What a year our game has had! 2023 will go down in history with the Victorian football family leading the way as we continue towards our ambitious goal of reaching 50:50 gender equity by 2027.
Football has the power to unite people from different backgrounds, cultures, and nations. It transcends borders and creates an unrivalled sense of community – never more so than when the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023TM (FIFAWWC) hit our shores.
Significantly, the tournament marked the first time we have seen the true, raw power of women’s football. What a privilege it was to watch our game unite as the world watched on.
After so much anticipation, it was humbling to see Victorians of all ages and backgrounds flock to Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Federation Square, fan zones and community events to celebrate the world game and create iconic scenes which reverberated around the globe.
The tournament also acted as the catalyst for the largest football specific infrastructure investment in Australia, The Victorian State Football Centre and Home of the Matildas at La Trobe University (HoTM). The facility officially opened in July, ahead of the FIFAWWC and became FV’s new permanent home in October.
Although designed as a state-of-the-art complex suitable for our national heroes (with the CommBank Matildas, CommBank Young Matildas, ParaMatildas and Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz all calling our venue home this year), the most exciting impact the facility is having is the access at community level.
Through tournaments, gala days and events, footballers of all ages and abilities have had the opportunity to train and play at a world-class facility for the very first time. What a thrill it was watching this year’s NPLW and Nike F.C. Cup Grand Finals played in front of bumper crowds!
The venue also played host to the Battle of the States in September, when Victoria’s top women and men took on Queensland and attained bragging rights. From the fan voting to the carnival-like atmosphere on the day, the event revitalised state representative football. We can’t wait to explore more collaborative opportunities with our fellow Member Federations in 2024 and beyond.
On behalf of FV and everyone in the Victorian football family, I once again would like to send my appreciation to the Victorian and Federal Governments for their investments. The HoTM has quickly become a symbol of empowerment and equity and will undoubtedly have an immeasurable influence on Victorian football for decades to come.
The immense interest in our game at the elite level is echoed throughout every level of football and I’m thrilled to announce participation in 2023 was at an all-time high.
From the grassroots up, more girls, boys, women and men are now playing our game than ever before. Most pleasing is that the growth is tangible across all formats of the game, a testament to the FootbALLways strategy, which was extended at the start of the year.
FV’s wide range of social programs thrived in 2023 while our All-Abilities offerings went from strength-to-strength. These, along with our competitive formats facilitated new and inclusive avenues for people of all backgrounds and skill levels to take to the field.
Futsal also flourished, spring-boarding from the National Futsal Championships, held in Melbourne in early January. Futsal has continued to grow at a phenomenal rate in recent years and the increase of affiliated centres and clubs in 2023 culminated in the launch of the F-League in September.
With so many unique pathways contributing to an increase of participation on the field, I am proud to announce we also experienced a substantial increase in coach and referee registrations.
We saw over 300 new referees take to the pitch in 2023 and we are anticipating many more, with enormous interest in our recent training courses. Most notably in November, FV hosted a female only referee course and covered the cost for participants, resulting in 90 new attendees ready to commence their refereeing journeys.
Furthermore, our referee community celebrated a new apparel partnership in October, and, in another leap towards achieving 50:50, we saw the introduction of specifically designed ‘female cut kits’ to Victorian referees.
Coaching numbers grew throughout 2023, with FV showing dedication to recruit and develop coaches at all levels. The inspiring Nike F.C. Coaching Scholarships, part of the innovative new Nike FC Accelerator Program, empowered a new wave of women and girls to start their coaching journeys, while our core programs like the Club Coach Coordinator Program continued to be instrumental in guiding new and emerging leaders.
With participation expected to continue its trajectory in 2024, more players naturally means a higher demand for coaches and referees. Following a successful 2023, we will continue to innovate and invest in initiatives that promote both growth and retention.
The increase in participation at all levels is something to be celebrated, but it also raises a concern that’s persisted in our game – respect. 2023 saw an increase in incidents at games and on social media. With so many new participants joining our game and retention vital, it is crucial to address this ongoing challenge.
FV has and will continue to invest significant resources into recruiting, training and supporting our referees to ensure as many games as possible are covered on a weekly basis.
I understand that sport naturally invokes passion, but too many young and experienced referees have turned their back on the game, too many young players have felt uncomfortable and too many administrators have burnt out due to antisocial behaviour.
The abuse of referees is a serious issue that needs too be addressed. Referees play a crucial role in ensuring fair play and maintaining the integrity of our game. It is important to respect their decisions and treat them with dignity. Any form of abuse is not only disrespectful but also undermines the spirit of sportsmanship.
As the governing body, we will do our utmost to provide more support for our community and lead the fight, but we also need you – the players, coaches, volunteers, administrators and officials to call out toxic behaviour so we can collectively stamp it out.
We, as a football family have a shared responsibility to make our game as welcoming and inclusive for all. Respect is essential for creating a positive and enjoyable sporting environment for everyone involved.
Another challenge facing our game is a misconception around the cost of playing. In November, I was made aware of comments made publicly in response to club debt and registration fees.
Our clubs are our lifeblood and throughout the year, FV worked in good faith with the football community, allocating significant time and resources over months to communicate, contact and collaborate with clubs who were facing financial challenges.
I appreciate that each individual club has unique fee structures associated with their own running costs.
To the parents, players and families who are the cornerstone of our community, I would like to reiterate that FV retains only a small portion of registration fees. The figures are published annually in each year’s fee schedule.
2024’s figures can be seen here.
FV as an organisation will continue to be transparent so that you can ensure the registration fees you pay guarantee participation in sanctioned 2024 FV competitions.
Our game would not survive without the support of partners at all levels of the game. I would also like to thank FV’s proud sponsors for their dedication to football, and also pass on my gratitude to the many businesses who sponsor Clubs and allow them to reinvest into the game.
In 2023, Football Victoria experienced some changes in its staff, with individuals joining and leaving the organisation. Staff turnover is a common occurrence in any organisation, and it can be influenced by various factors such as personal decisions, career opportunities, or organisational restructuring. These changes can bring fresh perspectives, skills, and experiences to football, while also, creating opportunities for growth and development.
We also acknowledge Karen Pearce OAM, who has done a remarkable job as Acting CEO in these past months. Karen has played a crucial role in providing leadership, I personally would like to thank her for her commitment and the extra effort she put in to lead FV through some challenging situations.
Following a comprehensive recruitment process, I was delighted to announce at the Annual General Meeting in December that Chris Pehlivanis has been appointed the new CEO of Football Victoria.
Chris’ leadership, strategic vision and understanding of our game make him the ideal leader for our organisation. His values strongly align with those of the Board of Directors and he will play a pivotal role in shaping our game as we continue our mission towards 50:50 equity.
The process to appoint our new CEO was rigorous, steered for FV by Director Nicholas Vamvakas it was run by SRI Executive, an independent talent consulting firm leading the recruitment process.
Chris was appointed following a successful four-year tenure as CEO of Western United FC, where he led the club through a historic period.
There’s no doubt that Chris’ leadership will usher in an exciting new era for Victorian football, as will the changes to FV’s constitution that were approved in November’s Special General Meeting (SGM).
A number of significant changes to FV’s governance structure were announced following the SGM, including the approval of a shift in membership structure.
FV’s membership structure will transition from the current system, to a one club, one vote model. This system will revert power back to our clubs and ensure that all of our members have an equal voice.
In a momentous leap forward for football, we also saw a vote to enshrine the 40:40:20 principle in our Constitution. Committing to a 40% male, 40% female and 20% any gender identity for our Board and members showcases the incredible progress our game has made, something we should all be remarkably proud of. On behalf of FV, I congratulate our Members for their vision, and commitment to drive change.
In terms of leadership, the membership also voted unanimously to retain the current Board. I am honoured with the faith the football community has shown in me personally by extending my tenure for a further 12 months and I look forward to leading FV through this exciting period.
As we close out the 2023 season, on behalf of Football Victoria’s Board of Directors, management and staff, I would like to thank each and every one of the volunteers, families, parents, administrators and players who have been involved in this game-changing year of football.
I am excited to see how football evolves in 2024, and I am certain Football Victoria will continue to play a significant role in shaping the future of football and its growth over the course of the next 12 months.
Kind regards,
Antonella Caré
Football Victoria President