World Game Fund opens to community clubs

An extra $20 million was recently added to the fund to help improve the quality and accessibility of community soccer infrastructure.

Football Victoria chief executive officer Peter Filopoulos said the fund would help ensure that people wanting to play would not be denied by a lack of adequate facilities.

“Participation in the world game continues rise across Victoria, driven particularly by more girls and women wanting to play football.

“We know that the game will need up to 420 full-size equivalent pitches by 2026 just to keep up with population growth and consistently strong participation numbers.

“As many as 12,000 players missed out on playing football last year because clubs across Victoria didn’t have the facilities to cater for them.”

Before the announcement of the added funds, Surf Coast Football Club had already been promised $2 million from the fund for improved facilities on the condition they could raise $100,000 themselves.

The club is presently raising the money with the Surf Coast Shire having agreed to underwrite the club’s contribution.

This would see additional change rooms, a social space and two grandstands added to Banyul Warri Fields Pavilion.

There are plenty opportunities for clubs in the region to still apply for grants.

These can go towards improvements such as lighting, pitch redevelopments, synthetic pitches and female friendly change rooms.

Clubs can apply at sport.vic.gov.au/grants-and-funding.