The Southern Tablelands Football Association has taken another step forward in support of its female players, after it received a $15,000 grant from the NSW government to build women's changerooms.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Announced a fortnight ago, the STFA is one of four Goulburn-based organisations to have received a share of the $4.6 million in grants from the state government.
The money was allocated specifically for the construction of female changerooms, which is an issue the STFA has sought to address for some time.
Competition administrator Jason Broadbent hopes the grant will also encourage more women to take up soccer.
"I think it's really important, the vibe we've gotten in previous years is that we've only got two changerooms and typically they've only been male," he said.
"The women have gotten changed in their cars or in public, which is pretty unacceptable on our part. [The changerooms] might bring some women back to the sport.
"I can't speak for them but having somewhere to get changed is a safe place, it'll be for women of all ages. I think that's a good selling point from football, because a lot of changerooms [in general] are shared."
Women's sport was one of the key areas of growth targeted by the state government with these grants, according to acting minister for sport, Geoff Lee.
"We are all looking forward to seeing community sport return to normal when it is safe to do so and this money will provide vital funds to help organisations be ready to resume as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted," Lee said.
"Some organisations will buy uniforms for kids to relieve financial pressures on families whilst others will increase female participation and leadership in sport.
"Women's sport has experienced enormous success and growth both on and off the field in recent years and we want that momentum to be revived after the worst of COVID-19 has passed."
The grant will also help the association address the growth of soccer in general, which is increasingly recognised as a problem across the state.
Many clubs and associations in NSW have too many players and not enough resources to adequately allow everyone to take part.
Though the STFA is not yet at a tipping point, its numbers have grown steadily in recent years.
Another changeroom will greatly relieve the pressure on an already packed timetable at the Cookbundoon playing fields, which host dozens of games and hundreds of players each weekend.
While this growth has threatened to stretch resources thin, it has also allowed the STFA to return from the COVID-19 layoff without losing too many teams.
"While we have seen a little difference in some draws, we've actually gained a lot of teams in the older age groups," Broadbent said.
"As a whole we're only really down three or four teams overall from last year, across every division.
"It's promising, and it's good to see that Goulburn and the surrounding communities all want to play their football. Even through the pandemic, they've banded together and pulled through."
While you're with us...
Did you know the Goulburn Post is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up here.
