Looks like John Barilaro will get over the line in NSW Monaro seat after Saturdays election.
John of course, is a big football man. Having until recently been President of Monaro Panthers.
Gradually more and friends of football moving into powerful positions - in business, in Government.
And don't forget Andrew Leigh in Canberra - his kids are all over football. Federal Member and very active in his junior club Kids Soccer, PlayersFC.
A-League Foundation Members won 8 seats in yesterday's local election.
With Labor getting 7 seats, Liberals 7 and Greens 3, I declare Football the winner.
Jon Stanhope (Foundation Member) Zed Seselja (FM) Shane Rattenbury (FM) Alistair Coe (FM) Steve Doszpot (FM and former President of Soccer Canberra) Brendan Smyth (FM) Andrew Barr (FM) Meredith (Tony) Hunter (FM) all got elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Football now has eight A-League Foundation Members in Canberra and a few more over the border in Queanbeyan.
The message is clear from this election...if you weren't supporting football you got the flick:)...out went Steve Pratt, Mick Gentleman, Richard Mulcahey, Jacqui Burke and guess what..not an A-League for Canberra Foundation Member between them!
With Mark Parton our emcee for "The night with Ned," polling well and Tim Overall, John Barilaro and Velice Tranjanoski elected in the recent Queanbeyan elections....
Kate Lundy (FM) Gary Humprhries (FM) and Bob McMullan (Hon. President, Majura SC)
has football ever had such influence in this city/region?
Let's hope to see more gains for football and our juniors in coming years as we continue to build a football infrastructure our huge junior playing base deserves and needs.
I received this email this morning, thought I'd reprint it in full:) As a football fan, blogger, and Canberran I couldn't agree with it more.
Lets get political
For far too long Football (soccer) has been the poor cousin in Canberra. Football is the biggest code in the ACT yet governments of all creeds have ignored us.
It’s time to be more political about our code. Put people into the Legislative Assembly who will give Football a fare go.
We recently did this in Queanbeyan. For years the Mayor and Council neglected football. It’s the biggest sport in Queanbeyan yet the local clubs received little support. Now it has a pro-Football Mayor (Tim Overall) and two pro-Football Councillors – John Barilaro and Velice Tranjanoski. Barlilaro, who received the third biggest vote, ran a pro-Football campaign.
Tomorrow, please give consideration to those candidates who support the world game.
Molonglo
Gary Kent
Andrew Barr
Zed Seselja
Shane Rattenbury
Brindabella
Steve Doszpot
Ginninderra
Alistair Coe
Jon Stanhope
Shane Perris from Narrahbundah FC is the 950th fan to sign up. Great work Shane.
Former Majura Club/Canberra City member Bonita Mersiades has spoken in her role as the FFA's Head of Corporate Affairs.
(The FFA) it had approached Austrade because it believed football had the power and responsibility to "open foreign doors" to business and government.
Look who's coming to Woden Valley to celebrate 20 years, Local Politicians in action, ACTAS Girls challenge for Matildas future.
Woden Valley have a massive celebration coming up Sunday 18 May. It's the launch of their new Club house and Lawrie McKinna, Ahmad Elrich & Sasho Petrovski are coming to join in the fun. Woden Valley Soccer Club, cnr Beasley Street & Heard Street, Mawson, Sunday 11-3pm Bring your boots!
Pollies in action....or not!!
Federal Government ACT Labor Senator Kate Lundy has her priorities right. Kevin 24/7 may know nothing about work/life balance, but Kate clearly does. Senator Lundy found time to knock one in last weekend in her ACT Women's fooball game. Nice one Kate.
But we're a balanced lot at the Nearpost, left and right. ACT Local Election Liberal Candidate and former Soccer Canberra CEO Steve Doszpot kicked off the new season in the Masters Comp with an...OUCH!
Steve wrote:I spent most of Sunday in Hospital with a dislocated shoulder, happened at soccer on Sunday morning, doctors at Canberra hospital were debating whether I needed surgery, but decided to see if natural healing will work first &; sent me home in the evening, looks like I will be housebound for a little while
.
ACTAS girls Chrissy Walters and Bronwyn Studman were in the "Promising Matildas" camp this weekend at the AIS. They trained alongside Amy Chapman and Kyah Simon both who played in the Matildas/USA games last weekend, also Australian Cricket International Elyse Perry was back in camp; the girls strutted their stuff in front of Tom Sermanni, Alen Stajic and Alistair Edwards
Victorian Government gives local football major boost
If the Victorian Government can increase their financial support for football in AFL mad Melbourne lets hope the ACT Government continue to increase their financial support for football both at Grassroots level and Elite level.
We don't want to fall further behind do we?
Football Federation Victoria Mark Rendell said today, "We outlined in our Strategic Plan earlier this year the need to generate additional revenue to invest in the growth of Victorian Football, and this falls into line with that.
"The commitment of $750,000 from the Victorian Government is a great start to what we are trying to achieve."
The new projects, which include the Victory Schools 5-a-side, a Volunteer Recognition Program, Grassroots Certificate Training and Small Sided Games Communication Strategy, have already received excellent feedback throughout Victoria.
Victorian Government gives local football major boost
A host of Melbourne Victory stars were on hand at Telstra Dome yesterday as Football Federation Australia, Football Federation Victoria and the Victorian Government, through its Department of Sport and Recreation, announced a commitment of $750,000 towards community football in Victoria.
Victorian Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs the Honourable James Merlino made the announcement alongside FFA Head of Game Development Matthew Bulkeley, FFV CEO Mark Rendell and Melbourne Victory CEO Geoff Miles.
The Honourable James Merlino said “this funding will help FFA deliver projects to encourage participation in football at a community level, particularly in schools, through FFV and Melbourne Victory FC. Currently, no other states are running similar initiatives.”
While not in attendance CEO of FFA, Ben Buckley, was keen to show his support of this funding and said that “the FFA was delighted to be partnering with the Victorian Government to deliver these innovative programs to support grassroots football.”
“Football is enjoyed by thousands of young children around Victoria, and supported by a small army of volunteer ‘mums and dads’ without whom we could not put games on the park every weekend.
It’s terrific for us to have the opportunity to pilot these innovative projects with the support of the Victorian Government and through Football Federation Victoria,” Mr Buckley said.
The funding has been allocated to initiatives and programs that will benefit Victoria’s football community, both in a club and school context, and has provided Melbourne Victory and FFV with a unique opportunity to conduct new and exciting projects.
"We believe the funding made available by the Victorian Government will have a direct impact on football in this state," Mr Rendell said.
"We outlined in our Strategic Plan earlier this year the need to generate additional revenue to invest in the growth of Victorian Football, and this falls into line with that.
"The commitment of $750,000 from the Victorian Government is a great start to what we are trying to achieve."
The new projects, which include the Victory Schools 5-a-side, a Volunteer Recognition Program, Grassroots Certificate Training and Small Sided Games Communication Strategy, have already received excellent feedback throughout Victoria.
FFV has been a major force behind the success of the projects, which also aim to strengthen the connection between Victory and Victoria’s football community and encourage participation in school football by teachers and students alike.
CEO of Melbourne Victory, Geoff Miles, said that “we as a club were excited about the opportunity to be involved in grassroots football through the Melbourne Victory Schools 5-a-side.
We look forward to the enthusiastic participation of boys and girls who will take part with their schools, and thank the Victorian Government for their great support of football development in Victoria through this initiative.
We are confident that this partnership between the Victorian Government, Football Federation Australia, Football Federation Victoria and Melbourne Victory will deliver enormous benefits for our sport at a time of great interest and growth in all levels of the game.”
Some say Sport and Politics don't and shouldn't mix. Dream on!
Sport is a vital part of Australian life, community life, and with the coming ACT elections it's interesting to see people standing for the local assembly with a keen interest in football.
The Labor parliament are currently spending $400,000 on Hawker lighting and pitch preparation. And expect a further football announcement in next months budget.
But of course their lack of support for an A-League bid leaves me cold.
And the Liberals have a leader in Zed Seselja who lists soccer as an interest. And former Soccer Canberra CEO Steve Doszpot, Brindabella Blues Under 8 Coach and Brindabella Blues Over 45 is also standing under the Liberal ticket.
Whatever your political view, from a football bloggers one-eyed view the more football people in the Assembly the better....and about time.
And with a huge community we need to have a loud voice in the local assembly.
Got any more Assembly candidates with a football edge, let me know.
Matildas, Carl Valeri, Boca Juniors to tour Australia, Olyroos World Cup draw for Beijing, Channel 9 want football, ACT Government spending.
It's all here...
Six Matildas are playing or will shortly head overseas to play for foreign clubs as women's football continues to evolve.
Trouble getting Socceroos back for internationals, now it's the Matildas. Lisa De Vanna, Kate Gill (Sweden) Heather Garriock (Denmark) Collette McCallum, Sarah Walsh and Caitlin Munoz ( USA) will all have to readjust their club schedule if they are to play for Australia in coming weeks.
Olyroos Beijing Under 23 World Cup draw. Olyroos draw Serbia, Argentina and Ivory Coast.
Boca Juniors, The South American and Argentinean giants are to tour Australia. The game will be televised on SBS, and yes they still cover football. They will play an unnamed A-League side at Canberra Stadium. Okay I made up the venue bit. But could you imagine the future possibilities.
Canberra's Carl Valeri looks safe from relegation in Serie B. A 5-3 away win for Grosseto saw Captain Valeri's team secure a place in next year's Serie B I reckon, but will Valeri still be at the club?
Channel 9 want to show one live A-League next season. Fox won't let them. With Channel 10 showing the Beckham festical, Channel 9 after an A-League game who will show the Juventus game?
Also makes reports that football will match or beat Rugby Leagues TV Revenue in the next TV deal, admittedly many year off, not so surprising. And wouldn't 500 mill dollars change football forever in Australia.
Locally, ACT Government announce $400,000 for improved lights for Hawker Oval, and preparation for Synthetic surface and Andrew Barr expects more funds in the budget. Watch this space!
