Football Tasmania has welcomed today’s State Government Levelling the Playing Field grant announcements, calling the promised investments a win for women’s football but also recognising there was still work to be done to improve access to football for women and girls across Tasmania.
KGV, the home of football in Tasmania was granted $500,000 for infrastructure upgrades in today’s announcement of successful applicants. Lightwood Park, home of Kingborough Lions was granted $300,000 to build new female changerooms.
Upgrades at multisport facilities Cornelian Bay, Clare Street Oval in New Town and Meercroft Park in Devonport will also benefit football in Tasmania.
Football Tasmania President Bob Gordon said that the World Game is flourishing in Tasmania and facilities needed to keep pace.
“Football Tasmania welcomes the State Government’s commitment to investing in upgrading infrastructure through its Levelling the Playing Field initiative and are pleased to see five football related facilities receive upgrades,” he said.
“As the state’s highest participation sport, football is strong right around the State, across both junior and senior levels and for males and females.
“We’re expecting a boom in female participation next year off the back of this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup held in June, so now is the time to start upgrading female facilities.
“Women's football has enjoyed a rich history in Tasmania in the 40 years since the first women's league was established in 1977/78 and now in Tasmania, 26 per cent of registered football players are female, which is the highest proportion of any state or territory in Australia.
“As a sport and as a community more broadly it’s just unacceptable that women are expected to put up with inferior facilities.
“Today’s announcement is great news for female football in Tasmania but we still need to continue to work together as a community to truly fix the issue.”