2025 Football NSW Annual Report

Chair’s Report

As I conclude my fifth year as Chair, I remain deeply grateful for the Board’s continued confidence and support. It is a genuine privilege to serve alongside fellow Directors whose insight, commitment and stewardship continue to strengthen football across New South Wales.

After a record-breaking year of participation in 2024, registrations stabilised in 2025 — an encouraging indicator of the enduring strength and reach of our game. Female football, in particular, has sustained its remarkable momentum following the FIFA Women’s World Cup, with further growth in participation and welcome increases in the number of female coaches, referees and volunteers shaping the future of our sport.

We acknowledge the ongoing support of the NSW Government through the Asian Cup Legacy Fund, which continues to enable meaningful investment in female football. Initiatives such as Empower Her, Women in Leadership, and flexible participation formats align strongly with our strategic commitment to growing and strengthening the women’s game at every level.

Football NSW was also proud to secure Federal Government funding through the Play Our Way initiative. This three-year investment will support enhanced coach education and mentoring, referee development pathways, First Nations tournaments, and the Para Football Female State Team — further reinforcing our focus on accessibility, diversity and inclusion.

Our talent development pathway continues to deliver outstanding outcomes. In 2025, 24 players were selected for Junior Matildas camps or tournaments, with Football NSW athletes comprising more than half of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers squad. On the men’s side, 35 former Talent Support Program players progressed to the A-League Men’s competition, while 30 male players represented Australia at junior national team level. These achievements reflect the strength of our development system and the tireless efforts of our Associations and clubs.

At the grassroots level, we were delighted to introduce two new awards at the State Dinner, celebrating excellence across our community. Football South Coast was named Nine Ad Manager Association of the Year in recognition of its strategic expansion of female football and strong community impact. Millthorpe Junior Soccer Club received the Nine Ad Manager Community Football Club of the Year award for its inclusive culture and leadership in advancing female participation. These examples highlight the extraordinary work taking place across our football family.

I extend my congratulations to Ian Cockburn on receiving the George Churchward Medal, and to Eastern Suburbs Football Association on the celebration of its centenary — milestones that honour both individual contribution and the rich heritage of our game.

My thanks go to CEO John Tsatsimas for his continued leadership, and to our dedicated staff, whose professionalism and passion ensure the best possible experience for participants at every level of football in NSW.

As our current Strategic Plan enters its final phase in 2026, we have begun shaping the next exciting chapter for Football NSW. I am confident that we are well positioned to build on our strong foundations, sustain growth, and continue delivering positive impact across the state.

Gilbert Lorquet Chair

CEO’s Report

Football is more than a winter sport played on weekends — it is a year-round commitment that connects our community across every season, surface, and setting. In 2025 our organisation facilitated football pathways spanning outdoor competitions, summer football, futsal, and school programs, ensuring development and opportunity for players of all ages and abilities.

None of this is possible without our thousands of dedicated volunteers. I sincerely thank our Clubs and Associations for their ongoing commitment to delivering football in communities across our footprint.

We commenced the year with our second Club Development Conference, attended by more than 90 clubs. The event focused on safeguarding, volunteer development, spectator behaviour, diversity and grassroots coach education. This commitment to community football continued through strong leadership in resolving Play Football system challenges and delivering inclusive events such as Football 4All, the NAIDOC Cup and the First Nations Football Festival.

Our competitions team delivered another stellar season culminating in the double header Grand Finals at Jubilee Oval, Kogarah. Congratulations to Bulls FC Academy in the Women’s NPL crowned both Premiers and Grand Final Winners. In the NPL Men’s in only their third year in the topflight NWS Spirit secured the Premier’s trophy whilst Apia Leichhardt FC defeated Rockdale Ilinden to become Champions. The FNSW Men’s League’s Competition delivered an exciting promotion race at the end of the season with UNSW and SD Raiders securing promotion. Two clubs earned promotion to League One Men’s for the first time in their history - Hurstville Zagreb and Prospect United. In the Women’s League Hills United showed their dominance being promoted to the Women’s NPL after securing the Premiership and Championship double.

Cup competitions were hotly contested with four clubs represented in the round of 32 qualifiers in the Hahn Australia Cup. The Sapphire Cup was held at Valentine Sports Park with Apia Leichhardt securing their second title and similarly Sydney United secured their eighth Waratah title on a wet and windy evening at Valentine.

In grassroots competitions the Football NSW State Cup Finals returned to Valentine Sports Park with 30 teams competing for the silverware and in October we hosted the 55th edition of NSW’s Champion of Champion finals which showcases the best community talent competing for the title of State’s best.

The technical team for Football NSW continues to lead the way in football development for our emerging talent. The Future Sapphires Program was a highlight with the program delivering 140 training sessions and 16 high-level matches significantly increasing developmental environments. New initiatives in futsal for Football NSW in 2025 included the Junior Futsal Cup, a Futsal Talent Support Program (TSP) for 80 players and the inaugural Futsal Coaching Conference attended by more than 60 coaches.

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 Football NSW was awarded Member Federation Championship winner. Football NSW won two Champions trophies at the National Youth Championship in July along with nine other awards including Coach of the Tournament for the U16 boys.

In November, the 2025 Football NSW sold out Coaching Conference attracted over 1000 attendees across the two days of workshops and presentations including four international guest speakers. This was then followed in early December by the inaugural NSW Goalkeeper Coaching Conference drawing over 150 coaches. Continuing Professional Development remained a key priority with 105 CPD hours available to coaches, with the highlight an exclusive workshop with English Premier League head coach Sean Dyche.

Behind the scenes, our governance, finance and corporate teams continued to strengthen systems and processes to better support Clubs and Associations and enhance the overall member experience.

Thank you to the Football NSW Board for their continued support and to my team at Football NSW for their persistent dedication to our football family. I look forward to strengthening this with the Football NSW community in 2026.

John Tsatsimas CEO

Recognition of Services

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 2025. 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 2025, 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

Anthony Scarcella (Chair)

Ben Jones (Vice-Chair)

Robert Iaconis (Vice-Chair)

Marcelo Valerio

Louis Fayd’Herbe

Mendo Cklamovski

Duncan Tweed

Lara Nurpuri

Jane Marquard

Jodie Camden

Danielle De Paoli

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

Board of Directors

Strategic Plan

Our Purpose

Our Mission

Capitalise on the hosting of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup to leave a legacy for female football

How We Do It

Achieve 75% retention rate by supporting our members to deliver positive football experiences for all participants

10-Year Growth Goals

Football remains the largest participation sport

Football is the largest team sport for females

Achieved 50/50 gender participation

Delivering quality competitions for all participants and supporters

To facilitate the best experience for all. Leading and supporting the growth of football across all cultures and communities. Integrity, Tenacity, Inclusivity, Resilience

Average 45% selection for national teams by providing development opportunities through our high-performance pathways

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

2025 Season Participation Highlights

Total Participants Gender

6,356 18,641

411,792

Valentine Sports Park

Valentine Sports Park (VSP) continued to strengthen its international reputation in 2025, welcoming teams from South Korea, Samoa, and New Zealand throughout the year.

VSP again played a key role in supporting the A-League, providing highquality training facilities and hosting several pre-season fixtures for clubs including Wellington Phoenix, Newcastle Jets, and Sydney FC.

The venue also proudly hosted a range of elite programs and representative teams, including Transplant Australia, the Junior Matildas, Future Matildas, ParaRoos, and ParaMatildas as they prepared for successful international campaigns.

Beyond elite football, VSP remained a central hub for the broader football community, providing facilities for NPL NSW and Football NSW League clubs, Member Associations, and numerous school and community tournaments.

In 2025, VSP delivered a series of important facility upgrades designed to enhance the experience for all participants and visitors:

• Level the Playing Field – Futsal Court Modifications

Installation of new sports lighting, fans, solar infrastructure, and a Changing Places room

• Level the Playing Field – Field 4 & 5 Fencing and drainage upgrades

• Community Building Partnerships

Installation of new ball-stop netting and improved pathways

• Community Building Partnerships New water fountains across the precinct

These upgrades reinforce VSP’s commitment to providing world-class facilities for football development, community engagement, and highperformance preparation.

Major Bookings in 2025

• Winter Futsal League

• Futsal Premier League

• FNSW Competitions and Grand Finals

• Hills Football Match of the Rounds

• Hills Cup Final

• NZ Schoolboys Camp

• Wrestling Australia Senior Camp

• Australian Society of Jujitsu Training Camp

• Rugby League Samoa QLD Camp

• 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

• Waratah Cup

• State Cup

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

• NSW Powerchair Football Season

• NSWFRA Training and Development Program

• FNSW Club Development Conference

• Australia Defence Force Football Federation Championships 2025

• Football4All

• First Nations Training

• FA Emerging Matildas Championship 2025

• Female Football Week

• FNSW Coaching Conference

• FNSW Goalkeeping Expo

• FNSW Futsal Coaching Summit

• Junior Matildas Camp

• Future Matildas Program

• TSP and GTSP Tournaments

• Junior Development Cup

• New Zealand Women’s National Football

• South Korean Women’s National Football

• NSW Country/Regional Camps

• ParaRoos Camp

• ParaMatildas Camp

• FA Elite Matches

• TSP/A-League Tournament

• A Diploma

• B Diploma

• C Diploma

• Foundation of Football + Goalkeeping

• NSW CP Training & Camp

• FNSW/Football Australia Referee Academies

• Champion of Champions

• Rhythmic Gymnastics National Competition

• MFC Cup

• North Sydney Bears Captains Run

• Australia Championship Training Hosts (APIA Leichhardt & Sydney Olympic)

Season Hirers

• Hills Football Inc

• Hills United (NPL + Powerchair)

• Sydney Olympic

• Volleyball NSW

• Hills Knights

• FNSW Future Sapphires Program

• TSP

• Hills Zone Sports Association

• Powerchair NSW

• Sydney FC Powerchair

• Western Sydney Wanderers Powerchair

• Mountain Majik Futsal

• Coptic United

• Glenwood High School

• Sydney Acers Volleyball

• Send It Volleyball

• Schools Tournaments played at VSP

• Sydney West

• Sydney Catholic Schools

• CIS

• Edmund Rice College (Rice Cup)

• NSW PSSA

• CSSA

• CDSSA

• Hills Zone

• AICES

• NSW CIS

• NSW CCC

• NSW All School

Infrastructure & Government Relations

The 2025 calendar year saw a reduction in infrastructure funding across the football sector compared to previous years. Despite this more constrained environment, several community clubs successfully secured support, enabling meaningful upgrades to their facilities and strengthening their role within their local communities.

From the Central Coast to the far South Coast, these projects highlight the ongoing importance of investing in grassroots football infrastructure and the tangible benefits delivered to players, volunteers, and the broader community.

The Federal Election in May 2025 enabled a couple of clubs to secure funding via their federal member. Bonnyrigg White Eagles secured a $1M grant thanks to the Sports Project Support Programme to construct new female home and away change rooms and upgrade the club’s lighting infrastructure ensuring players can train and play in a safe, inclusive and modern environment. Russell Lea Football Club secured a commitment of $1.5M for Queen Elizabeth Park which will deliver a new, fit-for-purpose amenities building for their teams and the local community.

In 2025, the Community Building Partnership Grant Program, administered by the NSW Office of Sport, supported several local football clubs, including Albury Hotspurs Soccer Club, Holroyd Rangers Soccer Club, Ryde Saints United Soccer Club, and Tarrawanna Blueys FC Inc. These projects contributed to the development of safer, more inclusive and more sustainable sporting environments, reinforcing football’s position as Australia’s most participated team sport.

Further investment was delivered through the Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program 2024–25, with successful recipients announced in January 2025. Holroyd Rangers Soccer Club received funding for the installation of a defibrillator at their secondary ground, Fairfield Road Park, with support from Cumberland Council. Fairfield Bulls Football Club Incorporated was awarded a grant through Fairfield City Council to install a defibrillator, enhancing emergency response capabilities and improving health and safety outcomes for players, officials and spectators during matches and tournaments. Shoalhaven District Football Association through Shoalhaven City Council obtained funding for the installation of a defibrillator at Ison Park. This facility services multiple clubs, including Shoalhaven FC and Southeast Phoenix, and is regularly used for summer football, tournaments, semi-finals, and grand finals. The new defibrillator will be accessible to all venue users, significantly improving safety outcomes across the region.

A 2025 national funding analysis, based on data from the Parliament of Australia website and AusPlay National Participation

figures reviewed total government grants allocated to major sporting codes between December 2017 and 31 December 2024.

Over this period, football received $10,758,295.26 in total government funding, ranking sixth behind Surf Lifesaving, Rugby Union, Rugby League, Netball and the AFL.

With 1,935,050 participants, football has the highest participation rate of any sport in Australia. However, this level of funding equates to an investment of just over $5.50 per participant.

In contrast, Rugby Union receives approximately $315 per participant, while Rugby League receives around $76 per participant.

Despite engaging close to two million Australians, more than any other sporting code, football’s government funding remains disproportionately low when assessed on a per-participant basis.

This imbalance highlights the ongoing need for increased and more equitable funding to support the nation’s largest sporting community.

This is further supported by the numerous requests Football NSW received from local football clubs seeking letters of support for their grant applications. This level of engagement underscores the significant infrastructure needed at the grassroots level and the continued reliance on government funding to deliver safe, accessible and fit for purpose facilities for participants.

Marketing & Communications

Community Football

Current trends in social media underlined the need for authentic and relatable content, and the FNSW Marketing & Communication’s team has worked extensively with our cohort of social content creators to deliver expanded coverage of events throughout the year.

Media celebration of the annual Football4All Gala Day brought added excitement on the ground with the presence of the ParaMatildas and their IFCPF World Cup Trophy they won in November. Also within the inclusion football sphere, the 2025 NAIDOC Cup received on-the-ground coverage at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation in Narrabeen, in addition to live streaming and commentary of all eight matches played across the tournament.

Utilising three content creators on the sidelines for coverage of the Champion of Champions Finals day bolstered the coverage of our premier grassroots competition, alongside match reports and live streams for all 18 matches.

For the first time Football NSW also delivered broadcast coverage of the State Cup Finals at Valentine Sports Park, with fifteen matches taking place across the day on the Football NSW YouTube channel thanks to Veo cameras.

This culminated in expanded coverage of the Football NSW State Dinner, which recognises the achievements of local volunteers as well as the clubs, associations and branches that deliver grassroots football on a weekly basis.

Registration campaigns for the 2025 winter season were bolstered by our new partnership with Nine Ad Manager, in addition to our suite of promotional assets for players, coaches and referees provided to clubs and associations through our club support hub.

Our Football NSW State Teams also received enhanced coverage, with content creators going into camp for the Emerging Socceroos Championship, Emerging Matildas Championship and the National Para Football Championships for the duration of their tournaments.

Competitions Coverage

Interest for our NPL New South Wales and Football NSW Leagues competitions continues to strengthen, with strong total social media growth for both brands off the back of some memorable conclusions to the season. YouTube views for match streams provided strong increases in our second year on the platform.

Our increased coverage of the Futsal Premier League competitions this year included a pre-season media day for representatives of all clubs, as well as weekly social media updates on all open senior leagues. Weekly video spotlights on individual moments proved successful in providing increased views and engagement and will be a learning for the coming year across all competitions.

Data Analysis

Football NSW continued to provide valuable insights to associations and internal departments through comprehensive registration dashboards for players and non-players, as well as statistical reports on player retention by association.

Surveys were conducted for non-returning players and current participants, providing insight into the primary reasons for leaving the sport across key demographics and assessing the overall experience for current players, coaches, referees and volunteers. This information will form the basis of ongoing retention strategies for clubs and associations to ensure we continue to provide the best experience in football.

Junior Participation

Junior football is the gateway to our game, the place where players and families first connect and find their home within the football community. Across Football NSW, more than 500 clubs welcome young players with open arms, and those players are embracing the game in record numbers.

While some decline in registrations may have been expected in 2025, clubs largely maintained the extraordinary growth that followed the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Although junior boys’ numbers dipped slightly, growth continued in other junior segments, particularly among youth boys in their teenage years.

To strengthen participation at the youngest levels, Football NSW will work with Football Australia and Coles to promote the Coles MiniRoos brand, attract new players, and expand coach and game leader education. These efforts aim to

ensure every young player has a positive experience one that encourages them to stay in the sport and bring their friends along.

The momentum of recent years has been remarkable. Junior player numbers have grown from 148,000 in 2022 to more than 174,000 in 2025. Young players across NSW are embracing football, laying the foundation for a vibrant future for the sport.

Football not only supports physical and mental wellbeing; it also builds social cohesion. Our clubs bring together people of all cultures and backgrounds, united by a shared love of the game. Football NSW and our Associations continue to work closely with community clubs to ensure football remains welcoming, inclusive and safe for every junior participant. Our clubs are doing an outstanding job sustaining this growth.

Female Football

Female Football Week

Female Football Week 2025 was a major celebration of the continued growth and visibility of women’s and girls’ football across NSW. More than 90 clubs and associations hosted community activations, supported by giveaway packs provided to the first 80 clubs to register.

The week also celebrates the amazing women in our game with state Female Football Week awards. Over 60 nominations were received across five award categories—Player, Volunteer, Referee, Coach and Community Champion of the Year—demonstrating the depth of contribution across the female game. Lauren Gibson, Female Volunteer of the Year, also received a national award for her outstanding service.

Two flagship Football NSW events were held:

• Referee Panel – 5 May

Over 50 referees attended a session with FIFA officials Casey Reibelt, Emma Kocbek and Maddy Allum, who officiated the first all-female A-League Men’s match.

• Coaches Workshop – 7 May

More than 30 coaches observed a Future Sapphires training session and participated in a Q&A with FA A Diploma coaches Anissa Tann and Bronwyn Kiceec.

State Award Winners

• Referee: Sharon McLachlan

• Coach: Sarah McKinley

• Player: Lisa Bullivant

• Volunteer: Lauren Gibson

• Community Champion: Emma Madden

Legacy Funding

NSW Office of Sport: Asian Cup Legacy Fund

Government investment continued to drive equality and long-term participation outcomes in women’s football. Football NSW thanks the NSW Office of Sport for supporting several key initiatives in 2025.

Empower Her Program

Aligned to the Play Her Way Strategy, this 90-minute workshop focuses on goal-setting, mindset, resilience and body confidence for female players. Fifteen Girls Youth League clubs participated in 2025, with a further 15 scheduled for 2026.

Women in Leadership Program

Two programs were delivered in 2025, combining workshops, networking opportunities and the annual Follow Your Lead event. Keynote speakers included former Matilda Lydia Williams, AIS Executive GM Matti Clements and AFC Women’s Asian Cup LOC GM Louise Rathbone. Since 2023, 130 women have participated.

Play Our Way

Women in Football Scholarships

More than 200 coaches applied in 2025, with 149 scholarships awarded covering 50% of course fees. Female-only C and B Diploma courses and funded attendance at the 2025 Coaching Conference helped build capability and reduce financial barriers.

Female Coach Education Tutor Program

Twelve female CETs now support coach education across NSW, contributing leadership, expertise and representation that enriches the broader coaching community.

Football NSW Female Para Program

Supported by Play Our Way, the Female Para Program expanded significantly in 2025 with a strengthened talent pathway for players with CP, ABI and stroke-related symptoms.

The program delivered:

• 2 Come & Try events

• 9 monthly training sessions

• 2 ParaMatildas meet-and-greets

• Training camp opportunities at Valentine Sports Park

The program now supports 23 registered players.

Mentoring Programs

Three targeted mentoring programs were introduced:

• Future Female Coaches Mentoring Program

Four B-Diploma coaches received in-person and online mentoring from A-League Women’s assistant coach Amy Shepherd.

• Grassroots Female Coaches Mentoring 23 coaches received support from CETs across eight associations.

• Female Referees Mentoring

Ten emerging referees received oneon-one guidance on decision-making, positioning and confidence building.

Inclusion & Diversity

Football4All Gala Day

The 15th annual NOVA Employment Football4All Gala Day returned to Valentine Sports Park with outstanding success. This year’s event brought together 25 teams from 12 clubs, reaffirming its status as a cornerstone celebration of inclusive, all-abilities football in New South Wales.

A major highlight was a landmark exhibition match featuring the Para Matildas, Australia’s national para women’s team, fresh from their IFCPF Women’s World Cup victory. Their attendance gave players, families and supporters a rare chance to watch world-class athletes up close and interact with them throughout the day.

Off the field, a lively “Festival Fun Zone” created a vibrant community atmosphere. Participants enjoyed face painting, a jumping castle, an inflatable dartboard and shooting target provided by Football NSW, along with a food truck precinct serving ice cream, fairy floss, chips on a stick and snow cones. NSW Police and the Fire Department also joined the festivities, adding to the inclusive spirit of the event.

The Gala Day was further elevated by the presence of distinguished guests, including Pararoos representative Ben Sutton, the full Para Matildas squad, Blacktown City Councillor Julie Griffiths AM, and Football NSW Chairman Gilbert Lorquet, Deputy Chair Deb Chapman and Board Member Ian Holmes, who assisted with medal presentations.

Participating team included:

• St Ives FC All Abilities

• Active Opportunities

• Balmain All Abilities

• Castle Hill United FC All Abilities

• Kellyville Kolts

• Kickaroos Hills Knights

• Macarthur Magic Special Needs Football Club

• Nepean Dragons Football Club

• NWSF Football4All Pink

• SNAPPAROOS

• The Flaming Devils Marrickville

• West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Football Club

Female Para Program

The Female Para Football Program experienced significant growth throughout 2025. A broader schedule of “come and try” sessions greatly increased accessibility, with the inaugural event on 14 June held alongside a national Para Matildas training camp. Participants enjoyed a rare opportunity to meet members of the national team during a shared lunch, adding inspiration and visibility to the program.

Further strengthening the program’s foundations, the appointment of Alison Lloyd to the coaching staff expanded leadership capacity and supported long-term sustainability and development.

NAIDOC Cup

The 2025 NAIDOC Cup was held from 8–10 October at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation on Guringai Land, Narrabeen. On the field, Football NSW’s Under 14 and Under 16 Girls teams delivered strong performances, winning their respective age group titles. The Boys squads competed bravely but narrowly missed out on their championships.

The tournament opened with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, setting a culturally rich tone for the event. Throughout the competition, players and coaches engaged in communitybuilding activities, including Traditional Indigenous Games hosted by the Office of Sport. On day two, former Subway Socceroo and Charles Perkins Program Technical Director Travis Dodd delivered an insightful Q&A session.

Three Football NSW players received Player of the Tournament honours:

• U16 Boys: Nash Robinson

• U14 Girls: Markie Robinson

• U16 Girls: Lacey Wynne

Overall, the 2025 NAIDOC Cup stood out as both a competitive sporting event and a meaningful celebration of First Nations culture, connection and community spirit.

FNSW Indigenous Advisory Group (FNSWIAG)

The Football NSW Indigenous Advisory Group played a pivotal role in shaping First Nations initiatives throughout 2025. Under the co-leadership of Bianca Dufty, and with the support of members including Jack Stewart, the Group provided strategic guidance for the NAIDOC Cup and other statewide First Nations programs.

In addition to her leadership contributions, Bianca served as assistant coach for the U16 Girls NAIDOC Cup team. Jack Stewart addressed attendees during the Opening Ceremony and engaged directly with players and families during the tournament. Their efforts continue to strengthen pathways for First Nations participation in football.

Scholarships

With the support of the FNSWIAG, Football NSW awarded 10 First Nations Player Scholarships and 2 Coaching Scholarships in 2025.

Player Scholarship Recipients

Metro

• Jarrah Longbottom

• Zachary John Healey

• Coen Hardy

• Hollie Willats

• Summer Smith Country

• Maddison Houghton

• Khloe Houghton

• Alexis Woolsey

• Carter Lane

• Jaxxon Woolsey

Coaching Scholarship Recipients

• Joshua Jamieson

• Jessica Garrett

First Nations Football Festival

The First Nations Football Festival (FNFF) took place from 16–18 October at Apex Oval in Dubbo, hosted by Dhubu Dinawan Football Club. The event featured 20 teams competing across men’s, women’s and junior divisions. Off the field, the venue came alive with cultural and community displays, including stalls from Transport NSW, Heartbeat of Football and local arts and jewellery vendors, creating a vibrant festival atmosphere.

Multicultural Football

In Terms 1 and 2, Football NSW partnered with local schools, councils and community organisations to deliver free football programs for newly arrived migrants and multicultural youth. These initiatives aimed to strengthen connections between schools, clubs and community groups while providing safe, inclusive sporting and social opportunities.

The programs reached 230 participants from migrant, refugee and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, offering tailored football activities for children aged 4–11 and 12–18. Football NSW also collaborated with Kogarah Intensive English Centre, resulting in 13 students participating in national team activations.

These initiatives introduced football to new communities while fostering belonging, confidence and ongoing participation.

Partner Organisations included:

• Kogarah Intensive English Centre

• Kuring-Gai Council

• CORE Community Services

• Cumberland Council

• Mount Druitt Ethnic Communities Agency

• Bankstown Football Club

• Manly Warringah Football Association

• Advanced Diversities

• NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors

Sporting Schools

The Australian Sports Commission’s Sporting Schools Program is a government-funded initiative designed to boost children’s participation in sports and connect them with community sporting opportunities across Australia. The program provides schools with grants and resources to deliver engaging sports activities, often in partnership with over 40 national sporting organisations.

Established this year, Football NSW is the preferred football program provider in New South Wales. The introduction of this program has enabled Football NSW to expand its reach and upskill

its workforce, ensuring the successful delivery of quality football experiences for students. This initiative aims to foster a lifelong love of sport and promote healthy, active lifestyles among children across the state.

In 2025, FNSW built a coaching workforce that facilitated 188 programs, which saw a total of 17,119 students participate in regular football activities during their sports lessons. Another 50 programs were delivered by NSW teachers, reaching a further 7,568 students. FNSW looks forward to expanding the program in 2026.

Club Development

Club Development Conference

More than 180 attendees from over 90 clubs gathered at Valentine Sports Park on 2 February for a full day of presentations and workshops covering safeguarding, data analysis, player and spectator behaviour, infrastructure and rants, diversity, equity and inclusion, grassroots.

Club Changer

In 2025, Football NSW continued its strong support of Football Australia’s Club Development Program, Club Changer. Across the state, 259 clubs have now achieved 1-star Club Changer accreditation, with 56 clubs progressing to 2-star accreditation.

Notably, four clubs were among the first in the country to reach the prestigious 3-star milestone. In addition, 65 clubs completed the safeguarding module, a requirement for 2-star accreditation and a further 71 clubs participated in Football Australia safeguarding webinars.

Launched in 2023, the Growing Football Fund (GFF) a partnership between Football Australia and CommBank, continues to strengthen club capability and expand opportunities for women and girls. The program’s Community Grant initiative is closely aligned with Club Changer, supporting clubs to build long-term sustainability and inclusive environments. Through this program, nearly 100 Football NSW clubs have secured funding, helping to create more pathways and participation opportunities for women and girls across the game.

Summer Football

Football is a sport of passion and skill, but it is also about enjoyment and summer football captures that spirit perfectly. It offers a relaxed, social environment that prioritises fun over competition, teammates over tactics and convenience over structure.

In 2024/25, Football NSW Summer Football centres registered close to 80,000 players. With so many locations available, the off-season has become optional. These centres not only expand playing opportunities but also generate essential revenue that helps ease pressure on winter football fees.

A particularly exciting trend is that around one-third of summer players are not regular winter participants. Just as winter footballers try other sports in the off-season, many players from other sports are giving football a go during summer. Smaller-sided games, consistent venues, shorter match times and a relaxed atmosphere all make summer football an ideal entry point for newcomers.

Building on the success of recent seasons, Football NSW will encourage more Associations to offer winter social football in 2026 essentially summer football, but during winter. This flexible format caters to those who cannot commit to a full traditional season and provides participation options in age groups or regions that may not have sufficient numbers for a standard competition.

Winter social football also offers those one-in-three summeronly participants a version of the game that suits their lifestyle, a quick weeknight run rather than a Saturday commitment. Most importantly, social football keeps the emphasis where it belongs: on fun, friends and a lifelong love of the game.

Futsal

In 2025, Football NSW experienced another year of strong growth in futsal participation, player development, and high-performance success. Both grassroots and elite levels continued to expand, reinforcing the state’s position as a national leader in the sport and strengthening sustainable pathways for players, coaches, and the broader futsal community.

Local Futsal Growth

Local futsal participation remained steady, with 2,954 registered community players. When combined with State League numbers, New South Wales recorded a total of 4,950 registered futsal participants in 2025. The participation profile reflected a 74% male to 26% female split, continuing an encouraging upward trend in both areas of the game. Football NSW supported this growth through its network of 12 affiliated centres and 22 affiliated futsal clubs, all of which delivered competitions and programs throughout the year.

Schools futsal also saw further expansion. Across 15 regional championships and the State Championships, 345 teams from 397 schools competed, demonstrating the sport’s increasing footprint in the education sector and its importance as an entry point for young players.

Winter Futsal League

The 2025 Winter Futsal League again proved to be a highlight of the competitive calendar. Running from April to July and hosted at Valentine Sports Park and The Centre Dural, the league featured 12 men’s and eight women’s clubs from across the state. Sydney Allstars were crowned Men’s Champions, while Mountain Majik secured the Women’s title. Futsal Manager Jordan Guerreiro acknowledged the continued commitment of participating clubs in ensuring the league remained vibrant, competitive, and engaging.

Junior Development – JDL Futsal Cup

A major youth development milestone was the inaugural 2025 Junior Futsal Cup, held at Hawkesbury PCYC on 15 July for the Under 9 age group. Five clubs took part, with SD Raiders FC claiming the Championship after an all-club final. The tournament provided young players with valuable exposure to futsal in a different competitive environment, and its success has laid the groundwork for expansion in 2026. As Guerreiro noted, the initiative strengthens the link between football and futsal, offering a complementary pathway for developing technical skills.

Futsal Talent Support Program (TSP)

2025 marked the launch of Football NSW’s first Futsal Talent Support Program (TSP), extending the established Football TSP model into futsal. Delivered over a 10-week Term 4 block, the program engaged 75 players split into four groups.. The objectives centred on providing performance-focused training, improving talent identification processes, and bridging the gap between domestic competition and international expectations. The program represents a significant step in aligning futsal development with Football NSW’s long-term technical strategy.

National Futsal Championships (NFC)

NSW reaffirmed its dominance at the 2025 National Futsal Championships in Melbourne, finishing as the overall Member Federation Champion. NSW secured titles in U12 Boys Lightning, U14 Boys Thunder, U15 Girls Lightning, U16 Boys Thunder, U17 Girls Thunder, and Youth Men (U19) Thunder. Several teams also finished runners-up, showcasing the state’s depth of talent and the strength of its pathways.

Coach Education and Development

Coach development progressed strongly in 2025, highlighted by the first-ever Football NSW Futsal Coaching Conference, held 13–15 October with around 60 coaches. International coach José “Pulpis” Mendez delivered both theoretical and practical sessions focused on attacking and defensive principles, contributing to coaches’ CPD accreditation.

Across the year, Football NSW also delivered two Level 1 Futsal Courses—completed by 11 female coaches—six Foundation of Futsal Courses, and trained four new futsal tutor educators. These initiatives continue to build coaching capacity across the state and support long-term futsal development.

Referee Development

An often-thankless job, Football NSW recognises the importance of match officials on the field, and the volunteers, parents, friends and administrators who support them off the field and around the grounds. Thank you to the entire refereeing community for your dedication, resilience and hard work during the season.

2025 saw 5,915 registered match officials within the outdoor, summer and football space. FNSW would like to thank the participants and administrators that persevered through the launch of Football Australia’s new registration system this year.

Education

Football Australia’s online learning platform featured new course material in referee upgrade and referee coaching courses. 1,696 learners enrolled in the entry level Junior Football Match Official course; an increase of 10.7% from last year’s enrolments. 290 qualified referees enrolled in the new material to upgrade their qualification via the Senior Football Match Official course.

Community Support

For the second year, FNSW employed Referee Development Officers (RDOs) to assist community referee branches with the training and development of their local officials. 48 sessions were conducted by these RDOs in conjunction with local branches throughout the season.

In 2025, FNSW rolled out a RESPECT media campaign. The video series focused on the story of three different individuals who represented different parts of the referee community:

• Frieda Maher from Canterbury Referees Association who is an active referee and referee coach with a specific focus on developing grassroots female referees

• Wael Arabi from Nepean Referees Group who is a member of the FNSW Referee Academy and currently progressing through the referee pathways

• Paul Mercieca from St George Football Referees Association, who is a referee and volunteer Appointments Officer for his local branch

Football NSW Referees Academy

The Football NSW Referees Academy (FNSWRA) is a long-standing development program within the state, which has seen graduates reach selection to national and international competitions. 2025 marked the ninth batch of match officials to undergo the program, which involved specialised speed and agility training, opportunities to officiate at tournaments, targeted match day coaching and access to mentoring and coaching from officials on the NPL and A-Leagues. The 23 officials’ part of the class of 2025 represented 11 different community branches, and the conclusion of the season has seen them all graduate the program successfully.

Referee Development Program

The Referee Development Program (RDP) is often the first step for local match officials who are looking to further development their abilities as match officials into junior state competitions. 220 expressions of interest were received for the program in 2025, with 320 coaching reports submitted for these match officials by experienced referee coaches throughout the year; reflecting FNSW’s investment in developing junior match officials across the state.

Emerging Matildas and Socceroos Championships

Formerly known as the Football Australia National Youth Championships, the Emerging Matildas and Socceroos tournaments for 2025 saw 15 NSW match officials selected to referee the tournaments; seven in the girl’s competition, eight in the boy’s competition.

Congratulations to Nina Cortese (Southern Districts Referees) who was named the U16 Match Official of the Tournament at the Emerging Matildas tournament in Sydney

Football NSW Referees Branch

2025 was the second year of FNSW managing the appointment, training and development of match officials involved the NPL NSW and Football NSW Leagues competitions.

FNSW would like to thank the Referee Technical Unit (RTU) who continued to support the ongoing coaching, training and development of match officials:

• Ben Abraham (Technical Director)

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

• Casey Reibelt (Head Coach – NPL Women’s)

• Matt McOrist (Head Coach – Assistant Referees)

Throughout the season, weekly theory and physical training sessions were held for members, including sessions featuring guests from Heartbeat of Football, Empower Her Physio,

Academy of Sport Speed, Football Australia and international referee associations.

Football Australia Referee Academy and A-Leagues Panels

Alessandro Llana, Charlotte Flynn, Eric Saba and Mia Velarde were selected to join the Football Australia Referee Academy (FARA) for 2025. Flynn and Velarde debuted on the A-League Women’s competition as fourth officials, while Llana and Saba were selected for the inaugural season of the Australian Championships.

A total of 22 NSW officials were selected for the 2024/25 A-Leagues season. Congratulations to the following officials who were appointed to their respective grand finals:

• Emma Kocbek: Assistant Referee, A-League Men’s and Australia Cup Grand Final

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

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

• Maddy Allum: Assistant Referee, A-League Women’s Grand Final

• Molly Godsell: Fourth Official, A-League Women’s Grand Final

Football NSW would like to highlight the contributions of Kelly Jones and Andrej Giev to the A-Leagues throughout the years, with both officials stepping away as active officials on the elite panels for the upcoming season.

FIFA

Congratulations to the nine FNSW match officials who were appointed to the 2025 FIFA International Referee Panel:

• Ben Abraham (Referee)

• Andrew Best (Futsal Referee)

• Brad Wright (Assistant Referee)

• Dion Bradley (Futsal Referee)

• Emma Kocbek (Assistant Referee)

• Jonathon Moore (Futsal Referee)

• Kearney Robinson (Assistant Referee and Video Match Official)

• Maddy Allum (Assistant Referee)

• Nicholas Backo (Futsal Referee)

Coach Development

In 2025, the Football NSW Coach Education and Development team continued to elevate coaching standards statewide, supporting more than 21,000 registered coaches across grassroots and elite levels. The department achieved record growth in course delivery across metropolitan and regional areas, ensuring consistent and accessible education for all coaches.

A key focus was strengthening Grassroots Coach Education. Football NSW worked closely with Member Associations, who delivered 72 Foundation of Football courses, 86 MiniRoos courses, numerous CPD workshops and Grassroots festivals. The appointment of Paul Higgins as Grassroots Coach Development Lead further enhanced engagement with community coaches. Regional Development Officers also delivered 16 Foundation of Football courses across all regional branches, expanding access for country coaches.

Competition compliance received increased attention through new benchmarking and standards across JDL and GYL competitions. To meet rising demand, more than 30 C Diploma courses commenced, along with 13 B Diploma courses.

The Coach Education Tutor (CET) network expanded to over 100 qualified tutors. To ensure quality and consistency, Football NSW introduced a policy requiring at least two CETs per course, supported by pre-season briefings and on-course mentoring. International experts Kimura Yasuhiko (Japan FA) and Sean Douglas (FIFA) delivered specialist development workshops, reinforcing global best practice.

Continuing Professional Development remained integral, with 105 CPD hours delivered, 84 of them free of charge. Sessions were held statewide and online, highlighted by an exclusive workshop with English Premier League head coach Sean Dyche.

The flagship 2025 Coaching Conference attracted more than 1,000 coaches to Valentine Sports Park, featuring keynote speakers from Germany, Japan, England and Italy. Goalkeeper Coach Education expanded significantly with new courses, the AFC/FA Goalkeeper B Diploma delivered locally, and the inaugural NSW Goalkeeper Coaching Conference drawing over 150 coaches.

Female coach development continued to grow, supported by 231 scholarships through the NSW Government’s Legacy Program and the second Female-Only B Diploma course. Mentorship programs also flourished, led by A-League Women’s coach Amy Shepherd and grassroots mentor Kim Schaefer.

2025 marked another milestone year in Football NSW’s commitment to developing coaches and strengthening the game across the state.

Talented Player Pathway

2025 saw positive progress in key development outcomes for the Football NSW player development programs under the direction of Nadine Shiels (Player Development Manager – Girls), Phil Myall (Player Development Manager – Boys) and Andrew Fearnley (Development Manager Regional Football).

Across the Talent Support Programs a total of 1,441 player talent identification assessments were completed, leading the way for 355 additional matches for those selected to create ‘best and best’ environments throughout the year. This culminated in the outstanding performances across all categories at the inaugural Emerging Matildas & Socceroos Championships, which saw Football NSW crowned Champions and recipients of many individual awards.

Girls Player Development

Talent Support Program (TSP)

The Girls Talent Support Program (TSP) continued to provide genuine best-versus-best opportunities for Football NSW’s most promising young players. In 2025 the program evolved through stronger collaboration with A-League Academies, including the Western Sydney Wanderers and Central Coast Mariners. It serviced players born in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Twenty-four NPL Youth clubs were represented, with players selected from Girls Youth Leagues 1 and 2, as well as several standout players identified from boys’ competitions. This reflects the inclusive nature of the Football NSW talent pathway and the impact of 119 club visits conducted throughout the season.

Player engagement rose significantly, with 117 total contacts across the year through Tuesday night fixtures, tournaments, and special events—including the Football Queensland tournament for 2011s. Coaches also expanded talent identification efforts, completing close to 500 new player assessments.

State Team Achievements

Football NSW achieved outstanding results at the Emerging Matildas Championships, fielding two metropolitan Under 15 teams (2010/2011) and one Under 16 team (2009), representing 12 clubs.

Notable achievements included:

• U15 Sky Team – Emerging Matildas Champions

• U15 Player of the Tournament: Mary Dal Broi

• U15 Grand Final MVP: Jada Taylor

• U15 Top Goalscorers: Madena Moussa & Jada Taylor

Talent Development Scheme (TDS)

Football Australia redesigned the TDS into a two-day format featuring workshops, training sessions and high-level matches. One event was delivered in 2025 for 2009 and 2010-born players, enabling state pathway coaches to work directly alongside national team staff.

Player Development Outcomes

The Girls Talented Player Pathway (TPP) continues to align strongly with national programs. In 2025:

• 44 players progressed into A-League academies

• 24 players were selected for Junior Matildas camps or tournaments

• 13 of 23 players (56.5%) selected for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers squad were from Football NSW

These results reinforce the pathway’s effectiveness in preparing players technically, tactically, and psychologically for professional and international standards.

Technical Leadership

The Emerging Matildas Championships Technical Report, developed in 2024 and updated in 2025, was presented at the Football NSW Coaching Conference and shared with Technical Directors statewide. This resource ensures insights from national competitions translate into local player development.

Future

Sapphires Program (FSP)

The inaugural Future Sapphires Program was an outstanding success, supporting 2009–2011-born players from nine NPL clubs and one association club. The program delivered 140 training sessions and 16 high-level matches against boys’ teams, significantly increasing meaningful development contacts.

Strong communication with clubs, supported by detailed reporting, ensured alignment with Club Youth programs. A total of 20 players were identified for national team selection, reflecting the program’s holistic approach centred on technical development, competitive challenge and personal growth.

Boys Player Development

Talent Support Program (TSP)

The Boys TSP underwent major refinement in 2025, shifting from 90 players and five teams to 54 players and three teams in each age group (2010–2011). This restructure enhanced competition standards and individual opportunity.

Match durations increased from 50 to 70 minutes, providing more meaningful exposure. Nineteen NPL Youth clubs were represented, with players selected from Youth Leagues 1, 2 and 3.

Player engagement reached 182 contacts through weekly fixtures, tournaments and showcase events, including:

• The inaugural A-Leagues/TSP Tournament at Valentine Sports Park

• A match versus the New Zealand Schoolboys in April

Talent identification efforts expanded significantly, with over 3,500 player assessments in the scouting database and 91 match-day assessments completed.

Talent Development Scheme (TDS)

Four TDS matches were delivered for players born 2007–2009, providing key opportunities for Joeys and Young Socceroos selection. These events also included coach development workshops involving national team staff.

State Team Achievements

Football NSW excelled at the Emerging Socceroos Championships, fielding two teams each in the 2009 and 2010 age groups and representing 12 clubs.

Key results included:

• 2009 Sky – Champions

• 2010 Player of the Tournament: Josef Sikora

• 2009 Player of the Tournament: Aston Reid

• 2009 Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Lachlan Allen

• 2009 Grand Final MVP: Emile Katrib

• 2009 Top Goalscorer: Orson Conroy

• 2009 Coach of the Tournament: Drew Taylor

The Boys TSP continues to demonstrate strong alignment with national pathways:

• 155 players have transitioned to A-League academies

• 35 former TSP players have progressed to A-League Men’s

• 30 players have represented Australia at junior national team level

Technical Leadership

The Emerging Socceroos Championships Technical Report was distributed statewide to guide technical leadership and support continual improvement across the youth development landscape.

Regional Player Development

Talent Support Program (TSP) Regional

TSP Regional increased its match focus in 2025, delivering:

• 16 TSP Regional Game Days

• 18 combined Hub matches

• 58 games at Football NSW TSP Game Days

A total of 240 players participated across boys and girls programs. Coaches also conducted extensive scouting across BYL/GYL fixtures, local competitions and major regional tournaments such as the Bathurst Cup, Proctor Park Challenge and Country Cup.

Country State Team

Football NSW Country fielded teams in the 2009 and 2010 age groups at the Emerging Championships, providing crucial exposure for regional players and coaches. Final placings included:

• 15th – U15 Boys

• 14th – U16 Boys

• 9th – U15 Girls

• 11th – U16 Girls

A standout achievement was Phoebe Gordon, who claimed the Golden Boot at the Emerging Matildas Championships.

Club Technical Development

Club Standards & Benchmarking Annual Report

The year 2025 marked a significant step forward in Football NSW’s commitment to driving continuous improvement through the Club Standards & Benchmarking Framework, with club outcomes shared publicly for the first time with all key stakeholders.

The year began with the launch of the Junior Development Leagues (JDL), formerly the Skill Acquisition Phase (SAP)—the commencement of the Girls Youth League (GYL) Year 1 assessment cycle, and the announcement of the forthcoming Boys Youth League (BYL) 2026–27 cycle.

The role of the Technical Advisor remains essential in guiding club development across all Junior Development and Youth Leagues. In 2025, the technical team conducted 288 matchday and training visits across 65 JDL and 28 GYL licensees, providing detailed analysis and tailored recommendations to uplift program quality and strengthen player development environments.

Benchmarking Outcomes

Football NSW is extremely pleased with the progress and commitment demonstrated by clubs in adopting and implementing recommendations from their 2024 reports. The collective effort resulted in an average improvement of 8% across all Benchmarking components in 2025.

The Framework evaluates four key areas that underpin standards, alignment, and development across all programs:

• Delivery

• Planning

• Retention & Progression

• Technical Qualifications

Planning

This component examines the strategic and operational structures guiding program delivery and long-term development. In 2025, clubs achieved a 20% increase, supported by Football NSW’s eight planning and capability-building workshops.

Delivery

The quality of training and matchday delivery—where technical staff have the greatest influence on player development—rose by 9% from 2024 to 2025. This reflects strong club investment in coach upskilling and improved player engagement.

Retention & Progression

Focusing on long-term player and coach development outcomes, this area recorded a 22% improvement. Clubs demonstrated greater emphasis on coach education, player pathways and longterm development planning.

Technical Qualifications

Coach qualifications remain essential for compliance and player development. While this component showed a modest 1% increase, it remains a priority for 2026 and beyond. Football NSW has introduced a Coach Education Roadmap to strengthen club capability.

Recognition

Football NSW was honoured by Sport NSW with the Innovation of the Year award for its implementation of the Club Standards & Benchmarking Framework—recognition of the significant progress made in elevating standards across community and development football.

NPL Men’s NSW

After an exhilarating campaign, the 2025 National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW season came to a thrilling conclusion, headlined by Champions APIA Leichhardt and Premiers NWS Spirit FC.

NWS Spirit FC delivered a remarkable Premiership triumph, stunning the competition by nearly doubling their points tally from 2024 to secure their first-ever NPL Men’s NSW Premiership title. Losing just four matches throughout the regular season, the achievement under head coach David Perkovic was nothing short of outstanding, as the club overcame a host of established NPL NSW heavyweights to finish first in only their third year in the competition.

The Championship honours, however, belonged to APIA Leichhardt FC, who continued their golden run by claiming a major trophy for the third consecutive year. Their 2-1 victory over fourthplaced Rockdale Ilinden in the Grand Final capped off another superb season for the famous Italian club, who also finished second on the league table.

Marconi Stallions, who secured third place in the regular season, were eliminated by APIA on their path to Championship glory, while Blacktown City and Sydney United 58, winners of the 2025 Waratah Cup, were both halted at the Elimination Finals stage.

Sydney Olympic, Wollongong Wolves, and St George City each mounted spirited challenges for a top-six finish but ultimately fell short due to inconsistency across the campaign. Meanwhile,

Sydney FC, Manly United, and St George FC occupied mid-table positions, all showing flashes of potential to break into the finals during 2025.

At the other end of the table, Sutherland Sharks endured another challenging season, avoiding relegation in the penultimate round, while Western Sydney Wanderers secured their league status on the final day. The relegation battle saw two sides drop out of the top flight, with second-bottom Central Coast Mariners defeated by SD Raiders in the promotion-relegation playoff, and bottom-placed Mt Druitt Town Rangers set to be replaced by UNSW FC in 2026.

The 2025 Annual Gala Dinner celebrated a year of standout performances, with Wollongong Wolves’ Nicholas Olsen claiming the prestigious NPL Men’s NSW Player of the Year award. APIA Leichhardt’s Franco Parisi was named Coach of the Year, while Marconi Stallions’ James Hilton earned Goalkeeper of the Year honours. Rounding out the accolades, Rockdale Ilinden’s prolific striker Alec Urosevski secured his third consecutive Golden Boot, following his triumphs in 2023 and 2024.

NPL Women’s NSW

The 2025 National Premier League NSW Women’s season will long be remembered for the brilliance of Bulls FC Academy, who completed a stunning Premiership and Championship double to cap an unforgettable campaign.

Their dominance came after a slow start, with newly promoted Mt Druitt Town Rangers setting the early pace. Ben Gough’s side went unbeaten through their first nine matches, conceding just four goals and quickly establishing themselves as surprise contenders. APIA Leichhardt FC began brightly but stumbled mid-season, while Manly United and the Illawarra Stingrays proved consistent topfour challengers. UNSW FC, NWS Spirit FC, Gladesville Ravens, and Northern Tigers all showed promise but struggled for the consistency required to secure finals places.

Sydney Olympic endured their toughest start since promotion, while defending champions Macarthur Rams navigated a rebuilding phase under new coach Vic Guzman. New entrants Western Sydney Wanderers displayed flashes of potential in their debut campaign, while Newcastle Jets battled valiantly, producing key wins late in the season but ultimately succumbing to relegation.

As the campaign progressed, the Bulls found their rhythm, closing in on Mt Druitt, who also reached the Sapphire Cup Final before falling to an inspired APIA Leichhardt. That Cup success reignited APIA’s form and set up a thrilling multi-team Premiership race involving Bulls FC Academy, UNSW FC, and the Illawarra Stingrays.

The final rounds delivered high drama. Illawarra’s winless finish saw them slip out of contention, Manly narrowly missed finals

qualification, and Mt Druitt Town Rangers’ demanding run-in cost them a title shot but secured a deserved playoff place. UNSW FC stormed into third, winning eight of their last ten matches in a superb late surge.

The regular season culminated in a blockbuster decider between APIA and Bulls FC Academy. A draw would have been enough for the Bulls, but they went all out for victory—Petria Phillips netting twice, including a late winner, to secure the club’s first-ever top-tier title. Rising star Skye Halmarick was another standout, scoring 23 goals for NWS Spirit and earning an A-League Women’s contract with Sydney FC.

Finals football provided a fitting finale. Bulls edged past Mt Druitt in extra time, while APIA defeated UNSW to set up a Grand Final for the ages. At Jubilee Stadium, the Bulls rallied from 2-0 down to win 4-3 after extra time captain Liz Grey heading home the decisive goal before goalkeeper Mio Nemoto’s penalty save sealed an incredible double.

At the Annual Gala Awards, UNSW FC’s Sarah Langman was named Goalkeeper of the Year, Bulls FC Academy’s Martinho Garces received Coach of the Year, and NWS Spirit’s Skye Halmarick capped a brilliant season by being crowned Player of the Year.

League One Men’s

The 2025 FNSW League One Men’s competition drew more attention than ever, delivering a captivating title and promotion race that went right down to the wire.

In the end, UNSW FC were crowned Champions, with SD Raiders FC joining them in promotion after triumphing in the promotionrelegation playoff.

Fittingly, the story begins with league champions UNSW FC, who secured promotion to the top tier in just their second season in League One. Dropping only two points across their final eight fixtures, the team showed exceptional resilience and depth, overcoming a series of injury setbacks with astute mid-season acquisitions that proved decisive in their title charge.

Joining them in next year’s top flight are SD Raiders FC, who earned their place after defeating Central Coast Mariners in the promotionrelegation playoff. Having led the competition through much of the first half of the season, the Raiders demonstrated both quality and consistency, providing strong indications they can compete at the highest level in 2026.

Beyond the promoted sides, the race for the top two remained fiercely competitive throughout the sea-son, with as many as eight teams vying for promotion at various stages. Blacktown Spartans, Newcastle Jets, Northern Tigers, Rydalmere Lions, and Inter Lions all featured prominently in the battle, highlighting the depth and competitiveness of the league.

At the opposite end of the table, Mounties Wanderers were unable to secure survival in their return to the competition, while Bonnyrigg White Eagles joined them in relegation after falling in the promotion-relegation playoff.

Individual accolades also reflected the league’s high standard in 2025. Northern Tigers’ prolific forward Kai Denton claimed the Golden Boot with a remarkable 23 goals, appearing in every match of the season. He was closely followed by Aedon Kyra, Jonathan Grozdanovski, Ahmad Taleb, and Robert Eremugo, each finishing with 18 goals.

It was also a standout year for Northern Tigers goalkeeper Bodie Denton, who earned the Goalkeeper of the Year award, while UNSW FC’s Gabriel Knowles, fresh off guiding his side to promotion, was deservedly named Coach of the Year.

Rounding out the major honours, Rydalmere Lions’ dynamic attacker Robert Eremugo was crowned Player of the Year for his outstanding performances across the campaign.

League One Women’s

The 2025 Football NSW League One Women’s competition came to a close after another thrilling season filled with drama, quality football, and excitement across all 13 competing teams.

Hills United FC proved the standout performers of the year, dominating the competition to claim a historic Premiership and Championship double. Their remarkable campaign was capped off with a 1-0 Grand Final victory over SD Raiders FC, marking a milestone achievement in the club’s rapid rise since its inception in 2022.

SD Raiders FC, Central Coast Mariners FC, and Marconi Stallions FC also enjoyed exceptional seasons, each securing a place in the top four and featuring in finals football. SD Raiders edged past Central Coast Mariners in an extra-time semi-final thriller, while Marconi Stallions fell narrowly to eventual champions Hills United in a hardfought 2-1 encounter.

Just outside the top four, South Coast Flame FC and St George FC both delivered impressive performances throughout the campaign. St George’s Jordan Baker had a standout year, earning the Golden Boot award following a prolific season in front of goal, while South Coast Flame remained in contention for finals football until the closing rounds.

Bankstown City Lions FC and Inter Lions FC showed notable improvement in 2025, setting a strong foundation for future success. Sutherland Strikers FC combined experienced signings with emerging young talent to build for the seasons ahead, while

Camden Tigers FC achieved their highest-ever League One Women’s finish after proving a difficult opponent throughout the year. Blacktown Spartans FC and Nepean FC both produced memorable moments in the Sapphire Cup despite challenging league campaigns, while Blacktown City FC continued their development as they found their footing in the competition.

All teams will now regroup over the off-season, with an exciting and competitive 2026 League One Women’s campaign already on the horizon.

On the awards front, St George FC’s Jordan Baker claimed the Golden Boot for her outstanding goal-scoring exploits, while SD Raiders FC’s Natasha Pentecost was recognised as Goalkeeper of the Year. Hills United FC’s Allan Tasses earned Coach of the Year honours after guiding his side to promotion and double silverware, and the club capped off a stellar season with Isabella Sciberras being named Player of the Year at the Annual Gala Dinner.

League Two Men’s

The 2025 Football NSW League Two Men’s season was one filled with highs, lows, and countless memorable moments, culminating in two clubs earning promotion to League One Men’s for the first time in their history.

Hurstville Zagreb FC claimed the Premiership in impressive fashion, sealing top spot on the ladder in Round 25 with a 2-1 victory over Hawkesbury City FC. The win sparked jubilant celebrations as the club secured both the title and its first-ever promotion to League One Men’s for the 2026 season.

Joining them in the division above will be Prospect United, who triumphed in the promotion-relegation playoff against Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC. After a fiercely contested two-legged tie, the decider went to extra time, where Jakob Petterson’s 102nd-minute strike secured a dramatic 4-3 aggregate victory and promotion to League One Men’s.

The season once again produced an outstanding individual campaign, with South Coast Flame FC’s Jyden Harb dominating the scoring charts to claim the Golden Boot with 29 goals, marking a second consecutive year with a runaway top scorer. Harb also played a starring role in his side’s emphatic 7-0 win over Granville Rage in Round 1, which stood as the largest victory of the 2025 season.

Among the season’s many highlights, Dunbar Rovers FC recorded the latest match-winning goal of the campaign when they struck in the 90+5th minute to secure a 1-0 away win over Fraser Park FC. Across the year, a total of 770 goals were scored, slightly

down from 838 in 2024 but with no shortage of drama and quality on display throughout the competition.

At the 2025 Annual Gala Awards, several League Two Men’s representatives were recognised for their exceptional performances. Hurstville Zagreb FC’s Michael Rutherford earned Goalkeeper of the Year honours, while his coach Valerio Silvestro was named Coach of the Year after guiding the club to promotion. South Coast Flame FC’s Jyden Harb capped off his remarkable season by also taking home the Player of the Year award to complement his Golden Boot triumph.

Following a season that saw two new clubs rise to League One Men’s and countless memorable moments across the competition, every team will now look to recharge over the offseason and prepare for another exciting campaign in 2026.

Futsal Premier League

Futsal continues to go from strength to strength and in 2025, the Futsal Premier League competitions once again showcased exactly why the sport is one of the most exciting and technically demanding forms of football in Australia.

Headlined by live broadcasts across the Open Men’s and Open Women’s competitions, the Futsal Premier League delivered highintensity action, elite skill and dramatic finales week after week. Played at lightning speed and decided in moments of brilliance, futsal remains the ultimate proving ground for creativity, technique and tactical intelligence.

Importantly, these competitions are more than just domestic leagues, they are the heartbeat of Australian futsal. The bulk of both the Australian Men’s and Women’s Futsal National Team squads proudly hail from the Futsal Premier League and Futsal Premier League 2 competitions, underlining the crucial role they play in developing and showcasing the nation’s best talent.

Futsal Premier League

The 2025 season crowned an outstanding group of Premiers and Champions across all age groups.

In Open Men, Mountain Majik Futsal Club secured the Premiership, while Mascot Vipers rose to claim the Championship. Mascot Vipers also featured prominently across the competition, highlighted by Premiership success in Open Women and 19 Men, and a Championship in 16 Boys.

Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Futsal Club claimed the Open Women’s Championship and the 12 Boys Premiership, while UTS Northside Futsal Club (16 Boys), Sydney Allstars (15 Girls), Dural Warriors (13 Girls) and others etched their names into the 2025 honour roll.

Futsal Premier League 2

The depth of talent was equally evident in Premier League 2.

West City Crusaders (Open Men Premiers) and Macarthur Quake Futsal Club (Open Men Champions) headlined a fiercely competitive campaign. South Coast Taipans (Open Women Premiers) and SD Raiders Futsal (Open Women Champions) also enjoyed standout seasons.

Across the youth divisions, APIA FC Futsal, West City Crusaders, Macarthur Quake Futsal Club and South Coast Taipans all celebrated silverware, reinforcing the strength of the development pathways within the league structure.

AWD Futsal

The AWD Open Mixed competition once again demonstrated the inclusive power of futsal. West City Crusaders claimed both the Premiership and Championship, highlighting the growth and competitive quality within this inspiring division.

From grassroots to national representation, futsal in 2025 has proven that the game is thriving, fast, fearless and firmly positioned at the forefront of Australia’s football landscape.

Cup Competitions

Football NSW State Cup Finals

The Football NSW State Cup Finals made a triumphant return to Valentine Sports Park on Sunday, with 30 of the state’s top community football teams battling it out for championship glory.

Returning to the ‘Home of Football’ in Glenwood, the day delivered non-stop action, drama, and excitement, featuring an incredible 39 goals scored across all matches as 15 teams were crowned State Cup Champions.

The Manly Warringah Football Association (MWFA) enjoyed a standout day, claiming six titles, the most of any association. Close behind, Sutherland Shire FA (SSFA) and Northern Suburbs FA (NSFA) each secured three titles, while Football South Coast, North West Sydney Football, and Eastern Suburbs FA took home one apiece.

At club level, it was a season to remember for Belrose-Terrey Hills Raiders SC (MWFA) and Lindfield FC (NSFA), who both captured three State Cup titles each, capping off remarkable campaigns for two of the state’s most ambitious community clubs.

In what was also a first for the cup competition, each of the 15 matches were streamed live and exclusive on Football NSW’s YouTube channel.

2025 Football NSW State Cup Finals Results

• U13 Girls

Belrose-Terrey Hills Raiders (MWFA) 4 v Gymea United FC (SSFA) 2

• U13 Boys

Sans Souci FC (FSG) 0 v Belrose-Terrey Hills Raiders (MWFA) 1

• U14 Girls

Kirrawee Kangaroos FC (SSFA) 0 v Collaroy Cromer Strikers (MWFA) 0 (Kirrawee won 4-3 on penalties)

• U14 Boys

Unanderra Hearts (FSC) 0 v Lilli Pilli (SSFA) 0 (Unanderra won 3-1 on penalties)

• U15 Girls

Seaforth FC (MWFA) 2 v Lindfield FC (NSFA) 1

• U15 Boys

Ryde Panthers FC (NWSF) 1 v Kellyville Kolts SC (HILLS) 0

• U16 Girls

Lilli Pilli (SSFA) 1 v Wakehurst FC (MWFA) 0

• 16 Boys

Forest Killarney FC (MWFA) 2 v Gymea United FC (SSFA) 1

• 17 Boys

Belrose-Terrey Hills Raiders (MWFA) 1 v Lane Cove West FC (NSFA) 3

• 18 Mens

Belrose-Terrey Hills Raiders (MWFA) 1 v Saint Augustine’s FC (MWFA) 1 (BTHR won 5-3 on penalties)

• 18 Women’s

Bankstown Sports Strikers (BDAFA) 1 v Lindfield FC (NSFA) 2

• 21 Men Robertson Cup

Collaroy Cromer Strikers (MWFA) 2 v Penrith FC (NFA) 0

• All Age Women

Lindfield FC (NSFA) 1 v Miranda Magpies (SSFA) 1 (Lindfield FC won 4-3 on penalties)

• All Age Men Bill Cullinan Cup

Coogee United (ESFA) 1 v Caringbah Redbacks FC (SSFA) 5

• Over 35 Mens

Dunbar Rovers (ESFA) 3 v Coogee United (ESFA) 2

Hahn Australia Cup

Football NSW had four clubs that were represented at this year’s 2025 Hahn Australia Cup Round of 32 qualifiers.

APIA Leichhardt FC, Northern Tigers FC, SD Raiders FC and Sydney United 58 FC all flew the flag for Football NSW proudly.

Both APIA Leichhardt FC and Sydney United 58 reached the round of 16 only to be eliminated following losses to Sydney FC and Avondale FC respectively.

Sapphire Cup Final

APIA Leichhardt FC claimed their second Sapphire Cup title in style, defeating Mt Druitt Town Rangers 3-0 at Valentine Sports Park in a commanding display of attacking football and defensive composure.

In a high-energy start, APIA set the tone early, pressing relentlessly and creating chances through Sophie Hoban and Charlotte Lancaster. Their pressure paid off in the 22nd minute when a loose ball from a Rangers defensive mix-up allowed Ashlie Crofts to pounce from close range, giving APIA a deserved 1-0 lead.

After a brief floodlight delay that paused the match, APIA resumed their dominance. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Hoban doubled the advantage with a superbly struck volley through a crowded penalty area, sending Leichhardt into the break with a 2-0 lead and firm control of the contest.

Mt Druitt, looked to respond after halftime with coach Ben Gough introducing fresh legs, but APIA’s back line remained resolute. Leena Khamis came close with a header that flashed wide, while substitute Rosaria Galea threatened from set pieces but couldn’t find the target.

APIA sealed victory in the 61st minute through a devastating counterattack. Hoban won possession in midfield and released Crofts, whose effort struck the crossbar before she unselfishly squared for Estelle Fragale to calmly slot home at the near post, 3-0 and it was game over.

Despite late efforts from the Rangers, including long-range strikes from Khamis and Ena Harada, APIA’s defence, led by Mia Golding and goalkeeper Sophie Magus, stood firm to record a clean sheet.

It was a complete performance from APIA Leichhardt FC full of intensity, creativity, and control as they lifted their second Sapphire Cup in just three seasons. Jordan Jasnos was named Player of the Match for her tireless display on the wing, epitomising APIA’s dominance and spirit throughout a memorable final.

Waratah Cup Final

Sydney United 58 secured their eighth Waratah Cup title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Northern Tigers at Valentine Sports Park.

The National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s side made the perfect start, taking the lead in the seventh minute through Luke Zuvela. A well-worked move down the right saw Bailey Rule advance into space before finding Mason Wells, whose sharp run and precise cutback set up Zuvela to finish clinically between two defenders and past Tigers goalkeeper Bodie Denton.

After the early breakthrough, both teams enjoyed spells of possession but struggled to create clear chances. United 58 looked the more dangerous going forward, with Wells firing narrowly wide in the 24th minute before Denton twice denied Leroy Jennings before half-time, first rushing off his line to block, then producing a brilliant save from close range to keep his side in contention.

Northern Tigers started the second half brightly, showing confidence on the ball and pushing United 58 deep into their own half. Despite their composure and control, the League One Men’s outfit couldn’t find a breakthrough against United’s disciplined defence, marshalled superbly by goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic.

The Tigers’ best chance came in the 68th minute when Connor Rose capitalised on a loose ball with Janjetovic momentarily out of position, but his effort drifted off target. From there, United 58 managed the game expertly, maintaining their defensive shape and frustrating the Tigers’ attempts to equalise.

When the final whistle sounded, Sydney United 58 celebrated yet another chapter in their storied history, an eighth Waratah Cup triumph, achieved through early attacking quality, defensive resilience, and the composure of a side well accustomed to winning on the big stage.

Champion of Champions

Valentine Sports Park came alive on Super Sunday as it hosted the 55th edition of Football NSW’s Champion of Champions finals — a marquee day in the grassroots football calendar. Eighteen thrilling matches were played back-toback, showcasing the very best community talent from across the state in what was a true celebration of the beautiful game.

The ‘Home of Football’ in New South Wales provided the perfect backdrop for this prestigious event, as teams representing associations from every corner of the state captivated the crowd. Spectators, players, coaches, referees, and officials all contributed to what was a memorable and spirited day of football excellence.

It proved to be a standout weekend for the Northern Suburbs Football Association, who claimed an impressive five titles — more than any other association on the day. Manly Warringah FA and Sutherland Shire FA also had strong outings, each securing three titles. Southern

Check out the full results below:

• 13 Girls

Norwest FC (HFA) 1 v Pitt Town FC (NFA) 0

• 13 Boy

Sporting Rovers FC (SDSFA) 2 v Lilli Pilli FC (SSFA) 1

• 14 Girls

Maroubra United FC (ESFA) 0 v Kirrawee Kangaroos FC (SSFA) 2

• 14 Boys

Sporting Rovers FC (SDSFA) 2 v Colo Soccer Football Club (NFA) 0

• 15 Girls

Lindfield FC (NSFA) 4 v Kirrawee Kangaroos FC (SSFA) 1

• 15 Boys

Belrose-Terrey Hills Raiders SC (MWFA) 2 v Ryde Panthers (NWSF) 1

• 16 Girls

Wakehurst FC (MWFA) 1 v Lilli Pilli FC (SSFA) 2

• 16 Boys

The Entrance Bateau Bay FC (CCF) 2 v Eschol Park FC (MFA)1

• 17 Boys

Castle Hill United FC (HFA) 1 v Belrose-Terrey Hills Raiders SC (MWFA) 2

Districts Soccer FA followed with two, while Hills Football, Blacktown & District Soccer FA, Football Canterbury, Football St George, and Central Coast Football each picked up one championship.

At club level, Lindfield FC of Northern Suburbs FA stole the show, securing four championships from four finalists — a remarkable achievement. Sporting Rovers (Southern Districts SFA) and BelroseTerrey Hills Raiders SC (Manly Warringah FA) also impressed with two titles apiece.

• 18 Women

Lindfield FC (NSFA) 3 v Banksia Tigers (FSG) 1

• 18 Men

Maccabi Hakoah Juniors FC (ESFA) 2 v Prospect United SC (BDSFA) 6

• 21 Women

Lindfield FC (NSFA) 1 v Woonona Sharks FC (FSC) 0

• 21 Men

Collaroy Cromer Strikers FC (MWFA) 1 v Caringbah Redbacks FC (SSFA) 2

• All Age Women

Lindfield FC (NSFA) 2 v Coogee United (ESFA) 1

• All Age Men

Waverley Old Boys FC (ESFA) 2 v Mosman FC (MWFA) 4

• Over 35 Men

Dunbar Rovers FC (ESFA) 0 v APIA Leichhardt Tigers Juniors FC (CDSFA) 2

• Over 30 Women

North Sydney United FC (NSFA) 6 v Epping FC (NWSF) 2

• Over 45 Men

Wakehurst FC (MWFA) 3 v Hurstville City Minotaurs FC (FSG) 4

Bankstown DAFA

The 2025 season echoed many of the challenges faced in recent years. While it began with strong momentum, severe and poorly timed weather again disrupted several competitions. Despite this, the season was successfully delivered thanks to the dedication of office staff, club volunteers, and the Board, whose collective efforts ensured football remained accessible and enjoyable for the community.

A major milestone of the year was the completion of the Crest Sports Complex in early April. The venue quickly became invaluable during wet periods, with outstanding drainage that allowed matches to resume swiftly and disrupted fixtures to be rescheduled with minimal impact. Bankstown Football extends its appreciation to the NSW Government for contributing 50% of the project’s funding—$1.6 million through the Multisport Community Facility Fund—and to Canterbury-Bankstown Council for providing the remaining investment.

The association also celebrated significant achievements at the 2025 Football NSW Dinner. Julia Woods was recognised as Bankstown Football’s nominee for the State Award, while Tyron Geany received the Future Leaders Award, acknowledging his commitment and leadership within the local football community.

Looking ahead to 2026, the Board and office are advancing several key initiatives designed to strengthen participation and improve the football experience. To reduce financial barriers for young families, registration fees for Under 6 and Under 7 players will be waived. Additionally, recognising the importance of coach development, the association will introduce club grants to support coach education. These grants will offer free access to accredited coaching courses, with added incentives for clubs that actively upskill their coaching workforce.

Bankstown Football looks forward to a positive, progressive, and community-focused 2026 season.

Blacktown DSFA

The Blacktown & Districts Soccer Football Association continues to go from strength to strength, delivering a successful 2025 winter season for its members.

While the beginning of the year was disrupted significantly due to the implementation of the new national registration platform, once the actual football got going it was a ripper of a year with strong competition on the field and a real sense of camaraderie off it.

Following a year that included several strategic reviews, 2025 saw the beginning of a number of new initiatives from our pinnacle competitions in senior football all the way down to the discovery phase with our Miniroos players.

The BDSFA introduced “The Coach’s Colleague”, a manual with player characteristics, coaching tips and session plans for every coach of teams aged 5-11 in Blacktown, designed to assist coaches (who are often parents with limited knowledge of the game) around the grounds.

There was also a change to our U12 playing format, which shifted from 11-a-side competition to 9-a-side competition, and the implementation of Club Standards and Benchmarking to our Youth Division 1 competitions for the 2026 season, something that has seen tremendous buy in from clubs seeking to improve their youth programs.

The BDSFA office staff continued to go above and beyond for the membership throughout the year, meeting the challenges that football seasons often throw up and, in most cases, exceeding expectations – the team has grown again this year with the addition of Community Development Manager Thomas Engesser.

Our association and district are also blessed with some of the best volunteers in the business, the real people who make the game tick. The passion, energy and knowledge at our community clubs is what causes the game to thrive in Blacktown and ensures that the local community has access to enjoyable sporting experiences.

Central Coast Football

2025 was a year of major progress for football on the Central Coast, characterised by growth in participation, expanded programs, and strengthened community partnerships.

Central Coast Football (CCF) delivered a record 14,258 fixtures across all competitions and programs, highlighting the scale and vibrancy of the game in the region.

Player registrations climbed to 16,451, including a record 4,361 female players, marking strong progress toward the 2026 target of 5,000 female participants.

Referee development continued to be a key strength. CCF achieved 100% referee coverage for the second consecutive year, supported by a strong education and mentoring framework and the leadership of the Referees Council.

A major milestone in 2025 was the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding with Central Coast Council, establishing a coordinated five-year plan for facility upgrades across priority community football venues. This agreement provides a strategic foundation for improving participant experience and supporting future growth.

Representative football also evolved, with the North v South showcase expanding to include Under 16 Boys and Under 16 Girls fixtures for the first time, offering exciting new opportunities for emerging players and strengthening the representative pathway.

CCF proudly acknowledged the continued support of its major community partner, Wyong Leagues Group, whose contributions enabled MiniRoos Coast Kick Packs for young players and supported the development of CCF’s 350-strong referee cohort.

The strength of football on the Central Coast is built on the dedication of its people. CCF extends its thanks to club committees, volunteers, coaches, and managers who create positive playing environments each week.

Appreciation is also extended to CCF staff for their tireless work throughout the year, and to the Referees Council for upholding the highest standards of officiating.

Looking ahead to 2026, CCF remains committed to growing participation, fostering inclusive club environments, and continuing to deliver high-quality football experiences for the entire Central Coast community.

Eastern Suburbs FA

2025 marked a historic milestone for the Eastern Suburbs Football Association (ESFA) as it celebrated its Centenary year. One hundred years of football, community, and connection were honoured at a special Centenary Dinner at Alpha, The Grand, attended by more than 250 guests. The evening recognised Life Members, Hall of Fame inductees, Past Presidents, and 18 Club Champions for their outstanding contributions to football in the Eastern Suburbs.

On the field, ESFA continued to flourish, boasting close to 10,000 registered players, a testament to the dedication of clubs, volunteers, referees, and administrators.

Local clubs enjoyed strong performances at State, National, and Champion of Champions levels. Dunbar Rovers FC and Coogee United FC reached the Football NSW State Cup finals, with Dunbar crowned Over 35s State Cup Champions. ESFA also achieved a record five clubs represented in the Football NSW Champion of Champions Grand Finals across Junior and Senior competitions: Waverley Old Boys FC, Coogee United FC, Dunbar Rovers FC, Maccabi Hakoah Juniors FC, and Maroubra United FC.

Player, coach, and referee development remained central to ESFA’s mission. The Eastern Suburbs Development League expanded further, Girls Gala Days continued to grow, and the JDL Mixed

and Girls programs achieved Football NSW Silver Accreditation. Coaching education and club support initiatives strengthened significantly, while referee recruitment reached record levels, ensuring excellent coverage across all competitions.

ESFA’s commitment to inclusion and community was reflected through partnerships and initiatives such as the John Moriarty Foundation, involvement in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day, and the installation of additional defibrillators across local venues.

Three well-attended all-club meetings helped drive communication and progress key strategic priorities, including continued development of the Ground Development Fund Trust (GDFT).

Looking ahead to 2026, ESFA will continue to enhance competition structures and work closely with clubs to deliver a competitive, sustainable, and inclusive football environment. As ESFA enters its next century, the Association remains committed to the growth and success of football in the Eastern Suburbs.

Football Canterbury

Football Canterbury’s 103rd year of delivering community football once again showcased the strength of grassroots participation and the vital role of volunteers who underpin the game.

While the 2025 Winter Season did not reach the exceptional growth of the previous two years, it still recorded Football Canterbury’s second-highest player total. More than 19,000 participants took part, a reflection of the strong competition delivery and the dedication of our clubs across the district.

In contrast to the slight Winter contraction, Football Canterbury’s fast-growing Spring/Summer competition, FC Sixes, enjoyed a record-breaking fourth season.

More than 3,000 players participated between October and December, the first time the initiative has surpassed this milestone. FC Sixes continues to demonstrate the value of a simple, wellstructured social format. It keeps players connected to their Winter clubs while ensuring that revenue generated remains within community clubs and the Association rather than private operators.

The year also held special significance for one of the most essential and often underappreciated areas of the game: refereeing. The Canterbury Referees Association proudly celebrated its 100th

year of service, marking a century of supporting clubs, teams and players through formal officiating. Their contribution remains as crucial today as it was in 1925.

Two member clubs also reached important milestones: Abbotsford Junior FC celebrated 60 years, while the Australian National Sports Club commemorated 50 years of community service.

Fair play remained a defining theme in 2025. At the Football NSW State Dinner, Roselands FC received the Fair Play Award for the actions of its Under 16 Division 3 female team. Facing an undermanned opponent, the Roselands coach and players voluntarily matched numbers to maintain a competitive and meaningful game, an act that embodied sportsmanship, ethics and resilience.

Football Canterbury remains committed to creating opportunities for everyone to participate in community football. Above all, football is a game and games should be enjoyable, inclusive and accessible for all.

Football South Coast

Football South Coast (FSC) is proud to have been awarded the inaugural Association of the Year Award. The Illawarra region has a long and distinguished football history, and this honour recognises the dedication of past and present volunteers, administrators, referees, and the many stakeholders who continue to drive the game forward.

Player registrations reached a record high in 2025, with close to 15,000 winter participants. Female football continues to surge, reflected in the creation of almost 40 new female-only teams.

Recognising that referee shortages remain the biggest barrier to sustainable growth, FSC prioritised recruitment, development, and wellbeing initiatives. Key programs included the appointment of a Junior Referee Development Officer, investment in referee communication equipment, and the Respect the Referee campaign delivered in partnership with Southern Cross Austereo – Channel 10. These initiatives have strengthened safety, support and retention for match officials.

FSC also hosted an Infrastructure Workshop bringing together, for the first time, all levels of government including Federal, State and Local alongside local clubs to discuss regional priorities. FSC acknowledged its local Members

of Parliament for their engagement and welcomed the renewed focus on essential upgrades including drainage, lighting, and change rooms.

Competition structures also evolved, with the introduction of a third tier in the Men’s Premier League, expansion of the Women’s Premier League to seven teams, and the launch of the inaugural Women’s Over 40s competition. FSC continued to champion football for all ages and abilities, supporting partners such as The Disability Trust and delivering weekly Walking Football sessions, along with the annual Walk the Field Walking Football Tournament which attracts participants from across NSW.

Finally, congratulations to Balgownie Junior Football Club, named Football NSW Club Changer of the Month in July, and to Shellharbour Junior Football Club, runner-up for the Football NSW Club of the Year Award, both outstanding examples of inclusive, community-focused football.

Football St George

The 2025 season marked a new chapter for Football St George (FSG) with the introduction of a new Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, all focused on building upon the strong foundations laid by previous leadership. Across both winter and summer competitions, nearly 15,000 players took part in FSG programs, highlighting the region’s continued passion for grassroots football.

This achievement would not be possible without the commitment of the 22 FSG clubs and their extensive volunteer networks. Committees, delegates, coaches, managers and administrators work tirelessly each week to deliver football to the community, and their efforts form the backbone of the sport in St George.

The season concluded with two weekends of grand finals, capped off by the Men’s and Women’s FSG Premier League deciders, which drew close to 3,000 spectators, a testament to the strength and enthusiasm of the local football community.

In Football NSW competitions, Sans Souci FC reached the State Cup U13 final, while two FSG teams advanced to the Champion

of Champions finals. Banksia Tigers FC’s U18 female side fell just short, whereas Hurstville Minotaurs FC secured an extraordinary sixth title in the Over 45s.

FSG continued to expand its inclusive football offerings, delivering its 18-week Football4All program alongside participation in the NSW Powerchair competition. The St George Cup also returned as a successful school holiday tournament, attracting junior teams from across Sydney.

Special recognition is extended to the St George Football Referees Association, whose professionalism underpins every match. FSG also acknowledges the ongoing support of Georges River Council, Bayside Council and local members of parliament, whose collaboration is vital to improving community facilities.

Finally, FSG thanks its Board and dedicated staff for their commitment to delivering positive football experiences across the St George region.

Granville DSFA

2025 marked a major milestone for the Granville & Districts Soccer Football Association (GDSFA), celebrating an extraordinary 125 years of football history.

Despite challenging weather conditions that forced the cancellation of the final four weeks of the season, the Association still enjoyed numerous memorable moments and achievements.

The year ended on a high with the Women’s Premier League (WPL) Grand Final between Holroyd Rangers and Quakers Hill Juniors (BDSFA). In its third year and administered by GDSFA for the first time, the competition produced an exceptional final. Holroyd Rangers secured the 2025 Championship, marking their third consecutive grand final appearance and second Premiership in as many years, an impressive record of consistency.

The prestigious Cottam Cup Final provided another highlight, with Pendle Hill representing GDSFA against the Glebe Gorillas from the Eastern Suburbs Football Association. Pendle Hill competed strongly but were narrowly edged out, with Glebe Gorillas lifting the 2025 Cottam Cup. The Association now looks ahead to delivering an even stronger competition in 2026.

At the representative level, Parramatta FC proudly represented GDSFA after earning promotion to Youth 2 in the 2025 Football NSW competitions. The jump in standard posed a significant challenge, but the club adapted well and successfully retained its place for 2026, a testament to the commitment of players, coaches, and staff.

The GDSFA community also mourned the passing of Life Member and former General Manager Michael Briggs in 2025. Michael was a respected and influential figure, and the Association extends its deepest condolences to his family and friends.

GDSFA congratulates all teams that participated in the 2025 Champion of Champions competition, with the Under 18 side reaching the semifinals, an effort that reflects the strength and dedication of everyone involved.

As GDSFA celebrates its proud 125-year legacy, the Association remains focused on strengthening grassroots football and delivering another successful season in 2026.

Hills Football

The 2025 season was defined by growth, resilience and achievement across the Hills Football community. Female participation rose by 4.6%, demonstrating the organisation’s commitment to creating inclusive and competitive opportunities for women and girls.

Referee coverage also reached record levels, climbing to 97.1%, up 2.86% from 2024. This reflects the strength of Hills Football’s referee development programs and the dedication of match officials who help deliver a positive match-day experience.

The conclusion of the AYL chapter ended on a high, with all five Hills teams qualifying for finals. Two progressed to grand finals, and the Under 15s were crowned champions, highlighting the region’s depth of talent and the effectiveness of its coaching structures.

A significant milestone in 2025 was the strengthened alignment between Hills Football and Hills United, enhancing the player pathway from grassroots to JDL, youth and senior football. This partnership supports clearer progression and improved development opportunities for local players.

Despite late-season wet weather challenges, Hills Football and its clubs ensured competitions finished safely and successfully, with grand finals delivered over two weekends to celebrate participants’ achievements.

The year also featured several notable highlights, including:

• The return of the All-Abilities Gala Day

• A record-breaking Pre-Season Coaching Expo, attracting coaches from across the region

• Hills Football officially becoming a member of Football NSW

• Norwest FC Under 13 Girls crowned Champion of Champions

• Referee Jake Rose appointed to the A-League Men’s panel as a 4th official, completing a full pathway from grassroots officiating to the professional level

Overall, the 2025 season showcased Hills Football’s enduring dedication to growth, inclusion and excellence—made possible by the united efforts of clubs, volunteers, players and referees across the region.

Macarthur FA

As the Macarthur Football Association concluded another successful year, General Manager Paul Bertolissio reflected proudly on the achievements that have strengthened both the game and the local community.

The association’s progress has been driven by the dedication of clubs, volunteers, players, and partners who continue to support football across the Macarthur region.

This year, MiniRoos participation reached an impressive 7,546 players, demonstrating ongoing growth in grassroots football. Engagement across all competitions remains strong, and the association continues to foster an inclusive environment where everyone can play, develop, and belong.

The M League competitions across the Men’s, Women’s, and Colts divisions flourished once again. The Gioca MSAP League (8–12s) provided an important platform for young player development, while the introduction of the Macarthur Youth League delivered a high-quality Division 1 pathway for local players. This pathway will expand even further in 2026 following the closure of AYL.

The association congratulates Eschol Park 15s on finishing runners-up at the Champion of Champions tournament, an outstanding achievement.

The TDP program also recorded exceptional success, with a record number of players selected into NPL programs for 2025, highlighting the strength of coaching and development within the MFA.

Completion of the Lynwood Park resurfacing works ensured a first-class facility for competitions and representative programs. The launch of the Wests Group Macarthur Cup Series provided free school holiday tournaments, supporting the association’s commitment to accessible football.

Several club milestones were celebrated, including the 50th anniversaries of Campbelltown Uniting Church Soccer Club, Narellan, and Appin, a testament to decades of community spirit.

As the final year of the five-year Strategic Plan concludes, the MFA reflected with pride on the association’s progress and looks forward to the next phase of growth, innovation, and high-quality football experiences for all stakeholders.

Manly Warringah FA

2025 was another standout year for the Manly Warringah Football Association (MWFA).

As Australia’s largest grassroots football association, the MWFA was proud to be named Runner Up in the inaugural Football NSW Association of the Year Award.

The Association was also honoured in NSW Parliament, where local State Member Michael Regan delivered a Community Recognition Statement acknowledging its positive impact on the Northern Beaches community.

On the field, MWFA once again led the state in the Champions of Champions tournament, with six teams reaching the finals at Valentine Sports Park, more than any other association. Represented by Belrose-Terrey Hills, Wakehurst, Collaroy Cromer Strikers and Mosman, three teams secured titles: BTH Raiders U15, BTH Raiders U17 and Mosman FC All Age Men.

In the State Cup, MWFA teams delivered an exceptional performance, producing 10 finalists and six champions — the Association’s strongest results in recent years. Champions included BTH Raiders (W13, U13, U18), Seaforth (W15), Forest Killarney (U16) and Collaroy Cromer Strikers (U21).

Women’s football continued to thrive, with MWFA’s women’s competition remaining the largest female sporting program on the Northern Beaches.

Off the field, 2025 saw major progress in development pathways. With the transition away from the Association Youth League, MWFA partnered with Manly United FC (MUFC) to create the Emerging Talent Pathway, launching in 2026 to provide a unified and strengthened structure for player development across the region.

MWFA and MUFC also introduced the Beaches Cup, a pre-, midand post-season tournament series for players aged 8–12, offering additional game time in a fun, local environment. The series also enabled MUFC technical staff to identify emerging players outside traditional matches and trials.

MWFA remains committed to ensuring players and volunteers continue to develop, grow and thrive through community football.

Nepean FA

2025 was a year of transition, strategic growth, and renewed ambition for the Nepean Football Association (NFA), characterised by resilience, innovation, and a deep commitment to community. Membership levels remained stable following the surge driven by the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, while female participation continued to rise, reaching 3,326 players across 179 teams.

Key milestones included the introduction of the first-ever U6/7 Girls League and the successful launch of the Over 30s Women’s Competition, both strengthening the pathway for female players of all ages.

NFA reinforced its commitment to safety and member wellbeing through the expansion of the Junior Referee Respect, 18 Green initiative to now include Club Cadet Referees. Enhanced focus on child safeguarding standards supported by updated policies and procedures further demonstrated the association’s dedication to creating safe, inclusive environments.

Coach and player development experienced meaningful progress through new appointments, expanded education opportunities, and the rollout of innovative programs.

The introduction of the Skill Development Program (SDP) and Talent Development Program (TDP) for 2026 highlights NFA’s ongoing investment in strengthening pathways and club capability.

Regional meetings and targeted education sessions ensured clubs remained supported and engaged throughout the year.

A standout achievement in 2025 was the establishment of the Youth Advisory Panel (YAP), a platform designed to give young members a direct voice in shaping the future of the game. The

inaugural panel brought together nine passionate young leaders whose feedback on participation, challenges, and aspirations has already proven invaluable. Their work emphasised the importance of youth leadership both on and off the field.

Significant progress was made in governance, policy development, and volunteer and staff training, reinforcing NFA’s foundation for long-term sustainability, safety, and community engagement.

Looking ahead, 2026 will mark the retirement of long-standing CEO Linda Cerone.

NFA is pleased to welcome Alicia Green as her successor and looks forward to an exciting new chapter for the association.

North West Sydney FA

In 2025, North West Sydney Football (NWSF) focused on strengthening its organisational foundations while enhancing the football experience across the association.

Off the field, a key priority was building stronger operational capacity. This was reflected in the introduction of new practices and policies that improved governance and business efficiency. Key initiatives included the rollout of project management software to enhance communication, alignment, and collaboration across departments; the adoption of a new Financial Management Policy to strengthen accountability, improve decision-making, and support long-term organisational sustainability; and the implementation of a revised Wet Weather Procedure to clarify decision-making during disruptions and optimise the use of available fields.

On the field, NWSF delivered several significant football achievements and continued to strengthen its competition landscape through new and evolving initiatives. The season highlighted the depth and quality of teams across the association, supported by continually improving joint competitions with neighbouring associations. These competitions have become an important pathway for players seeking more challenging environments, particularly in higher divisions.

A major milestone in 2025 was the introduction of NWSF’s first Pride Round, made possible through the leadership of Flying Bats FC. This initiative represented a meaningful step toward fostering inclusivity within the football community and reinforced the association’s commitment to ensuring the game remains welcoming and accessible to all participants.

Another highlight was the Battle of the North, a collaborative pre-season initiative with Northern Suburbs Football Association. This showcase brought together selected players from the Women’s and Men’s Premier League competitions, providing a new representative opportunity while strengthening relationships across clubs and associations.

None of this would be possible without the commitment of NWSF’s Board, staff, committees, club volunteers, and the NWSF Referees Association. We thank them all and look forward to an even stronger 2026 season.

Northern Suburbs FA

The Northern Suburbs Football Association (NSFA) delivered a strong and stable 2025 season despite persistent wet weather and the challenges associated with the PlayFootball 2.0 rollout.

Across the region, clubs demonstrated exceptional resilience, opening fields mid-week, sharing synthetic venues, and adapting quickly to keep players on the pitch. More than ten thousand matches were completed, a testament to the commitment and cooperation of volunteers, administrators, referees, and participants.

NSFA clubs featured prominently in Football NSW competitions, recording impressive results in both the Champion of Champions and State Cup across girls, boys, and mixed age groups.

Locally, the Association saw record participation in its NSFA Knockout Cups and school-based tournaments. The Paul Davies Cup, Thea Slatyer Cup, Ben Sutton Cup, and Skellern Cup once again brought the community together and remain cornerstones of the annual football calendar.

Refereeing continued to be one of NSFA’s strongest pillars. The Northern Suburbs Football Referees Association recorded another year of excellent participation and performance, including

continued growth in female match officials. The Game Leader program played an important role in supporting younger referees and ensuring strong coverage during peak periods.

Investment in facilities across the region made a meaningful impact. Resurfacing works at Blackman Park and Primula Oval, combined with a full season of use at Thomson Park, enhanced the playing experience for thousands. Major upgrades also progressed at Montview, Tom Richmond, Bob Campbell Oval, Chatswood High School, and Samuel King Oval, strengthening long-term capacity and improving access to quality football infrastructure.

NSFA’s representative program, Northern Tigers FC, enjoyed an outstanding year retaining NPL 1 Youth status, achieving Football NSW Silver Classification in both JDL streams, and celebrating senior milestones including reaching the Waratah Cup Final and the Australia Cup Round of 32.

NSFA thanks its Board, staff, clubs, and volunteers for their dedication throughout 2025 and looks forward to building on this year’s achievements in 2026.

Southern Districts SFA

Southern Districts Football Association enjoyed an eventful and rewarding 2025 season.

The Association’s commitment to growing women’s football was a standout, with the annual Schools Cannuli Cup welcoming 19 girls’ teams across two days, an impressive increase from 2024.

The strong turnout highlights the depth of female interest in the game and the exciting opportunity to further connect these young players with the wider football community.

On the field, Sporting Rovers celebrated a remarkable achievement, securing a double championship at the Football NSW Champion of Champions in the U13 and U14 boys’ age groups. Both squads dominated locally and proved they could compete with the strongest teams from across NSW.

This year also saw well-deserved recognition for Steve Soares, President of Mt Pritchard Juniors, who received the State Award for more than 30 years of service to the sport and local community. Congratulations to Steve on this outstanding honour.

The season was marked by sadness with the passing of Ronald Hughes, a beloved Life Member. Ron dedicated over 30 years to serving on the Association board before becoming its official photographer. His contribution and presence will be deeply missed.

Southern Districts Football Association extends its sincere thanks to all club committees and volunteers whose hard work made the 2025 season a success. The Association look forward to another year of supporting each of the clubs and providing every opportunity for the football community to thrive.

Sutherland Shire

FA

Despite one of the wettest winters in recent decades including the wettest August in more than 20 years, the Sutherland Shire Football Association (SSFA) community successfully navigated major weather disruptions to keep football alive each weekend.

Through coordinated efforts across clubs, volunteers, referees, and families, competitions continued and players remained connected to the sport throughout the season.

Participation across the Association remained strong. Winter registrations were steady, and female participation continued its upward rise, surpassing 6,870 players, a milestone that reflects long-term investment, inclusive programming, and the collective commitment to growing the women’s and girls’ game.

SSFA clubs excelled in Football NSW competitions. Five teams reached the Champions of Champions finals, with three securing titles. In the FNSW State Cup, seven teams progressed to the finals, with three crowned champions, showcasing the depth of talent within the Shire.

Across the season, the community played 12,730 games and scored 64,564 goals, demonstrating the vibrancy and passion that football brings to the region.

The 2025 season also saw the introduction of several initiatives, including the Chaos Cup for U6–U11 players, LaunchPad, the Chaos Football Program, and the Strikers Advanced Holiday Clinic. These complemented a growing suite of development programs such as the Monday and Friday Strikers Advanced Academy, School Holiday Clinics, Zone Academies, Club Academies delivered in partnership with eight member clubs, and schoolbased programs.

The Strikers program continued to represent the Shire proudly in the FNSW Women’s NPL and JDL competitions, with the U14 Girls claiming the Girls Youth League title.

Coach education remained a priority, with 7 FOF Courses, 11 MiniRoos Courses, and 2 C-Diploma Courses delivered to support coaching development.

Looking ahead, the SSFA will continue strengthening pathways, improving facilities, and advancing digital transformation through online match sheets and digital player ID cards.

The Association looks forward to another successful year in 2026.

REGIONAL ASSOCIATION

Albury Wodonga

FA

The Albury Wodonga Football Association (AWFA) delivered a highly successful and community-focused 2025 season, marked by continued participation growth, innovative development initiatives and strong recognition at a state level.

Participation increased across all competitions, with the MiniRoos program a key area of growth. In 2025, AWFA administered close to 180 MiniRoos teams across the region, reflecting consistent year-on-year increases and strong engagement from clubs, families and volunteers. A significant highlight was the introduction of a female-only MiniRoos competition across three age groups. The program recorded strong participation in its inaugural season, providing a welcoming entry point for girls and strengthening the female football pathway at the grassroots level.

Referee development was also enhanced through the implementation of a cadet referee program embedded within the MiniRoos competition. This initiative provided young referees with structured development opportunities in a supportive environment, contributing to skill development, confidence and long-term retention.

Female football remained a strategic priority throughout the season. AWFA successfully delivered its annual Female Football Week, hosting all female fixtures at a single venue to celebrate participation, visibility and community connection. Participation in female MiniRoos and junior girls competitions continued to grow across the season.

AWFA clubs were well represented in Champion of Champions competitions, with strong performances highlighting the depth and quality of football across the association. Following the season, AWFA delivered its second annual State of Origin charity match, raising $10,000 for the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre and reinforcing the association’s commitment to community impact.

The season concluded with statewide recognition, as AWFA was named runner-up in the Football NSW Association of the Year awards. Additionally, AWFA President Kiera Hayes received a Football NSW Outstanding Service award in recognition of her leadership and contribution to football in the region.

REGIONAL ASSOCIATION

Bathurst DF

Bathurst District Football (BDF) continues to play a vital role in the development of football across the Central West of NSW, delivering a wide range of competitions and programs spanning Mini Football, Junior Competitive and Senior Men’s and Women’s leagues.

Clubs participating in BDF competitions represent communities from across the region, including Bathurst, Lithgow, Mudgee and Oberon.

In 2025, the ongoing development of the Proctor Park Football Complex remained a major focus. In partnership with Bathurst Regional Council, the Association continued to deliver infrastructure projects designed to enhance the football experience both on and off the field, further cementing Proctor Park’s reputation as one of the leading football facilities in regional NSW.

BDF’s marquee events continued to grow in strength, with the Pre-Season Carnivals, Bathurst Cup and Proctor Park Challenge attracting more than 200 teams across two weekends. These events welcomed over 10,000 visitors to the complex, showcasing high-quality football, sportsmanship and community spirit.

The Association was also proud to host the final Country Cup in 2025, an honour that proved to be another outstanding success. Bathurst claimed Country Champion titles in the Girls Under 14 and Girls Under 16 divisions, while the Boys Under 14 finished as runners-up.

BDF maintained strong links with elite competitions, hosting fixtures in the AYL, Western Premier League and Western Youth League. This commitment will continue into 2026, with Proctor Park supporting Central West FC in the BYL, two teams in the WPL and 14 representative teams in the WYL. The 2025 WYL campaign delivered further success, with Girls Under 14 and Boys Under 13 crowned champions, and six other teams finishing runners-up.

At a local level, the Association delivered five Men’s grades, four Women’s grades and junior competitions from Under 6s to Under 16s, catering for over 200 teams and approximately 2,800 players.

Congratulations to Panorama FC, crowned Men’s Premier League Champions, and Abercrombie FC, winners of the Women’s Premier League with both Grand Finals streamed live to audiences around the world.

REGIONAL

ASSOCIATION

Dubbo DFA

The 2025 season was one of growth, success, and community spirit for the Dubbo & District Football Association (DDFA).

Three clubs represented the Association at the FNSW Club Conference and an impressive 66% of DDFA clubs achieved 1-Star Club Changer accreditation, highlighting their commitment to development and governance excellence.

DDFA’s representative teams enjoyed a strong Western Youth League campaign, with several age groups taking out championship honours.

Dubbo teams also impressed at the Kanga Cup tournament with Under 12 Boys and Under 16 Boys crowned champions in their respective divisions, an outstanding achievement for regional football.

Locally we enjoyed a dry season with no washout rounds.

The year concluded with another successful MiniRoos Gala Day including MiniRoos All-Girls teams to help boost female participation, with these matches kicking off bright and early on chilly winter mornings before the mixed MiniRoos fixtures.

The Grand Finals were hosted at Apex Oval, giving players the chance to experience Dubbo’s premier football venue. The grandstand seating, live announcements and a vibrant crowd atmosphere made for a truly memorable matchday experience.

Off the field, DDFA proudly celebrated the efforts of its volunteers through promotional campaigns for National Volunteer Week and Female Football Week, and recognising outstanding contributions at the Annual Awards Presentation Dinner.

Further recognition came at the FNSW State Dinner, where Patrick Auld received a State Award for his long-standing dedication and service to the game.

DDFA is hosting a strong summer football competition for seniors and has launched a new Futsal competition in partnership with PCYC Dubbo, further expanding opportunities for year-round participation.

With a new constitution now in effect, DDFA is embracing the digital era and looking ahead to an exciting 2026, full of opportunities to grow, innovate, and enhance the football experience for all participants across the Dubbo region.

Southern Branch

Southern Branch enjoyed a busy and successful championship period in 2025, hosting its Branch Championships across two action-packed weekends for both male and female divisions from Under 12 through to Under 16s. The competitions provided a fantastic opportunity for young players across the region to test themselves, with Development League teams also taking part under modified rules to support player growth and development.

The championship calendar concluded with the Senior Branch Championships, featuring the Under 18s and All Age divisions. A standout feature of the finals series was the even spread of success, with every Association represented claiming a winners’ medal across the various age groups, highlighting the depth and strength of football throughout the Southern Branch.

A major highlight of the year for Southern Branch was the recognition of one of its most dedicated servants, Ian Cockburn, who was awarded the prestigious George Churchward Medal. Ian’s commitment to Shoalhaven and Southern Branch Football spans more than 50 years, during which time he has played a pivotal role in the growth of the game and the ongoing development of the South Nowra Sports Complex.

His tireless efforts and long-standing service continue to leave a lasting legacy across the region, making the award a fitting acknowledgment of his contribution to football in the Southern Branch.

REGIONAL ASSOCIATION

Football Wagga Wagga

2025 was a highly successful year for Football Wagga Wagga (FWW), a year defined by growth and the kind of “good problems” that come with success.

Record registrations, a record number of teams, and increased demand for facilities challenged the association, particularly amid difficult weather and field conditions.

Despite this, FWW delivered outstanding outcomes across all areas of the game.

The association achieved several major milestones, including record numbers of school visits, strong attendance at clinics, and excellent participation across FWW programs. These results contributed to impressive competition numbers and saw FWW finish as the number one Sporting Schools Program provider with Football NSW.

Growth was a defining theme in 2025. A new Youth Under 18s competition was introduced, creating a clear pathway into senior football. MiniRoos participation increased significantly, requiring the competition to be split across two venues. The U11/12 competitive competition also flourished, expanding to four divisions and introducing game leaders to further support player development.

One of the most significant achievements was the establishment of a complete female pathway, allowing girls and women to

participate in female-only teams from MiniRoos through to senior football. The female competition was refined into multiple divisions to enhance fairness and maintain match integrity.

FWW began the year with the inaugural Multicultural World Cup, bringing together 12 nations in a celebration of diversity. Supported by Wagga City Council, Wellways, and the Multicultural Council, it became one of the most successful events ever run by the association.

Representative football also thrived. FWW partnered with Griffith City to attend the Mildura True Blue Water Exchange Festival of Football, while the Open Women’s Representative Team competed in the Friendship Cup against Canberra Croatia, now a fixture on the annual calendar.

Participation increased by 143 players, bringing total registrations to 3,313, up from 3,170 in 2024. FWW also proudly supported community initiatives including Boys to the Bush, Relay for Life, Mission Week, and multicultural programs.

Overall, 2025 was a year of progress, passion, and possibility.

Thank you to the FWW Board, clubs, coaches, and volunteers whose dedication continues to grow football across the region and sets the stage for an even bigger 2026.

2024v2025

Registered Player Comparison

Age Comparison

*0.07% selected “Non-binary”, “Gender Fluid”, or “Gender identity not sufficiently represented”

Female Player Comparison

2024v2025

Male Player Comparison

Futsal Player Comparison

*We have updated the data collection method for Futsal numbers

Number of Clubs Comparison

Life Members

Louie Apostolovski

Vince Balzan*

Cec Barlow*

Ron Beaumont

Leonard Bolden OAM*

William Brackenbury*

Howard Bradley

Lindsay Cosgrove

David Crampton

William Cullinan*

Kevin Darcy*

Harrie Dening OAM*

George Dick OAM*

Tom A. Doumanis OAM

Frank Broughton* Eric Drury*

Aulden Brown*

Lionel Brown*

Andy Burton*

Trevor Elliott*

Brian Emery

Les Fairclough*

George Churchward* Ken Ferguson*

Jack Cirjanic*

Robert Clark

William Ford*

David Goodman

Peter Gray*

Stephen Hayes

John Hedison

Ian Holmes

Stan Jones MBE*

Ross Kelly

Steve Kenny

Rob Laws

Joan Robertson*

Jim Ronis

Laurie Simpson

Florence Stephenson

Arthur Sidney Tanner BEM*

Jack Thomas*

John Thomson OAM*

Peter Thorne

Jack Toole*

Joe Leffley* Ray Tweedie OAM

Peter McCann*

Douglas McCarron*

Charles Valentine*

Sam Vella OAM*

Bill McIlveen* L. Williams*

Jim Forrest A. Raahauge*

Robert Colombo Ron Garvin*

John Constantine AM, OAM* Keith Gilmour*

*Deceased

Anthony Raciti

Bill Wilson*

Frank Wilson*

Doug Rennie OAM * Rod Woods*

Award Recipients & State Awards

Charles Valentine Medal

George Churchill Medal

Fair Play Award

Future Leaders Award

Albury Wodonga Football Association

Bankstown District Amateur Football Association

Blacktown District Soccer Football Association

Dubbo & District Football Association

Eastern Suburbs Football Association

Eastern Suburbs Football Association

Eurobodalla Football Association Inc.

Football Canterbury

Football South Coast

Football St George

Hills Football

Macarthur Football Association

Manly Warringah Football Association

Nepean Football Association Inc

Northern Suburbs Football Association

North West Sydney Football

Southern Districts Soccer Football Association

Southern Tablelands Football Association Inc.

Sutherland Shire Football Association

Greg O’Rourke

Ian Cockburn - Southern Branch

Roselands FC U16G/3

Tyron Geany - BDAFA

Keira Hayes

Julia Woods

Chris Seath

Patrick Auld

Rebecca Smith

Wally Holzer

Gary Megay

Santino Grieco

Kendall Reynolds

John Stojanovski

Cameron Wong

Peter Kovacsics

Rhonda Ferguson

Wayne and Kath Coburn

Simon Cox

Tom Emeleus

Steve Soares

Mark Harris

Cherie Donoghue

Women’s & Girls

Girls Youth League One

Girls Youth League Two

U18 APIA Leichhardt FC

U16 Western Sydney Wanderers FC

U15 Manly United FC

U14

U18 Central Coast Mariners FC

U16 Nepean FC

U15 St George FC

U14 St George FC

City FC

Men’s & Boys

Community & Cup Football

Director’s Report

Your directors present this report on the entity for the financial year ended 31 October 2025.

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 (retired 27 March 2025)

Deborah Chapman

Brett Mitchell

Steve Bond

Neil Gibson

Strebre Delovski

Irene Hatzipetros (elected 27 March 2025)

Ian Holmes (elected 27 March 2025)

Carlos Gonzalez (retired 27 March 2025)

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 2025 before Other Comprehensive Income was $3,636,812 (2024: $1,268,995). The land and buildings at Valentine Sports Park are independently valued on an annual basis, with any unrealised movements recognised in Other Comprehensive Income in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards. For the year ended 31 October 2025, $6,014,772 was recognised in Other Comprehensive Income (2024: $4,864,740).

The 2025 financial year represented a period of stable performance and continued success across Football NSW operations, by supporting community football particularly with the Playfootball registration system rollout by Football Australia, enhancing competitions, producing football talent, continuing the growth of female football and providing leadership throughout New South Wales.

Football NSW continued the delivery of key strategic initiatives with the Football4All Gala Day marking its fifteenth year of operation, and the NAIDOC Cup and the ongoing Women in Leadership Program continuing to support participation across the community. Also, the Heart Health Round, Female Football Week and Volunteer Week were also celebrated with increased awareness campaigns.

Football NSW managed the National Premier Leagues New South Wales and FNSW Leagues competitions, supported by increased digital engagement and culminating in a crowd of 4,500 attending the Men and Women’s Grand Finals Double Header at Jubilee Stadium. The 2025 State Cup and Champion of Champions competitions were successfully delivered, bringing together leading community clubs from across the state, with Finals conducted at Valentine Sports Park.

Coach education and development continued to expand, with registered coach numbers increasing by 20%. This growth was supported through the delivery of 34 C-Diploma courses, 8 B-Diploma courses, 2 Goalkeeper B Diploma courses, and more than 80 Foundation of Football Certificate courses. In addition, more than 100 hours of Continuing Professional Development activities were delivered, alongside a fully subscribed 2025 Coaching Conference and 2025 Club Development Conference.

Referee development remained a key operational focus, with registrations increasing by 12% during the year. A total of 1,532 participants enrolled in entry-level referee courses, further supported by the appointment of six Referee Development Coordinators to provide enhanced, on-the-ground support across Football NSW Branches.

Direct club engagement continued through the Club Standards and Benchmarking Framework, with more than 277 club visits completed during the year. In addition, over 220 matchday visits were conducted to support Player Identification, alongside more than 250 additional match contacts involving identified high-potential players.

During 2025, the Community Building Partnership Grant Program, administered by the NSW Office of Sport, supported several Football NSW clubs, including Albury Hotspurs Soccer Club, Holroyd Rangers Soccer Club, Ryde Saints United Soccer Club and Tarrawanna Blueys FC Inc. These projects contributed to the delivery of improved, safer and more sustainable football facilities across the state. Further infrastructure investment was supported through the Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program 2024–25, with successful recipients announced in January 2025 and all installations completed by 31 August 2025.

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

Deborah Chapman

Brett Mitchell

Steve Bond

Strebre Delovski

Neil Gibson

Irene Hatzipetros

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

Director, Football NSW Limited (appointed 2 November 2021, appointed Deputy Chair on 27 March 2025)

Chair of Audit and Risk Committee, Football NSW

Member of Remuneration 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

Member of Remuneration Committee, Football NSW

Former Board Member and Audit Committee Chair, KPMG

National Partner in Charge, KPMG Mid-Market & Private – Tax, Deals & Advisory Chartered Accountant, Registered Auditor, Registered Tax Agent

Director, Football NSW Limited (appointed 9 October 2023 – filling casual vacancy)

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 experience Heart of Midlothian FC and the Scottish Football Association.

Director Football NSW Limited (elected 27 March 2025)

Graduate, Bachelor of Business Studies

Graduate, Diploma of Laws and Juris Doctor

Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors

Former Chairperson of Football St George

Ian Holmes

Director Football NSW Limited (elected 27 March 2025)

Fellow Australian Institute of Company Directors

Diploma of Sport (Development)

Former Director, NSW Amateur Soccer Federation, NSW Soccer Federation, Australian Soccer Federation, and Soccer NSW

Former CEO, Australian Soccer Federation, NSW Wheelchair Sports, Hockey NSW and Football Canterbury

Former General Manager, NSW Soccer Federation, NSW Amateur Soccer Federation and Soccer Australia Hall of Fame Inductee at Football Australia Hall of Fame, Football Canterbury Hall of Fame and City of Canterbury Bankstown Sporting Hall of Fame

Life Member, Football Canterbury and Football NSW

Recipient of The Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)

Stephanie Brantz

Carlos Gonzalez

Deputy Chair, Football NSW Limited (appointed Director 14 January 2021, retired 27 March 2025)

Respected Media Professional

Ambassador: Australian Indigenous Education Foundation & The Chappell Foundation Director, Venues NSW

Director, Football NSW Limited (elected 31 March 2017, retired 27 March 2025)

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 2025, the total amount that members of the company are liable to contribute if the company is wound up is $1,160 (2024: $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

After the reporting date, Football Australia advised that funds had been received in advance in relation to a digital streaming arrangement for the 2026 to 2028 period. Football NSW, together with the other Member Federations, is currently in discussions with Football Australia regarding the proposed distribution of these funds. At the date of signing the financial statements, the basis and amount of any distribution to Football NSW have not been determined and cannot be reliably measured in accordance with the applicable revenue recognition accounting standards.

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 2025 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: 24 February 2026

Deborah Chapman Director

Income Statement

The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.

Statement of Financial Position

Statement of Changes in Equity

the year ended 31 October 2025

(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.

The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.

Statement of Cash Flows

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Notes to the Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 October 2025

Note 1: Statement Of Material Accounting Policies

The financial report of Football NSW Limited for the year ended 31 October 2025 was authorised for issue by the Directors on the 24th of February 2026. 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, 235-237 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 2025 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

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 shortterm 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 (ie 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 (ECL) 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.

(l) 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; it 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 2025, 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, 2026. The interest rate applicable on funds drawn on the loan is 6.44% (Business Lending Rate 5.72% + Customer Margin 0.72%) as at 31 October 2025.

The current facility limit is $3,000,000 (2024: $3,000,000) as at 31 October 2025 and was unused during the year.

NAB Loan Facility $ 3,000,000 $ 3,000,000

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 4: Cash And Cash Equivalents

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 $984,976 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

Key management personnel are those persons having authority for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the entity, directly or indirectly, including any director of that entity. Short-term benefits include salary & fees, superannuation and non-cash benefits.

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 $0.5m as at 31 October 2025 (2024: $1.7m) mainly relating to the Futsal Court upgrade.

There are contingent liabilities of nil as at 31 October 2025 (2024: nil)

Note 15: Subsequent Events

After the reporting date, Football Australia advised that funds had been obtained in advance in relation to a digital streaming arrangement covering the 2026 to 2028 years. Football NSW, together with the other Member Federations, is currently engaged in discussions with FA regarding the proposed distribution of these funds and at the date of signing the financial statements, the basis and quantum of any distribution to Football NSW have not been determined and cannot be reliably quantified and assessed in accordance with the appropriate revenue recognition accounting standards. Accordingly, no amounts have been recognised in the financial statements in respect of this matter.

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.

Directors’ Declaration

The directors of the company declare that:

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

For the year ended 31 October 2025

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 2025 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: 24 February 2026

Deborah Chapman Director