Girls’ soccer scene scores tournament

INAUGURAL junior girls’ tournament the Western United Cup will be held at the Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility in spring.

The three-day competition for young statewide athletes will run from Thursday, 29 September, to Saturday, 1 October, encouraging female sporting participation and talent.

Footballers between the age groups of under-10 to under-18 are invited to participate, and there will be an open division.

Western United Football Club’s women’s football integration manager Amanda Stella said the Green and Black is striving to nurture and expand the community of girls and women in soccer.

“As a club, Western United continues to grow in the female space with our partnership with WNPL’s Calder United, the girls’ development squad, and the imminent A-League Women’s team for next season,” she said.

“Our commitment to the female game and the initiatives we are creating are something that… we are proud of.

“Launching a tournament that is inclusive for all girls’ teams across the state is another step forward in… promoting women and girls who are a pivotal part of the growth of football.

“The tournament will come at a time when we are less than 10 months out from the start of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which is the perfect time to have as many girls on the pitch to promote women’s and girls’ football.”

City of Ballarat mayor Cr Daniel Moloney said the tournament will encourage residents to get behind Western United as the region’s adopted A-League team, but most importantly boost women’s sport.

“We know how important it is to foster this kind of growth and positivity for women and girls in sport, so we are so excited to host this tournament for the first time ever later this year,” he said.

“City of Ballarat is really serious about making sure women and girls in our community have every opportunity to get involved and showcase their sporting prowess and this tournament will do just that.”

The Western United Cup has been born of a funding partnership between the City, the State Government, and Western United Football Club, and will be delivered alongside Australian Football Skool.