Robina reflect female boom
FEMALE football is booming and Robina City are one of the big beneficiaries.
This year, the Rabbits boast the biggest female football program on the Gold Coast.
Consisting of nine girls teams, five women’s teams and more than 200 female players in the Robina football family, the club believes they are one of the biggest female sporting programs on the Gold Coast.
Now in the middle of a nationwide initiative, Female Football Week, which supports the growth of women’s football and their involvement in the game, Robina president Paul
Rushton said the Rabbits had long laboured over creating an environment conducive to female involvement and success.
“Our big vision is for girls to start at our club from a young age and play their whole career here and eventually play in the Brisbane Women’s Premier League or Gold Coast metro league,” he said.
“We pride ourselves on being a female-friendly club and we’re open to women and girls who’ve never played before.
“We have several women on our committee and several of the men have gone on to have daughters who are involved in the club.
“Having a dedicated Girls Director, Women’s Director and a club committee committed to females playing football has played a major role in the ongoing growth of female player numbers at Robina.
“Females playing football codes is booming. Player numbers for girls and women are up around the whole Gold Coast so it’s not just us benefiting.”
With 57 total teams and 700 players registered to the club, Rushton said making room for everyone was a challenge Robina embraced.
“It’s a juggling act but everyone gets on and is eager to support each other so all teams are valued,” he said.
Rushton said the rise of female footballer had attracted several new sponsors.