA

Macarthur

Football Association (MFA) achieved significant milestones in the past year, highlighted by the expansion and success of its coach and player development programs.

THE ASSOCIATION

DELIVERED five Foundations of Football courses and four C-Diploma courses, including the inaugural female-only courses scheduled for early 2025.

The establishment of the Macarthur Rams Academy, a collaborative venture between MFA and the Macarthur Rams, has effectively bridged the gap between grassroots football and the elite football pathway. This academy attracted over 180 participants across two terms, providing aspiring young players with invaluable opportunities to develop their skills.

MFA’s dedication to youth development yielded positive results, with notable progress observed in both the ADP and Macarthur Rams Academy programs.

The Association’s affiliated clubs have also continued to host successful initiatives, such as the Daughters and Dads Football program, fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for families.

In addition to its development programs, MFA has also excelled in other areas.

The Association’s affiliated clubs achieved notable success in competitions at various levels, showcasing the talent and dedication of its players and coaches.

MFA has also been actively involved in community outreach programs, using

football as a platform to promote social cohesion and positive values.

On the competitive front, MFA has experienced a surge in registrations with a 10% increase in overall numbers and a remarkable 20% growth in female participation compared to 2023. This growth has led to a significant increase in matches played, with a total of 10,287 matches scheduled.

for other clubs and aspiring footballers in the Macarthur region.

Despite the challenges posed by wet weather, MFA’s commitment to providing quality football opportunities has remained unwavering.

MFA congratulates Eschol Park FC’s U15 Boys team on their outstanding achievement of winning the Football NSW Champion of Champions tournament. This victory showcased the talent and hard work of the players and coaching staff and serves as an inspiration

Looking ahead, MFA is poised to continue its growth and success. The Association is committed to further enhancing its coach and player development programs, expanding its community engagement initiatives, and supporting the development of its affiliated clubs.

By building on its strong foundation and embracing innovation, MFA is wellpositioned to play a leading role in the future of football in the Macarthur region.

MANLY WARRINGAH FA

The inclement weather came pouring down again for another Manly Warringah Football Association (MWFA) season, with unfortunate disruptions plaguing various matches in the area.

FORTUNATELY, WITH ASSISTANCE from Northern Beaches Council, the Association was able to re-schedule over 1000-night matches alongside double-header weekends for affected competitions.

A big thanks to the sixteen clubs, presidents, committee members, coaches, managers, canteen volunteers, gear stewards, grounds people, team referees, registrars and the referees association who ensured, rain, hail or shine, as many matches as possible were played.

The 2024 season was another record year for the MWFA, with registration numbers growing yet again while also witnessing success for various teams entering Football NSW competitions.

MWFA experienced an unforgettable 2024 Football NSW Champion of Champions campaign with a record ten teams appearing at Valentine Sports Park; the most of any Association.

Belrose-Terrey Hills Raiders (three teams), Collaroy Cromer Strikers (three teams), Wakehurst FC (two teams), Seaforth FC (one team) and Mosman FC (one team) fought their way through the rounds to secure their spot in the final. Congratulations to the CC Strikers FC (U13 Girls), BTH Raiders SC (U14 Boys), CC Strikers (U15 Girls) and BTH Raiders SC (U21 Men) on claiming the Champion of Champions title.

The Association hosted the Football NSW State Cup Finals at Cromer Park for a second consecutive year, securing nine home finals for its local clubs with plenty to celebrate. A total of six State Cup titles were won by MWFA clubs, one better than the 2023 season. Making up half of those titles was the Belrose-Terrey Hills Raiders Soccer Club, who won the U13 Girls, U14 Boys and U17 Boys Cup Finals.

The MWFA also takes pride in giving talented players a pathway to achieve their goals at a higher level and this year fourteen

local MWFA players represented Australia (and New Zealand) in National Teams.

Sophie Harding (Brookvale / Harbord) and Remy Siemsen (BTH Raiders) represented the Matildas, Shay Hollman (Seaforth) and Kahli Johnson (CC Strikers / Dee Why) represented the Australia Under 23s Women’s side, while Sienna Dale (Wakehurst) was part of the Junior Matildas squad.

Annmarie de Uriarte (Avalon) represented the ParaMatildas while Grant Lynch (Seaforth) wore the Futsalroos jersey. Lewis Miller (Pittwater), Sam Silvera (Wakehurst) and Gianni Stensness (Pittwater) received Socceroos caps, Corey Hollman (Seaforth) and Oscar Priestman (Seaforth) were given Olyroos honours, and Miles Milliner (CC Strikers) earned an Under 17 Joeys callup. Finally, Ally Green (Harbord) proudly repped the New Zealand Football Ferns at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The MWFA underwent a restructuring phase at the closure of the 2024 season. The changes saw David Mason resign after seven successful years of service as the Chief Executive Officer to take up a position with Football Australia as General Manager – Men’s National Teams.

The search for a new CEO ended with the appointment of local identity, Vicki Halpin, who has been involved in grassroots football at club level for 15 years.

It was a fantastic 2024 season as the Nepean Football Association (NFA) experienced a number of outstanding and notable highlights throughout the season.

ONE OF NFA’S standout achievements was the significant increase in player numbers across all categories, with a record-breaking 13,894 players taking to the field, marking a 13% increase from last year.

Notably, female participation surged by an impressive 24%, no doubt spurred by the enthusiasm generated from the successful FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™.

Despite the challenges posed by significant rainfall, which led to numerous fixture changes, teams successfully completed over 12,000 matches. This remarkable achievement highlighted the resilience and strength of NFA clubs to find a way to make what looked like the impossible, possible.

This could not have been achieved without the cooperation and willingness of clubs to host their fellow clubs who were underwater more times than they would like to remember.

Nepean FA also celebrated the success of the ‘If the Armband is Green, They’re Under 18’ initiative, which provided an extra layer of protection for young referees and reminded everyone on match days to show respect and appropriate consideration towards junior referees. This initiative was instrumental in reducing verbal abuse towards young referees and has attracted a new wave of participants to the refereeing community.

Furthermore, the Club Cadet Referee Training program held at regional centres within the district, was a huge success. It introduced younger members to the principles of refereeing while they acted as Game Leaders for MiniRoos teams.

To address the culture around interactions with match officials, club officials, and opposition teams, the 3 Strike Policy was introduced. This policy called for clubs to take responsibility for changing the behaviour of its members and ensured more respectful interactions were evident both on and off the field.

Additionally, another impressive increase was seen in Summer Football participation, further cementing the sport of football as a year-round activity in the district.

NFA enjoyed a second year of successes in securing grants for the installation of publicly available defibrillator units in the region, bringing the total

in the Association’s footprint to 25. This initiative is part of their ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of players, officials, spectators and members of the public. The availability of these life-saving devices at key locations across the region promotes NFA’s proactive approach to health and safety within the community.

All in all, despite the challenges thrown via a wet season, the NFA concluded another successful season of delivering football to the Penrith, Hawkesbury, Warragamba and Blue Mountains districts with sights now set on an even bigger 2025.

NORTH WEST SYDNEY FOOTBALL

North West Sydney Football (NWSF) was determined to push through one of its wettest winters on record.

THE REPORTS WERE accurate in that Sydney experienced a year’s worth of rain in under six months. This had a significant impact on the competition staff, who constantly had to reschedule games as grounds closed in all directions. The competition staff, Football Management Committee, and CEO were tirelessly working on contingency plans to ensure teams could still take the field, especially when only 4-5 synthetic fields were available on weekends.

Fortunately, clubs generously opened their training grounds during weeknights to accommodate games, allowing many

teams to play on Saturdays and Sundays throughout winter and increasing participation across various competitions.

Despite the challenging weather, the Association saw a 3% growth from 2023 thanks to the dedicated efforts of the football community and member clubs.

Walking Football made a welcome return after a year-long hiatus and the successful Kick- On For Women program was launched at Christie Park.

The NWSF also introduced a Combined Men’s Over 55s competition in collaboration with the Northern Suburbs

Football Association, which was very successful and discussions are already underway to continue it into the 2025 season and beyond.

Additionally, a similar combined competition was established with the Hills Association for our Women’s Under 18 Division One teams, also yielding positive results.

The Women’s Premier League gained significant momentum this season, culminating in an exhilarating grand final between Flying Bats FC and West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook FC. The match was a thrilling showcase of talent, ending in a nail-biting 5-4 victory for the Flying Bats.

This year, the NWSF launched a comprehensive coach education calendar aimed at enhancing the skills and knowledge of coaching staff across all levels. The achievements of the Association’s representative club, NWS Spirit FC, stand as a testament to its collective commitment to player and coach development.

A special mention must go to All Saints Hunters Hill U14s Girls and Flying Bats Women’s All Age who made the semifinals of the Football NSW Champion of Champions tournament, while a huge congratulations is extended to the Ryde Panthers FC U14 Boys who were crowned runners-up this season.

NORTHERN SUBURBS FA

The Northern Suburbs Football Association (NSFA) enjoyed a fabulous full season of football including finals.

THIS IS A testament to Club Volunteers who managed to navigate through its wettest season ever which included a significant number of washed-out fixtures in 10 of 19 regular season weekends.

On the football front, player numbers increased by 7% to 17,842 which included a 13% increase in female players.

New junior competitions launched in 2024 including the Junior Development League (JDL) for U8s-U11s Mixed football which has grown to two teams per age group.

The Girls U18s competition was expanded to U18s - U20s, enabling more competitive matches. The Women’s Over 35s competitions was split into Women’s Over 30s and Women’s Over 45s, increasing playing opportunities. Men’s Over 55s partnered with North West Sydney Football to form two competitive combined divisions.

The Summer Football competitions attracted over 3,500 players across four locations in 2024 whilst our All-Abilities and Walking Football programs grew, continuing the Association’s focus on inclusivity.

NSFA teams performed impressively in Football NSW competitions in 2024. Five NSFA teams made it to the State Cup semi-finals, with UTS FC winning the Women’s All Age Final.

In the Champion of Champions tournament, 11 NSFA teams made the semi-finals with five teams finishing victorious, including three from Lindfield FC (U14 Girls, U18 Girls and U18 Boys) as well as North Sydney United in Women’s Over 30s and St Ives FC in Mixed U13s.

The NSFA Board released the 202426 Strategic Plan in 2024 which included a focus on more football participation options, increasing member engagement, improving player pathways and upgrading facilities.

This year saw the first year of operation of the Northern Suburbs Football Referees Association (NSFRA), for which 529 registered referees, including 69 female referees, officiated a record number of matches.

The Association’s connection with our community was evident from the launch of new School Cup competitions; the Thea Slatyer Cup for high school girls, the Sutton Cup for Primary School Boys and the Paul Davies Cup for high school boys. These new competitions join the longrunning Skellern Cup for primary school girls to provide football participation opportunities for school children.

The Association’s representative team, the Northern Tigers, enjoyed its finest season with highlights including winning the Boys’ Youth League Two Club Championship, the Women’s

Squad winning the Sapphire Cup and Grand Final appearances for Women’s Reserve Grade, U18 Girls, U15 Boys and U18 Boys; the latter two also claiming Premiership titles.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ shone a light on the need for more femalefriendly facilities whilst the wet 2024 season highlighted the importance of all-weather pitches. The NSFA are grateful to its five Councils for their ongoing investment into improving facilities.

Pleasingly, the NSFA’s Home of Football project at NTRA made positive progress and look forward to its much-needed completion in 2025.

NSFA acknowledges all club committee members, team managers, coaches, other volunteers and referees for making football in the NSFA possible in 2024.

The NSFA particularly thanks its first female President Hilary Bingham, Treasurer Lee Sullivan and Board Member Simon Cox who are coming to the end of their eightyear terms volunteering on the NSFA Board.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SFA

The 2024 season certainly presented the Southern Districts Soccer Football Association (SDSFA) with challenges, particularly due to adverse weather conditions.

HOWEVER, THANKS TO the commitment and cooperation of the wonderful clubs and dedicated members, the Association achieved a remarkable feat by completing the season in its entirety.

A highlight of the season was the utilisation of the newly completed synthetic playing field at Ernie Smith Reserve, along with other allweather surfaces available within the Association. These facilities played an integral role in ensuring that SDSFA overcame weather-related challenges, enabling the Association to keep its teams on the field.

SDSFA experienced phenomenal growth in player numbers this season, with an impressive overall increase of 17.5% compared to 2023, and a remarkable 32% increase over the previous season to that. In particular, female participation surged, with over 500 additional female players joining the ranks. This increase was consistent across all age groups, from minis through to seniors.

Continuous improvement in coaching played a crucial role to the success of SDSFA teams. To support this, the Association conducted numerous coaching courses early in the season, which were well-received by coaches and clubs. The positive impact of these initiatives is evident in the quality of play, particularly amongst the younger teams. The SDSFA are committed to offering ongoing courses to facilitate the development and enhancement of its coaches’ skills.

The strategic decision to focus on referee support brought significant positive results this season with very few, if any, matches un-officiated. The SDFSA recognised that referee coverage was a major concern for club officials and coaches, and through the tremendous efforts of the referee administration team, the Association was able to ensure comprehensive match coverage.

The SDSFA’s Deploy Development League featured 200 teams of young

girls and boys aged 10 to 12 in what was a tremendous success this season. The competition format was designed to foster skill development and engagement among young players and following on from this year’s success, the Association is confident that they will see the positive impact of this initiative in the years ahead.

The Association Grand Finals were held at Cirillo Reserve, Ireland Park, Marconi and Ernie Smith Reserve this season.

The SDSFA extended its gratitude to the countless members and their families for their unwavering support of their teams, which contributed to a positive and supportive atmosphere. The display of club colours was a wonderful reminder of the vibrant community spirit.

The SDSFA summer football competitions also proved a huge hit as they were rolled out for the first time at Association headquarters, Ernie Smith Reserve.

Finally, the construction of a new office and amenities building at Ernie Smith Reserve, with work set to commence in early 2025, is something the SDSFA is eagerly anticipating. This purposebuilt facility has been a long time in the making, with various constraints finally resolved. It will enhance the services and support the SDSFA provides to clubs and members and will no doubt assist in the further development of the sport for years to come.

SUTHERLAND SHIRE FA

The 2024 season was an extraordinary year for the Sutherland Shire Football Association (SSFA), one that has seen growth, renewed energy in our programs and significant advancements in both the infrastructure and governance of our Association.

THIS YEAR, THE SSFA embarked on a comprehensive strategic planning process that shaped the direction for the next five years, underscoring a commitment to sustained growth and excellence. This plan outlines key priorities, including facility Improvements, community engagement, inclusivity and diversity, as well as coach and player development.

This year marked the launch of the innovative Hybrid Synthetic Pitch Trial; a project designed to explore sustainable, high-quality and durable playing surfaces. Despite weather challenges, the Hybrid Trial provided more playing opportunities and insights that informed an approach to infrastructure development across the Shire.

The SSFA have taken significant steps to bolster the integrity of financial processes. This included appointing a new, independent auditor and engaging with a professional accounting firm that ensured books and records were meticulously maintained. These changes were crucial in addressing long-standing discrepancies in financial reporting and represented a commitment to transparency and sound financial practices.

The SSFA proudly relaunched the representative programs under the revitalised Sutherland Strikers brand. This rebranding brought with it a dynamic new coaching team and a vibrant energy to the program, reigniting the spirit of

players and a renewed sense of pride and ambition within the Association.

Coach education remained as one of the core priorities, and SSFA led the way in NSW by hosting more coaching courses than any other Association.

The 2024 season saw continued growth in player numbers, surpassing 20,000 participants for the first time in the Association’s history.

Female participation also grew by nearly 10% year-on-year, with women now representing over 35% of the playing population and 33% of the Executive Committee. This milestone reflected the Association’s commitment to inclusivity and the expanding reach of football within the community.

This season posed considerable challenges due to extreme weather, resulting in several washed-out rounds. Nevertheless, the Association remained determined to deliver a complete season, culminating in competitive finals across all competitions. SSFA clubs hosted MiniRoos Gala Days that enhanced the experience for non-competitive age groups, ensuring that all players had an opportunity to participate and celebrate their progress this year.

Ongoing advocacy with local council has yielded substantial progress. Over the next four years, Council will implement an

ambitious plan to upgrade field facilities, focusing on irrigation, drainage and lighting across the Shire. This initiative, with a projected budget of $43 million, will vastly improve field quality, enabling greater access and resilience against weather-related disruptions.

The Association pays tribute to SSFA staff, the Executive Committee, club volunteers and referees. All give their time, energy, and passion to support teams and players, ensuring the success of every season and fostering the incredible community spirit that defines the area.

This year’s accomplishments lay a strong foundation as the SSFA continues building on this momentum to enhance every aspect of the Association for the benefit of the local community.

REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Football NSW continues to support the 15 regional Associations within its boundaries, represented by the Western, Riverina and Southern Branches.

WESTERN BRANCH

2024 saw Western Branch increase its playing numbers for another season. Growth was achieved across every Association within the Branch, combining for an overall player registration increase of 9.48%.

The year began with the successful Proctor Park Challenge and Bathurst Cup for female and male participants respectively, successfully run by the Bathurst District Football Association.

WESTERN BRANCH TOURNAMENT RESULTS

In the Region’s Premier competition, the dominant Bathurst 75s club were crowned back-to-back winners in 2024, taking out both the Premiership and Championship trophies by overcoming a spirited Dubbo Bulls FC.

In the Western Youth League, the Dubbo Football Association once again had a strong year by taking out five of the eight division titles.

After several years at the helm, Jim Auld stepped down as Chair of Western Branch, with the role successfully transitioned to the stewardship of Peter Mitchell for the 2025 season.

PLAYER COMPARISON

2023 V 2024

2023 V 2024

JUNIOR V SENIOR

FEMALE PLAYER COMPARISON

2023 V 2024

PLAYER COMPARISON

2023 V 2024

FUTSAL REGISTERED PLAYER COMPARISON

2023 V 2024

2023 V 2024

LIFE MEMBERS

Louie Apostolovski

Vince Balzan*

Cec Barlow*

Ron Beaumont

Leonard Bolden OAM*

William Brackenbury*

Howard Bradley

Frank Broughton*

Aulden Brown*

Lionel Brown*

Andy Burton*

George Churchward*

Jack Cirjanic*

Robert Clark

Robert Colombo

John Constantine AM, OAM*

Lindsay Cosgrove

David Crampton

William Cullinan*

Kevin Darcy*

Harrie Dening OAM*

George Dick OAM*

Tom A. Doumanis OAM

Eric Drury*

Trevor Elliott*

Brian Emery

Les Fairclough*

Ken Ferguson*

William Ford*

Jim Forrest

Ron Garvin*

Keith Gilmour*

*Deceased

David Goodman

Peter Gray*

Stephen Hayes

John Hedison

Ian Holmes

Stan Jones MBE*

Ross Kelly

Steve Kenny

Rob Laws

Joe Leffley*

Peter McCann*

Douglas McCarron*

Bill McIlveen*

A. Raahauge*

Anthony Raciti

Doug Rennie OAM

Joan Robertson*

Jim Ronis

Laurie Simpson

Florence Stephenson

Arthur Sidney Tanner BEM*

Jack Thomas*

John Thomson OAM*

Peter Thorne

Jack Toole*

Ray Tweedie OAM

Charles Valentine*

Sam Vella OAM*

L. Williams*

Bill Wilson*

Frank Wilson*

Rod Woods*

CHARLES VALENTINE MEDAL

LOU TOBIA

GEORGE CHURCHWARD MEDAL

SUE BADENOCH KINSEY

FAIR PLAY AWARD

AUBURN DISTRICT FC ALL AGE

MEN’S DIVISION 6 TEAM

FUTURE LEADERS AWARD

VICTORIA SHARP

STATE AWARDS

ASSOCIATION

Bankstown District Amateur Football Association

Blacktown & Districts Soccer Football Association

Football Canterbury

Dubbo & District Football Association

Eastern Suburbs Football Association

Football South Coast

Football St George

Macarthur Football Association

Manly Warringah Football Association

Nepean Football Association

Northern Suburbs Football Association

Shoalhaven District Football Association

Shoalhaven District Football Association

Southern Districts Soccer Football Association

Southern Tablelands Football Association

Sutherland Shire Football Association

NOMINATION NAME

Brad Fitzgibbons

John Boyle

Anthony Johnstone

Steffan Frandsen

Steve Lawrence

Sandy Depers

Leo Blanda

Darcy Lound

John Tansley

Melissa Crane

Christine Freer

Stacey Williams

Joel Sleeman

Spiros Missiakos

David Albrighton

Laura Cowell

HONOUR ROLL COMPETITIONS

NPL MEN’S NSW 1st Rockdale Ilinden FC

U20 Central Coast Mariners FC

Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC

LEAGUE ONE MEN’S

LEAGUE TWO MEN’S

BOYS YOUTH LEAGUE ONE

BOYS YOUTH LEAGUE TWO

BOYS YOUTH LEAGUE THREE

U20 Bulls FC Academy

BOYS AYL

Marconi Stallions FC

Rockdale Ilinden FC

U18 Manly United FC Manly United FC

U16 Sydney United 58 FC

Manly United FC

U15 Western Sydney Wanderers FC Western Sydney Wanderers FC

U14 Sydney FC

U13 Sydney FC

Sydney FC

Sydney FC

U18 Northern Tigers FC Northern Tigers FC

U16 Bulls FC Academy Bulls FC Academy

U15 Northern Tigers FC

Hakoah Sydney City East FC

U14 Macarthur Rams FC Bulls FC Academy

U13 Macarthur Rams FC

Hakoah Sydney City East FC

U18 Prospect United SC Prospect United SC

U16 Hurstville FC

U15 Central Coast United FC

U14 Gladesville Ryde Magic

U13 Parramatta FC

U18 Manly Warringah FA

U16 Manly Warringah FA

U15 Manly Warringah FA

U14 Southern Branch Inc

U13 Hills Football

Hurstville FC

Parramatta FC

Gladesville Ryde Magic

Camden Tigers FC

Manly Warringah FA

Manly Warringah FA

Blacktown Districts SFA

Southern Branch Inc

Manly Warringah FA

COMPETITIONS

NPL

GIRLS

U18

U16

U15

U14

FUTSAL

CUPS & COMMUNITY FOOTBALL

FA NATIONAL FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

NATIONAL YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

Your directors present this report on the entity for the financial year ended 31 October 2024.

DIRECTORS

The names of each person who has been a director during the year and to the date of this report are:

• Gilbert Lorquet

• Stephanie Brantz

• Carlos Gonzalez

• Deborah Chapman

• Brett Mitchell

• Steve Bond

• Strebre Delovski (appointed 26 September 2024)

• Neil Gibson (appointed 30 September 2024)

• Meghan Senior (resigned 8 April 2024)

Directors have been in office since the start of the financial year to the date of this report unless otherwise stated.

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES

The principal activity of the entity during the financial year was the fostering of the game at all levels from the Premier Leagues to grassroots community football for its members. Its primary objectives are to grow participation and enjoyment across the Football NSW footprint and manage a Premier League and State league competition that drives the development of its players, coaches and referees for the longer term objectives of building a world class footballing nation.

Its supplementary objectives are to promote the game, service its membership and act cohesively with Football Australia to provide a unity in purpose.

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS

The net surplus for the year ended 31 October 2024 before Other Comprehensive Income was $1,268,995 (2023: $865,146). The land and buildings at Valentine Sports Park is independently valued each year and any unrealised movement is recorded in Other Comprehensive Income in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards. The amount recorded in Other Comprehensive Income for the year is $4,864,740 (2023: $375,059).

The Football NSW community achieved record player registrations in 2024 with a 9% total increase, headlined by 17% growth among women and girls.

Persistent wet weather early in the season resulted in hundreds of matches being washed out. The tireless work and dedication of competition administrators and club volunteers to reschedule matches maximised the amount of football that participants could enjoy during the record-breaking season.

Community Clubs benefited from the introduction of the inaugural Club Development Conference in 2024 with a focus on empowering and upskilling volunteers and local administrators . Resources and support was also provided through the national Club Changer Program, with a total of 235 Football NSW Clubs having now successfully completed their 1-star Club Changer accreditation.

Throughout 2024, the Football NSW community celebrated Heart Health Round, Female Football Week, Volunteer Week and Indigenous Round, with a substantial increase in community activations and online engagements. The 2024 State Cup and Champion of Champions tournaments brought together the best teams from across community football, culminating in Finals held at Cromer Park and Valentine Sports Park respectively. Meanwhile, initiatives like the NOVA Employment Football4AII Gala Day, celebrating its fourteenth year, the NAIDOC Cup and the Multicultural Settlement Program illustrated Football NSW’s continued commitment to football being accessible to all.

A 20% increase in coaches was supported by record course delivery, including 26 C-Diploma and 6 B-Diploma courses, aided further by 28 CPD events and a sold out 2024 Coaching Conference. Referee registrations increased by 12% with 1,532 learners enrolling in entry level courses, supported by the introduction of six Referee Development Coordinators.

The $10 million NSW Football Legacy Program wrapped up in 2024, supporting a total of 43 community infrastructure projects, 98 participation initiatives, 740 female football scholarships, 6 leadership programs, 32 Daughters and Dads programs and an expanded NAIDOC Cup.

DIVIDENDS

In accordance with the Company’s constitution no dividend has been paid to members or declared to be paid to members during the financial year (2024: $Nil).

INFORMATION ON DIRECTORS

GILBERT LORQUET

Chairman, Football NSW Limited ( elected 19 March 2021)

Chief Executive Officer, NORTH Foundation

Former Director and Deputy Chairman, Football Canterbury Life Membership Abbotsford Juniors Football Club

STEPHANIE BRANTZ

CARLOS GONZALEZ

DEBORAH CHAPMAN

BRETT MITCHELL

STEVE BOND

STREBRE DELOVSKI

NEIL GIBSON

Deputy Chair, Football NSW Limited (appointed 14 January 2021, re-appointed on 4 May 2021)

Respected Media Professional Director, Venues NSW

Director, Football NSW Limited (elected 31 March 2017, re-elected 19 March 2021)

Director, Football NSW Limited (appointed 2 November 2021, re-appointed 2 November 2023)

Chair of Audit and Risk Committee, Football NSW

Chartered Accountant

Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

Chief Financial and Operating Officer of Infrastructure NSW

Director, Football NSW Limited (appointed 1 November 2021, re-appointed 27 March 2025)

Member of Audit and Risk Committee, Football NSW

Board Member and Audit Committee Chair, KPMG

National Partner in Charge, KPMG Enterprise - Tax, Deals & Advisory

Chartered Accountant, Registered Auditor, Registered Tax Agent

Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors

Director, Football NSW Limited (appointed 9 October 2023)

Director of Communications for Destination NSW

Former Head of Communications for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

Former Senior Communications position at Chelsea FC

Director Football NSW Limited (appointed 26 September 2024)

Former A League and FIFA Referee

Deputy Executive Director Master Builder Association of NSW

Director Football NSW Limited (appointed 30 September 2024)

Fellow of British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences

Delivery of large scale capital infrastructure projects in the United Kingdom and Australia

Managing departments within professional and international Football with Heart of Midlothian FC and the Scottish Football Association.

MEGHAN SENIOR Director, Football NSW Limited (appointed 28 June 2023, resigned 5 April 2024)

MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS

During the financial year, 11 meetings of directors were held. Attendances by each director were as follows:

MEMBERS’ GUARANTEE

The entity is incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 and is an entity limited by guarantee. If the entity is wound up, the constitution states that each member is required to contribute a maximum of $20 each towards meeting any outstanding obligations of the entity. At 31 October 2024, the total amount that members of the company are liable to contribute if the company is wound up is $1,160 (2023: $1,160).

INDEMNIFICATION OF AUDITORS

To the extent permitted by law, Football NSW has agreed to indemnify its auditors, Ernst & Young, as part of the terms of its audit engagement agreement against claims by third parties arising from the audit (for an unspecified amount). No payment has been made to indemnify Ernst & Young during the financial year or since the financial year end.

INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

During the financial year, the Company paid a premium in respect of a contract insuring the directors of the company, the company secretary and all executive officers to the extent permitted by the Corporations Act 2001. The contract of insurance prohibits disclosure of the nature of the liability and the amount of the premium.

SIGNIFICANT

CHANGES IN THE STATE OF AFFAIRS

There was no significant changes in the state of affairs by the company during the year.

LIKELY DEVELOPMENTS

Football NSW will continue to pursue its principal activities in future financial years and will continue to focus on the delivery of its strategy.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AFTER BALANCE DATE

In December 2024, Football Australia with the support of Football NSW, launched a new player national online registration platform which offers a single source of participant data, ensuring data integrity and transparency. The new registration platform ensures that governing body regulation fees including those of Football Australia and Football NSW, are collected by the bodies directly at the point of registering.

ENVIRONMENTAL

LEGISLATION

Football NSW’s operations are not subject to any particular or significant environmental regulation under a law of the Commonwealth or a State or Territory in Australia.

AUDITOR’S INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION

The lead auditor’s independence declaration for the year ended 31 October 2024 has been received and can be found on the following page.

Signed in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors.

GILBERT LORQUET Director

Dated: 25 February 2025

CHAPMAN Director

INCOME STATEMENT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2024

The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

The accompanying notes form part of

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2024

(a) Asset Revaluation Reserve

The asset revaluation reserve records the revaluations of property, plant and equipment.

(b) Capital Profits Reserve

The capital profits reserve records profits on sale of land.

( c ) Sinking/ Capital Fund

In prior year, the Sinking Fund was reversed back to Retained Earnings.

The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from borrowings

Repayments of borrowings

The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.

THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2024

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2024

NOTE 1: STATEMENT OF MATERIAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The financial report of Football NSW Limited for the year ended 31 October 2024 was authorised for issue by the Directors on the 25th of February 2025. The financial statements are for Football NSW Limited as an individual not for profit entity, incorporated and domiciled in Australia. Football NSW Limited is a company limited by guarantee. The registered office and principal place of business is at Valentine Sports Park, 235-257 Meurants Lane, Glenwood, NSW 2768.

BASIS OF PREPARATION

These financial statements are general purpose financial statements that have been prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards - Simplified Disclosures adopted by the Australian Accounting Standards Board and the Corporations Act 2001.

The financial report is presented in Australian dollars. The financial report is prepared on the historical cost basis except for, where applicable, by the measurement at fair value of freehold land and buildings and selected financial assets and financial liabilities. The accounting policies set out below have been applied consistently by the company to all periods presented in the financial report.

The financial report has been prepared on a going concern basis which assumes continuity of normal business activities and realisation of assets and settlement of liabilities in the ordinary course of business.

The directors evaluate estimates and judgements incorporated into the financial report based on historical knowledge and best available current information. Estimates assume a reasonable expectation of future events and are based on current trends and economic data, obtained both externally and within the company.

ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(a) Changes in Accounting Policy, Disclosures, Standards and Interpretations

The new and amended Australian Accounting Standards and Interpretations that apply for the first time in 2024 do not materially impact the financial statements of the entity.

(b) Revenue and Other Income

Revenue from contracts with customers is recognised when control of the goods or services are transferred to the customer at an amount that reflects the consideration to which FNSW expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. FNSW has generally concluded that this is the principal in its revenue arrangements. The specific recognition criteria described below must also be met before revenue is recognised.

Revenue from the rendering of a service is recognised upon delivery of the service to the customers. Capitation and insurance fees are recognised as revenue based on actual number of player registrations. Membership fees are recognised as revenue based on actual number of associations and competitions registered. Revenue from Valentine Sports Park is recognised across the accommodation period or hire period.

Sales of goods is recognised as revenue at a point in time for each transaction.

Grant revenue is recognised in the income statement when the entity obtains control of the grant and it is probable that the economic benefits gained from the grant will flow to the entity and the amount of the grant can be measured reliably.

Interest revenue is recognised using the effective interest rate method, which for floating rate financial assets is the rate inherent in the instrument.

(c) Property, Plant and Equipment

Each class of property, plant and equipment is carried at cost or fair values as indicated, less, where applicable, accumulated depreciation and impairment losses.

Freehold Property

Freehold land and buildings are shown at their fair value based on a periodic, annual valuations by an external independent valuer.

Increases in the carrying amount arising on the revaluation of land and buildings is based on an estimate of the developable area and number of potential sites that could be accommodated within the developable area, and is recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in the revaluation reserve in equity. Revaluation decrements that offset previous increases of the same class of assets shall be recognised in other comprehensive income under the heading of revaluation reserve. All other decreases are charged to the statement of comprehensive income.

Plant and equipment

Plant and equipment are measured on the cost basis less depreciation and impairment losses.

The carrying amount of plant and equipment is reviewed annually by the entity to ensure it is not in excess of the recoverable amount from these assets.

Depreciation

The depreciable amount of all fixed assets is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the asset’s useful life to the entity commencing from the time the asset is held ready for use. Buildings are depreciated on a written down value basis.

The depreciation rates used for each class of depreciable assets are: Class of

The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at the end of each reporting period.

Asset classes carrying amount are written down immediately to their recoverable amount if the asset’s carrying amount is greater than its estimated recoverable amount.

Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing proceeds with the carrying amount. These gains or losses are included in the income statement.

(d) Leases

The Company applies the short-term lease recognition exemption to its short-term leases of machinery and equipment (i.e., those leases that have a lease term of 12 months or less from the commencement date and do not contain a purchase option). It also applies the lease of low-value assets recognition exemption to leases of office equipment that are considered to be low value. Lease payments on short-term leases and leases of low-value assets are recognised as expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

(e) Financial Instruments

Initial recognition and measurement

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the entity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. For financial assets, this is equivalent to the date that the entity commits itself to either purchase or sell the asset (i.e. trade date accounting is adopted). Financial instruments are initially measured at fair value plus transaction costs except where the instrument is classified ‘at fair value through profit or loss’ in which case transaction costs are expensed to profit or loss immediately.

Classification and subsequent measurement

Finance instruments are subsequently measured at either fair value or amortised cost using the effective interest rate method or cost. Fair value represents the amount for which an asset could be exchanged or a liability settled, between knowledgeable, willing parties. Where available, quoted prices in an active market are used to determine fair value. In other circumstances, valuation techniques are adopted.

Amortised cost

Amortised cost is calculated as the amount at which the financial asset or financial liability is measured at initial recognition; less principal repayments, plus or minus the cumulative amortisation of the difference, if any, between the amount initially recognised and the maturity amount calculated using the effective interest method; and less and reduction for expected credit loss.

The effective interest method is used to allocate interest income or interest expense over the relevant period and is equivalent to the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash payments or receipts (including fees, transaction costs and other premiums or discounts) through the expected life (or when this cannot be reliably predicted, the contractual term) of the financial instrument to the net carrying amount of the financial asset or financial liability. Revisions to expected future net cash flows will necessitate an adjustment to the carrying value with a consequential recognition of an income or expense in profit or loss.

(

i) Receivables

Receivables are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently at amortised cost. Normal terms of settlement vary from 30 days. FNSW assesses expected credit losses upon initial recognition of the financial asset with a forward-looking expected credit loss (EGL) approach. For trade and other receivables, FNSW applies the simplified approach permitted by the standard, which requires expected lifetime losses to be recognised from initial recognition of the receivables.

(ii) Financial Liabilities

Non-derivative financial liabilities (excluding financial guarantees) are subsequently measured at amortised cost.

De-recognition

A financial liability is derecognised when the obligation under the liability is discharged or cancelled or expires. When an existing financial liability is replaced by another from the same lender on substantially different terms, or the terms of an existing liability are substantially modified, such an exchange or modification is treated as the derecognition of the original liability and the recognition of a new liability. The difference in the respective carrying amounts is recognised in the statement of profit or loss.

(f) Impairment of Assets

At the end of each reporting period, the entity reviews the carrying values of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have been impaired. If such an indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset, being the higher of the asset’s fair value less costs to sell and value in use, is compared to the asset’s carrying value. Any excess of the asset’s carrying value over its recoverable amount is expensed to the statement of comprehensive income.

Where the future economic benefits of the asset are not primarily dependent upon the asset’s ability to generate net cash inflows and when the entity would, if deprived of the asset, replace its remaining future economic benefits, value in use is determined as the depreciated replacement cost of an asset.

Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of a class of assets, the entity estimates the recoverable amount of the cashgenerating unit to which the class of assets belong.

Where an impairment loss on a revalued asset is identified, this is debited against the revaluation surplus in respect of the same class of asset to the extent that the impairment loss does not exceed the amount in the revaluation surplus for that same class of asset.

(g) Employee Benefits

Provision is made for the Company’s liability for employee benefits arising from services rendered by employees to the end of the reporting period. Employee benefits that are expected to be settled within one year have been measured at the amounts expected to be paid when the liability is settled.

Employee benefits payable later than one year have been measured at the present value of the estimated future cash outflows to be made for those benefits.

Contributions are made by the company to an employee superannuation fund and are charged as expenses when incurred.

(h) Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, deposits held at-call with banks, other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. These are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.

(i) Finance Costs

Finance costs are recognised as an expense in the period in which they are incurred.

(j) Goods and Services Tax (GST)

Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the amount of GST, except where the amount of GST incurred is not recoverable from the Australian Taxation Office. In these circumstances the GST is recognised as part of the cost of acquisition of the asset or as part of an item of the expense. Receivables and payables in the statement of financial position are net of GST and the overall GST position is remitted to the Australian Taxation Office and recognised as a separate balance.

Cash flows are presented in the statement of cash flows on a gross basis, except for the GST component of investing and financing activities, which are disclosed as operating cash flows.

(k) Income Tax

No provision for income tax has been raised as the entity is exempt income tax under Division 50 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.

(I) Provisions

Provisions are recognised when the entity has a legal or constructive obligation, as a result of past events, for which it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will result and that outflow can be reliably measured. Provisions recognised represent the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation at the end of the reporting period.

(m) Comparative Figures

Where required by Accounting Standards comparative figures have been adjusted to conform with changes in presentation for the current financial year.

(n)

Trade and Other Payables

Trade and other payables represent the liability outstanding at the end of the reporting period for goods and services received by the company during the reporting period which remain unpaid. The balance is recognised as a current liability with the amounts normally paid within 30 days of recognition of the liability. Assets and liabilities are presented in the statement of financial position based on current and non-current classifications.

An asset is current when: it is expected to be realised or intended to be sold or consumed in normal operating cycle; it is held primarily for the purpose of trading;ii is expected to be realised within twelve months after the reporting period; or the asset is cash or cash equivalent unless restricted from being exchanged or used to settle a liability for at least twelve months after the reporting date. All other assets are classified as non-current.

A liability is current when: it is expected to be settled in normal operating cycle; it is held primarily for the purpose of trading; it is due to be settled within twelve months after the reporting period; or there is no unconditional right to defer the settlement of the liability for at least twelve months after the reporting period. All other liabilities are classified as non-current.

(o) Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgements

As at 31 October 2024, an independent valuation was performed on the freehold land and buildings at Valentine Sports Park. This valuation was conducted by Colliers International. The valuation was based on the fair value less cost to sell.

The key assumptions and estimates used in the valuation approach include:

• Comparable property market evidence

• Demand for land in the area

• Rate per square metre of developable site area

(p) NAB Business Markets Loan Facility

The NAB Business Markets Loan facility has been extended to 30 June, 2025. The interest rate applicable on funds drawn on the loan is 7.20% (Business Lending Rate 6.48% + Customer Margin 0.72%) as at 31 October 2024.

The current facility limit reduced to $3,000,000 as at 31 October 2023 and was unused in this financial year.

- NAB Loan

The carrying amounts of non-current assets pledged as security on the NAB business markets loan facility are:

-

(q) Contingent Liability

From time to time Football NSW is subject to legal claims. At this point in time, management do not believe any exposure would be material and therefore no provision has been raised.

NOTE 2: REVENUE AND OTHER INCOME

NOTE 3: EXPENSES

NOTE 5: TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

NOTE 6: PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

(a) Valuation on Land and Buildings

The accounting policy for property plant and equipment is disclosed in Note 1 (c) (b) Movement in Carrying Amounts

Movement in the carrying amounts for each class of property, plant and equipment between the beginning and the end of the current financial year.

NOTE 7: OTHER ASSETS

NOTE 8: TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

NOTE 9: PROVISIONS

(a) The provision balance of $1,000,556 represents the total annual leave and long service leave employee entitlement payable.

(b) Provision for Long-term Employee Benefits

A provision has been recognised for employee benefits relating to long service leave. In calculating the present value of future cash flows in respect of long service leave, the probability of long service leave being taken is based on historical data. The measurement and recognition criteria for employee benefits has been included in note 1 (g).

NOTE 10: OTHER LIABILITIES

NOTE 11: KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL COMPENSATION

NOTE 12: RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

There are no transactions between related parties.

NOTE 13: FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

The company’s financial instruments consist mainly of cash and cash equivalents, short -term investments, trade and other receivables, trade and other payables and borrowings.

The totals for each category of financial instruments, measured in accordance with AASB 9 as detailed in the accounting policies to these financial statements, are as follows:

NOTE 14: COMMITMENT & CONTINGENCIES

There are capital commitments of $1.7m as at 31 October 2024 (2023: $1.3m) mainly relating to the synthetic resurfacing of Field 2 at Valentine Sports Park.

There are contingent liabilities of nil as at 31 October 2024 (2023: nil)

NOTE 15: SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

As disclosed in the Director’s Report, Football Australia in December 2024 launched a new player national on-line registration platform.

Also in October 2024, Football Australia confirmed the launch of the National Second Tier competition proposed for October 2025. The Football NSW Executive will continue to assess the impact of the proposed new competition on those competitions run by Football NSW.

CONSOLIDATED ENTITY DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

Disclosure of subsidiaries and their country of tax residency, as required by subsection 295(3A) of the Corporations Act 2001, does not apply to the Company as the Company does not have any controlled entities and accordingly, is not required by accounting standards to prepare consolidated financial statements.

DIRECTOR’S DECLARATION

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2024

The directors of the company declare that:

The financial statements and notes are in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 and:

1. (a) comply with Australian Accounting Standards - Simplified Disclosure Requirements; and (b) give a true and fair view of the financial position as at 31 October 2024 and of the performance for the year ended on that date of the entity.

2 In the directors’ opinion there are reasonable grounds to believe that the entity will be able to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable.

3. The consolidated company disclosure statement required by section 295(3A) of the Corporations Act is true and correct.

This declaration is made in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors.

GILBERT LORQUET Director

Dated: 25 February 2025

DEBORAH CHAPMAN Director