Matildas earn cash for Palm Beach club

PALM Beach Soccer Club has already had a hand in producing two star Matildas but a welcome cash bonus could see it produce many more.

The Sharks have joined Coast teams Mudgeeraba, Football Gold Coast, Tweed United, Robina City, Southport and Burleigh Heads as part of 59 Australian clubs set to receive a combined total of $387,237 from FIFA’s 2019 Women’s World Cup Club Solidarity Fund.

FIFA introduced the fund to reward “clubs for providing players with a professional football pathway”.

Clubs received money if a player who participated in the 2019 Women’s World Cup was registered to them or if a player was trained by them between the ages of 12 and 22.

Palm Beach received about $8600 for its role in developing current Matildas Hayley Raso and Aivi Luik.

“We do have one player in particular I feel could go places if she wanted to and we’ve also seen lots of junior girls around who could develop into something special,” Palm Beach senior women’s co-ordinator Jessica Rose said.

“We were very excited to be one of the clubs receiving money and it’s good to know we can take pressure of the girls having to find money or fundraise for themselves.

“We’ve increased to three senior women’s teams so we’re hoping to keep that participation up and maybe even increase in the future.”

Palm Beach aims to stretch its FIFA funds over three years and will put the money towards cutting playing fees, buying equipment and starting goalkeeper-specific training for women in the next few years.

The club also bought pairs of hot pink socks for its senior sides and under-15 girls team which they will continue to wear as an alternate strip.

The Sharks has a long-term interest in fielding a Brisbane Women’s Premier League side.