Football in the Electorate of Cessnock has benefited from the success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023TM following the announcement that more than $3.2 million had been awarded in the NSW Football Legacy Fund.
Local football club Greta Branxton Football Club are among more than 90 recipients of grants that will fund the construction of new facilities and participation initiatives that will benefit local players and volunteers.
The funding is part of the NSW Government’s $10 million NSW Football Legacy Program that is supporting the construction of new and upgraded facilities, participation initiatives, high performance, leadership and development programs as well as tourism and international engagement as a direct result of NSW hosting games at the tournament.
The NSW Football Legacy Fund is a collaboration between the NSW Office of Sport, Football Australia, Football NSW, and Northern NSW Football with $6.3 million awarded for almost 200 projects across the two rounds of the Fund.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 tournament set new records with more than 1.9 million spectators attending games and almost 750,000 fans attending FIFA Fan Festivals throughout the tournament with the Matildas Semi-Final appearance and fourth-placed finish Australia’s best result at a FIFA World Cup.
For further information on the NSW Football Legacy Fund including the full list of recipients visit: NSW Football Legacy Fund
The Greta Branxton Football Club were successful in securing a grant of $9,482 for their Female Football Skills Improvement Program.
Member for the Electorate of Cessnock, Clayton Barr said:
“The NSW Football Legacy Fund is ensuring everyone from local girls and boys lacing up their boots for the first time to participants in our elite regional development programs are benefiting from NSW hosting games at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
“In years to come, local players that shine on the world stage will have used facilities and participated in programs directly funded through this program.
“I congratulate the Greta Branxton Football Club. It is great to see a local club benefiting from this funding.”
Minister for Sport, Steve Kamper said:
“The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 took women’s sport in Australia to new levels.
“The NSW Government is committed to ensuring the momentum created by the Matildas success leaves a positive legacy for women and girls at all levels of football.
“The $3.2 million awarded today for new facilities and participation initiatives through the NSW Football Legacy Fund will ensure that women’s football in NSW benefits from NSW hosting games long after the final ball is kicked.”
Football NSW CEO, John Tsatsimas said:
“Football NSW is excited to see further football projects come to fruition thanks to the announcement of recipients of the 2nd round of the NSW Football Legacy Fund.
“The excitement from the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 is already evident with huge increases in registration numbers for summer football.
“The infrastructure projects will focus on improving player experiences and safety through facility upgrades including lighting and drainage and creating more modern and accessible amenities for local communities.
“The participation funding initiatives support the statement ‘You can’t be what you can’t see’, targeting female growth towards gender parity in all aspects of the game including players, coaches, referees, and leadership roles.”
Northern NSW Football CEO, Peter Haynes:
“The nation was captivated and inspired by the success of the Matildas at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, demonstrating the desire for expansion within female football in our country.
“This funding will allow for new facilities and participation initiatives to be implemented, which will significantly improve the experience of women and girls within our game which is a big win within the northern NSW football community.”