Soccer participation on rise
Agrowing number of soccer players at a northern Grampians club is giving leaders hope the sport will continue to expand.
Stawell Pioneers Soccer Club juniors are forging ahead in this year’s South West Victorian Football Association competition, while seniors will continue weekly non-contact training sessions.
Senior competitions are suspended, but the association will wait on advice from Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, expected late July, to determine what competitions can be offered to players in the 2020 season.
Despite the suspension, soccer participation at Stawell has grown significantly since the club’s inception in 2018.
Team manager and coach Chris Sirre is welcoming the benefits the club is providing – particularly for girls, women and Stawell’s growing migrant communities.
“We set up in 2018. There was a lot of work getting the club up and running. There was no soccer club before that,” he said.
“In 2019 we were ready for our first competitions, and now, both junior teams are pretty full and we’re still getting more new people showing up at training, which is looking really good for the club.
“Hopefully we can expand the club even more next year if we don’t lose momentum due to COVID-19.”
Mr Sirre said the club was providing social opportunities for all people across the district.
“There’s a lot of migrants as well who are working at abattoirs in Stawell and Ararat – those people haven’t grown up with footy, they don’t know the game, but they do know soccer,” he said.
“For them, it’s definitely really important to be able to join a club and meet new people and integrate into the community.”
The growth of the club coincides with the build-up to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Matches will be hosted in venues across Australia and New Zealand, with one game at Melbourne’s AAMI Park.
Australian team Matildas, currently ranked world number seven, are well-placed for a shot at the title.
Football Federation Australia leaders expect hosting home games for the team will unlock ‘huge potential’ for growth in women’s football in the Asia-pacific region
Mr Sirre said he hoped Stawell Soccer Club could springboard off the world cup to help generate more interest in the sport.
“It’s a great pathway for the girls and with the FIFA World Cup coming to Australia and New Zealand in 2023, the lead-up and afterward will likely increase participation,” he said.
“For the juniors, we’ve got a lot of girls, more than 50 percent – it gives juniors an opportunity to play another sport other than footy, cricket or tennis.”
Mr Sirre said he hoped the Pioneers could forge ahead with a seven-aside competition across the Wimmera for seniors and juniors in October.
“We’re still looking for a sevena-side competition starting in spring for clubs including Horsham, Hamilton and hopefully Ararat will get a few teams up,” he said.
“We will likely have two or three senior teams and the same for the juniors as well.”