Soccer strategy on target

THE City of Greater Geelong council has endorsed a regional soccer strategy aimed at facilitating continued development of one of the area’s fastest growing and most popular sports.

The city was among local municipalities who last month noted the draft G21 and Football Victoria Regional Football (Soccer) Strategy for public exhibition.

The plan aims to guide 10 years of development for the “world game” in the region with a focus on female football, facilities and access policies.

Delivery of an Armstrong Creek West sub-regional facility is among the top Geelong priorities, alongside general improvements to the quality and capacity of existing pitches, improving change facilties so they are suitable to all genders, increased access to indoor facilities to boost futsal participation and responding to current and future demand.

The past 10 years has seen soccer participation surge by 67 per cent to now have 5,600 participants in the G21 region.

Female involvement also more than doubled and now accounts for a quarter of all participants.

Cr Eddy Kontelj said the strategy was an important step in ensuring the sport’s continued growth.

“This strategy is extremely important for the future of soccer in our region.

“There’s no doubt that in the past several years there’s been a significant amount of investment and development in infrastructure and support for soccer in our region, and the City of Greater Geelong have certainly played a very significant part in that.

“However, there’s certainly still a lot more that needs to be done.

Cr Anthony Aitken agreed, and said the plan would support a host of clubs in the northern suburbs including North Geelong Warriors, Bell Park Soccer Club and Geelong Soccer Club.

“This strategy builds on a very strong history that exists in Geelong, about our support and our love for soccer in the northern suburbs of Geelong.

“It solidifies the council’s commitments towards soccer, not just ours but other local government authorities throughout the G21 region.”

The plan is now available on G21’s website at g21.com.au/resource/regionalsoccerstrategy