Football Victoria (FV) is pleased to announce that Nike will become the official naming rights partner of Football Victoria’s Women’s State Knockout Cup which will now be known as the Nike F.C. Cup.
The Nike F.C. Cup will officially kick off on Wednesday 6th March with a live draw conducted to reveal the Nike F.C. Cup fixtures for all 70 participating teams.
The first round of the Nike F.C. Cup will commence on March 17 and will conclude with a final series to be held in August.
The Women’s State Knockout Cup has a proud history and was started to give female teams from all across Victoria the opportunity to compete against each other in a knockout format. National Premier League club Calder United SC is the current title holder after winning back to back cups in 2017 and 2018.
The partnership with Nike comes as the popularity of football in Victoria is at an all time high with Football Victoria announcing a staggering 24% rise in participation in 2018. Women and girls make up some 20% of total participation numbers across the state, with approximately 13,800 females having chosen to play football in 2018.
Football Victoria CEO Peter Filopoulos, said that this commitment from Nike is a terrific endorsement for football in Victoria.
“I’m delighted that Nike has partnered with us in the year of the FIFA Women’s World Cup to elevate our own women’s cup tournament and help us promote women’s football to inspire the next generation of players,” Filopoulos said.
“From our grassroots competitions all the way through to the W-League and the Matildas, women’s football is flourishing throughout Victoria and this is largely thanks to the success of our girls in the green and gold.”
This partnership will present many opportunities for the female athletes participating in the tournament and we look forward to revealing these throughout the year.
Nike will host a welcome event for all Nike F.C. Cup participating teams in the near future at its new headquarters based at 161 Collins Street, Melbourne.
For more information on Football Victoria’s commercial partnerships, please contact Anthony Grima, Executive Manager, Commercial, Marketing and External Affairs on 0466 208 213 or Anthony.Grima@footballvictoria.com.au
Winners list
2018 - Calder United SC
2017 - Calder United SC
2016 - Heidelberg United
2015 - Boroondara Eagles
2014 - FC Bulleen Lions
2013 - Sandringham
2012 - Box Hill United