First female program to help mentor aspiring football coaches

FOOTBALL Far North Coast will support the development of women in the world game through a new mentor program aimed at aspiring female coaches.

The initiative, led by Northern NSW Football, is designed to increase the number of qualified and experienced women coaching across both junior and senior competitions.

Set to run throughout the 2026 season, the program will offer mentoring opportunities across community football and National Premier Leagues Northern NSW pathways.

Successful participants will be paired with experienced mentors, receiving guidance through match observations, feedback sessions and training attendance while building confidence and leadership skills.

Northern NSW Football general manager of participation and women’s football Allana Neeve said the organisation was proud to support the continued growth of female coaches.

“We’re incredibly excited to deliver this program in 2026 and to support the talented

women who will be a part of it,” she said.

“It provides a fantastic opportunity for participants to learn from experienced mentors, gain valuable feedback and continue building their confidence in coaching environments.”

The Far North Coast competition has a history of female coaching representation.

Belinda Wilson became the first woman to coach a men’s premier league team in the region when she took charge of Byron Bay FC in 2019.

Wilson previously coached Brisbane Roar and the Guam national men’s and women’s teams before later working with FIFA as a senior technical development manager in women’s football.