Football Victoria is delighted to announce that the Victorian Government has stepped up to deliver on its promise to help drive significant investment in grassroots and community football facilities.
Today, the Andrews Government has announced it will deliver more than $4.9 million in grants to 13 projects through the World Game Facilities Fund, ensuring that some of the state’s most critical football facilities receive the upgrades they so desperately need.
Since 2018, the World Game Facilities Fund has invested $9.9 million in 38 infrastructure projects with a total project value of $25.5 million. The 2020-21 round of the World Game Facilities Fund will open for applications in November.
Football Victoria Chief Executive Peter Filopoulos said the Victorian Government’s commitment to developing facilities was a major win for football.
“This significant funding will immediately go towards the biggest problem we have in football - our lack of proper facilities to cater for the thousands of Victorians who want to play our sport.”
“The Andrews Government has listened to the football community. They’ve shown a commitment that has turned into real action, the kind of which is going to deliver real outcomes for the people who participate in our sport.”
Football Victoria Chairman Kimon Taliadoros hailed the news as a great result for all those who participate in the game right across Victoria.
“When it comes to facility investment, our clubs have been crying out to us from day one and we promised to work with the Victorian Government to deliver the outcomes our sport needs. That’s what the World Game Facilities Fund is all about.”
“We are a long way from the finish line, but the commitments made are giving us a real chance of securing the extra 420 Full-Size Equivalent pitches we need by 2026 to meet the demands of the football community.”
This phase of the fund will provide grants of up to $500,000 to councils and alpine resort boards to improve facilities including lighting, turf pitch redevelopments, synthetic pitches and female friendly change rooms.
Among the projects backed by the 2019-20 round of the Fund, $500,000 will go towards a new pavilion and pitch lighting at Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve.
Once complete, the pavilion will feature female friendly change rooms, a referees room, canteen, accessible toilet and first aid and storage rooms. Along with the installation of 100-lux lighting, the Wonthaggi United Soccer Club will have a new home ground advantage for its growing number of junior and female members.
Other allocations include $400,000 towards a new pavilion at the home of the Hume Spears Sports Club – at Seth Raistrick Recreation Reserve in Campbellfield – and more than $185,000 towards new lighting at McIvor Reserve, Yarraville – the home of the Yarraville Glory Football Club.
Victorian Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence said the funding was about giving the sport the backing it deserved.
“We’re on the hunt for the next Sam Kerr or Tim Cahill and we’re all inspired by what our Matildas have achieved already – this funding will give grassroots football the support it deserves.”
“We’re making sure that women and men, and girls and boys, of all abilities have the facilities they need to play the sports they love.”
Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale hailed the upgrade for the Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve as “fabulous news for Wonthaggi United and all clubs in the Gippsland Soccer League.”
“New A-grade facilities, lighting and change rooms will grow this great game, get more women and girls on the pitch and will match the talent and inclusive focus of this proud club.”