NPL and CEO Capital Football Discuss Some Football Issues - Part 2

This program is broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz), across the Australian Community Radio Network, on Tuesday at 7:00PM.

The Mens and Womens Premier League competitions are underway.

In the Womens PL its Belconnen United, Woden Valley FC  and Western Creek that have jumped out to an early lead. Woden Valley has made a particularly impressive start with wins across all grades in the last two rounds, including undefeated records after five rounds for the PL Reserves and PL18s. They are very closely followed by Belconnen United. The two powerhouses in Womens PL football at this time.

The Mens Premier League has completed two rounds and already there are alarm bells ringing. CFC are dominant, although Canberra City came as close as anyone has in 2011 with a 4-2 scoreline against them. Woden Valley FC has been triumphant in all four grades in the first two rounds, a remarkable achievement so early in the season. Cooma has had a very disappointing start by their high standards. Olympic's very impressive young roster is playing fine football and are a serious problme for every club.

But the alarm bells that are ringing loud and long, signal trouble for two PL clubs. Goulburn Strikers are doing it tough and we covered that story last week. Nevertheless, they are contesting every grade, just as they said they would and got their first win in PL18 over Monaro.

Monaro Panthers are in real trouble and it's difficult to know how they got themselves into this position – their PL18 side is simply not to PL standard – by a considerable margin. What preparation did the club do in the off season to construct their team? I understand that they had to start the game against the Strikers with less than a full team. Advertisements now appear on the Capital Football website for players. This is in sharp contrast to the Monaro PL16 team which is very competitive.

It seems to me that the Panthers are more strife than the Strikers. Will Monaro be able to continue to field a PL18 team for the season, because if it unable to do so, will this bring the Clubs involvement in the PL to a premature end? I sincerely hope not – but it is a requirement of the licence to field teams in all grades.

The Strikers and the Panthers have serious deficiencies in their playing strengths. It is most unlikely that either club will be able to resolve these deficiencies for the remainder of 2011 season. The worst case scenario is that one or both find it impossible to continue to field a team in one of the required PL grades. The next worst case is that the losses become more pronounced, which in turn brings other in-season problems for a struggling club.

Each club poses different problems for Capital Football. If Capital Football intends to do something – best its done now and not later. The question is – how flexible will CF be in these matters – because we certainly don’t want to loose either club to the PL, but the weekly destruction of a team is of no value to the PL at any level.

Just how well informed is the Mens League Advisory Committee, what did they glean from any club debriefs they held at the end of the 2010 season, how much homework did they do in the off season and is this committee sufficiently able to manage the Premier League on a continuing basis?

The CF committee appointed to review and recommend PL licences, concluded its work in 2009, so there is not much point in looking back to their work for answers. Things have moved on, and things have changed as they do, which brings us back to the usefulness of the Mens League Advisory committee. And to whom is this advisory committee really accountable? All the other PL clubs? These early but serious stumbles by two of the new Clubs to the PL, together with other important football related club matters, that demonstrate just how important it now is to have the Mens and Womens Premier Leagues managed as a separate entity.

For now, the Strikers and Monaro seem to require some flexible and practical assistance. Looking for new players of the appropriate standard in the ACT is the least likely solution.

All this fits nicely into the continuing discussion the NPL had with the CEO CF.

We continue with Part 2 of this discussion. Remember it’s a discussion, not question and answer. We continue with what seems to be the Womens PL, ACTAS players availability and so on. But its more than that. This discussion goes in its way to the heart of football problems between clubs and CF – consultation or lack of it, competition rules that may or may not be helpful going forward, the rights of players to determine which PL club they wish to play for, how much should CF involve itself in the regulation of players participation in club football, the differing philosophies of the PL clubs, does the CF structure for communication (Club Pres / Regional reps / Standing Committees and so) really work and what is a reasonable level of consultation, how effective and acocuntable are the advisory committees and to whom, how often do these committees meet and with whom do they confer and report, why are Junior clubs limited to one Div 1 team ar age if they have more than one team at the appropriate standard at a time when we are trying to build capacity among talented players not restrict it, what is CF prepared to do to prevent the wholesale poaching of young teams by clubs, if clubs have responsibilities to ACTAS what responsibility does ACTAS have to Clubs (and in particular PL coaches), what happens to players post ACTAS, the impact of the national curriculum and development plan and the increasing roles that junior and PL clubs must play in this process and so on and so on.

You make up your own mind on these matters.

For myself, I think CF has a lot of hard work to do around the issues of communication and consultation with clubs. They seem to be too reactive and not proactive - the Strikers and Panthers Pl predicaments are cases in point. Then their are the Womens Pl issues and Junior clubs issues. I very much doubt the league standing committees have been as consultative and inclusive, as might have been best for the development of the game, and that’s heavy lead to carry in the saddlebags. It seems to me that the CF organisational structure is now not best placed to handle the increasing needs of a PL competition.

Its against all this that the CEO and the NPL speak. As ever, the NPL is pleased the CEO Heather Reid is prepared to talk of these and other matters.

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Goulburn Strikers FC Are Here To Stay!

This program was broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz) across the Australian Community Radio Network, on Tuesday, 3 May 2011 at 7:00PM.

This program is given to the Goulburn Strikers participation in the Capital Football Premier League.

It’s no secret that the Strikers have had a hard start to the 2011 season, with some big losses in the pre-season Federation Cup and the extra-ordinary misfortune of meeting CFC in the opening round of the 2011 competition, loosing all grades and amassing a total of 70 goals against themselves. It must have been a long drive back to Goulburn.

In fact, the Goulburn Strikers have been experiencing difficulties since the middle of the 2010 season, their first season in the Premier League, following a stellar start to the entry to the CF Premier League at the commencement of the 2010 Federation Cup. Who can forget their game against CFC in the Fed Cup final, the very team that handed out a such a hiding last weekend. But my guess is that CFC will hand out double digit defeats to a few PL teams this season and the Strikers are likely to find themselves in good company before the season is over. But that’s another story and doesn’t help the Strikers become more competitive in 2011.

Perhaps the troubling aspect of the Strikers First round in 2011 is that scope / magnitude of the defeats across all four PL grades. That got everyone’s attention among the other Premier League Clubs last Sunday. It wasn’t pretty. The trouble that beset the Strikers in the latter half of 2010, was more than any Club should endure and ravaged their playing rosters.

What will Capital Football do about this situation was the most frequent comment last Sunday on the sidelines and subsequently among many the Premier League Football community. This thought ran in close company with another – this is not good for the other Premier League clubs and surely the Strikers will not be able to sustain repeated severe losses across the grades. Premier League Club officials, supporters and players who had gone through tough times themselves at their Club in past seasons, had no doubt how hard the road would be in front of the Strikers.

There is a lot of goodwill for the Strikers among the Football community. And that brings the discussion and spotlight back on Capital Football.

This is a very sensitive matter and a substantial test for Capital Football going forward. How accommodating and flexible can Capital Football or will Capital Football be in this matter. How much wiggle room do the Strikers feel they have going forward with a season just begun? Its important to understand the Football environment in which the Goulburn Strikers exist and it’s not like any other I have encountered.

Easy to conclude that the Strikers should not be in the PL. And if that is your conclusion, I think you are wrong.

We must persevere with the strikers and by that I don’t mean go easy on them.

As the scores came in from Deakin on Sunday, some wise Club Football people began to think and communicate on the subject of how CF could help the Strikers remain in Premier League. One thought from a former Club President showed just how smart and pragmatic some of our Club people are: perhaps Capital Football could make the necessary adjustments to competition rules and licence provisions, and excuse them from the Premier League level and allow them to reorganise to play PL Pathways, PL18 and PL16 in 2011 and until they are ready to be competitive in the top level in Premier League. So simple and so pragmatic. But of course, this discussion was without the benefit of knowing how the Strikers might feel about things. Those speaking seem to all agreed that Capital Football should take the initiative and create circumstances that can keep the Strikers in the Premier League, without regard to competition rules – rules can be changed.

This discussion gave rise to an interesting point, one that is a sore point among the personnel of the two clubs in this football discussion – has Capital Football asked the other Premier League Clubs how they feel about the Strikers predicament? Consultation! Not likely was the view. Pity, I thought, because I don’t know of one club that wouldn’t want to help if they could. But how do they get into a discussion that also affects their Football future this season and into the future?

Consider the strategic implications for Capital Football implicit in the Goulburn Strikers continuation in the Capital Football Premier League. As the President, Tim McGrath, says – “Goulburn is the Campbelltown of Canberra.” I wonder why the STFA just doesn’t simply leave NSW and join Capital Football. Perhaps that’s something the CF Board could turn its mind too.

There are numerous strengths to the Strikers organisation and their regional representation (southern tablelands) is something that must be maintained through these early years. They sit across a wide player attachment area and give absolute priority to the development and promotion of the home grown player in a region that is poorly serviced by Football NSW. The Strikers are financially sound, have a robust and experienced committee, strong community support and sponsorship, and teams well coached. Their constitution specifically precludes payments to players, over the ordinary reimbursement of costs. All this and more does nothing to immediately make the 2011 playing roster more robust, but it does provide a precious base for future success. They are exactly the sort of community based club we want in the Premier League.

The Goulburn Strikers have endured the off season from hell. The drama around the departure of their coach and the subsequent departure of a number of senior players, seems to sit at the heart of the problems. It also included the closure of the club website. Very unpleasant stuff.

And then - only today I was told that the Goulburn (STFA) U15 Boys (it has been referred to as a “rep team of players from the region that would have played in the local competition) had moved to what I have been told is a Canberra based Premier League club for 2011. The President of Strikers confirmed that this is so, but thought it might be Queanbeyan, who also play in the CF competitions – but are no longer a PL club). As if it wasn’t hard enough for the Strikers! I hope these young players haven’t been poached and return to Strikers next year. No doubt they would have been an important influence on the Club’s PL16 playing roster for 2011 had they remained. Surely Capital Football (and the relevant Standing committees) understood the implications of this undertaking and if so, why did they agree to it? This is not the first time this sort of thing has happened to CF PL clubs and it’s a real shame that CF does nothing to discourage it from happening. Capital Football seem to be quick enough to make rules and pursue other far less important matters.

If you think you know what happened to the GS in the off season, I’ll bet you don’t, I don’t think the CEO CF did until CF met with the GS last week. If Capital Football (including the League Standing Committee) did comprehend the difficulties that the Goulburn Strikers were encountering in late 2010, why did they not intervene, consult with and provide guidance and/or assistance? Probably because they just didn’t join the dots.

Fortunately, the Goulburn Strikers have moved on, they are not looking for handouts, they are concentrating on retaining their Premier League licence at the end 2012. They are a PL Club that is sticking with the principles which underpin their Clubs foundation. But this is far from over for this Club and there must be something that can be done to assist that gives hope for this season and importantly, 2012.

We begin with an extract from a discussion I had with the CEO CF – just prior to a meeting CF had with the GS. Then it’s on to the Pres of GS, Tim McGrath. You’ll be impressed by this fellow. Take him at his word.

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Winds Of Change Begin To Blow at the Capital Football AGM

Capital Football held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) last night.

Three Board members positions had been declared vacant (their time had expired and they had to be relected in order to remain on the Board). There were two new people who had nominated for election to the Board. A ballot would therefore, have to be held to establish who would fill the three vacant positions. As they say "game on'!

The voting is done by the current Board members and elected Zone Representatives. A small group. Clubs do not get a vote in this process. That's teh way the consitution is written.

The public can attend. You would expect some of the Football commnity to attend - few do. You would think Clubs would send a representative to attend - few do. I guess some Clubs woould feel that if they can't vote why turn up. I'll get back to Clubs.

All the Capital Football staff attended, indeed, they were the majority in the audience. Curious that, but then, they too are part of the football public, they certainly are at an AGM. From where I sat, a roll call for attendance at the AGM looked like this:

• All Board members attended (probably the best result they have had in a while given the attendance record of a couple listed in the Annual report.)
• Not all Zone reps attended (majority did)
• Only two Clubs (Tuggeranong United and Monaro Panthers) had representatives in the audience.
• The audience numbered 12 persons, 7 of whom were CF staff. One fellow left early, he was sitting next to me, there was a quiet but audible groan and he got up - the combination of the financial report and the CEO's report seemed to do him in, which is a pity because some fo the dicsussion that followed was well worth listening too. The Football public can be so fickle!

I thought the lack of represntation by the Clubs was simply very disappointing.  Now some Clubs were represented by the Zone representatives, who are themselves are office bearrers at thier club (eg Belconnen United, Western Creek, Woden Valley juniors). But the rest were conspicious by their absence. Where were the Premier League clubs and the Junior Clubs? Not good enough. Not when you have legitmate concerns in Football and express them elsewhere. This was Clubland's chance to put these matters on the table, recorded in the minutes. Make the Board, Zone reps and CEO sit and listen till you had talked yourself to a stnadstill. The role of the Zone rep is not entirely clear, Evolving" was teh word used by one Zone rep, which is true. Much more could and should be done by Capital Football to make this process work for Clubs. At the moment, it keeps the Clubs at arms distance form the orgainsation and Board. That's not good for the development of the game.

The thing that gets me is that the complaints you hear at Clubs are signficant (from their perspective) - for example -  "Capital Football" doesn't consult, they don't communicate, they are only interested in the talented players, they atek too much money and what do we get in return, never seen techncial development at our Club, the Womens' game gets too much, they don;t know what it costs to run Premier League football at Club level, they don;t listen to concerns at Club level, they keep too much secret, we they don't get much from Captial Football from one year to the next, when did you last see a Board member at  Premier League game and so on and so on..". Too many to list here. The dialogue is vibrant at CLub level. There is a remarkable pool of talent across all the disciplines / professions among players and parents at Clubs and with that, a lot of good ideas. But you ahev to have a dialogue - both ways - for things to work. AT the present time its seems to be broken both ways.

What message does your Club send to the Capital Football Board, the CEO and staff if your Club makes no effort at all to enagage in forums like the AGM? Without your input CF will definately get things wrong more often, because with the best will in the world, your lack of engagement means they get isolated. Their conversations about the things that impact on your Club are discussed among themsleves. You risk placing them in the position of having themsleves for the Football client. In these circumstances we all risk sub optimal outcomes, things stay the same, group think predominates. We get what we deserve sometimes, and sometimes we get more than we deserve - both are true around Capital Football and your Club(s). But have a good look at yourself and your Club before you hurl the next brickbat. Not bloody good enough, not by half!

But I digress, back to the AGM -  there was a wind of change in the air before the AGM opened. There was every reason to think change was afoot.

Well, this is a wind that seems to have been blowing gently since the last AGM.

The twitter around the grounds and among club officials seemed to be predominantly  one of dissatisfaction with "Capital Football", that easy phrase which captures, often unfairly for some, all Board members, CEO and staff. There are lots of opinions in Football, lots of passion, Clubs have their own view of the world and Football is currently in a process of fundamental reform through the FFA, particularly now in the areas of the National Curriculum and National Development plan. We have some hard problems to resolve here in the ACT, particularly around the provision of good playing facitlties for ever increasing participation rates in the ACT region and the development of players. The challenege is to create a meaningful dialogue with the Clubs,  as President Belconnen United and Zone Rep, Mark O'Niell, ever the forward thinker, pointed out during the meeting. A view that was clearly shared by several of his Member colleagues.

The Capital Football Annual report was tabled and it tells a tale of progress and limitation, and if you look closely, the imposing scope of the task to build our game in the ACT.  Dots points, graphs, good news aplenty, how many times did the Board members attend Board meeting that year (hmmmm!), everyone thanking everyone for all the work, and always, a financial report that is definately worth discussion for the insights and understandings it brings when words elsewhere in the report just don't seem to bring enough clarity. The Treasurer answered questions in an energetic, candid and informative fashion and that helped a great deal.

Then came the election.

Three Board member positions were declared vacant and candidates nominated for election /re-election. The outgoing members all re-nominated and importantly, two new candidates made themselves available for election to the Board.

The nominees for the Board were

• Alan Bradbury (former Director)
• John Logue (former President)
• Racheal Harrigan (former Director)
• James Selby (new nominee)
• Eddie Senatore (new nominee)

 The nominees were asked to speak to the Members at the table. To give their pitch for a position on the Board. Bradbury and Logue spoke of the past and they obviouisly had a lot to be proud of in their work over many years in Football and with CF. John Logue has a massive history in Football in the ACT, a voice of reasonableness in difficult times, and he could certainly claim to have seen much of the worst of some of Football adminstration. Harrigan spoke passionately of the future, work with the Kanga Cup and of her strategic interest going forward. Senatore and Selby were a breathe of fresh air, different, but clearly seemed to bring something new to the table. Selby was an impressive speaker and has considerble experience in sports adminstration, which seemed highly relevant to the needs of the CF Board.  Senatore seemed to capture the audience with his no nonesense catalogue of professional achievements, depth of exeperience immediately transferrable to the CF Board, strategic business and sports experience and his focuss on communication with Clubs. A formidable skill set that seemed highly desirable to the CF Board.

The wind had turned into a gust!

There were some good options on the table. The members appeared to go with an eye for the future change over the next four years. The successful candidates for the CF Board are;

• Racheal Harrigan
• James Selby
• Eddie Senatore

The position of President of the CF Board is resolved by a separate ballot among the Board members, time not yet known. Three people appear to have something to recommend for this important role. Maybury looks to be too good a treasurer to loose. Harrigan's passion is highly commendable and so necessary. But for me, they could do no better than the newly elected Eddie Senatore, who has considerable experience in this role in other important community organisations (eg St Edmunds College).

My one thought as I walked to the car. If you have a broom, might as well use it!

I suspect this is only the start of a new era at Capital Football. An opportunity for Captial Football to reinvent itself to meet new challenges. I expect it to be a very productive one in the years ahead and a lively tweleve months in front of us.. More power to them I say.

Its the Vision Thing You know! Its Time To Think Big About Community Football and Futsal Faciltities in the ACT

It seems that the NPL has stirred a hornet's nest in some quarters at Capital Football.

Front and centre is the issue of owning our own Football and Futsal facilities in the ACT.

Lets start by reminding ourselves that it was a long term drought that saw many ACT Government community grass playing fields decommissioned, no water, no maintenance and left to decay to the point where they now require large investments to get them to playing standard. These open spaces have become very juicy targets for developers of medium density housing ("urban infill"??)

It seems that there is a view among some in Capital Football that Capital Football is not in the business of owning and maintaining football and Futsal facilities. It's such a completely underwhelming position. No hope and no vision for the future.

Capital Football, on behalf of the ACT Football community, provided a very significant proportion (50% +) for the  redevelopment of Hawker enclosed with a new FFA standard Tiger Turf surface. And what a terrific playing surface facility it is. So don't tell me we are not in the business of investing in something we can call our own and how much better would it be if we did "own" Hawker Enclosed?

But the next "Hawker" is said to be about five years down the track! Too slow. We need another six of these facilities in the next three years!

My response to that suggestion that Capital Football does not own / maintain facilities for Football is simply this - is what we are doing now working to the complete satisfaction for the Football and Futsal community in the ACT? A community that is growing faster than we can service demand with suitable playing surfaces, even for our Premier League teams. Is it happening with the speed and frequency necessary to sustain and build the game? Are we "future proofing" our game?

When we ask questions, the answer is always the same - we are talking to so and so in the ACT Government, their are plans for new playing fields in new suburbs, we had a meeting with so and so. All that ever seems to be spoken of is "process", the sort of stuff you just expect to be happening, but not firm, detailed outcomes.

Take the Hawker Enclosed example - after a fine first effort to redevelop the ground, where is the expansion capability at Hawker for the next ground or the Futsal Facility? There is real estate in that area, but no plans. So in the end, we have one isolated playing field. If you ever go to see the HPP squads and others training during the week, you'll quickly acknowledge the limitations of a "one field site" solution.

So we look elsewhere for ideas and inspiration. Do we do that? Valentine Park in metro NSW for Football NSW comes immediately to mind. What about that fantastic community Football  development in the London, home of Barnett FC, called "the Hive", a very recent development. There's a message here for Capital Football, but are they "on receive"? Is this sort of "vision" a bit too demanding? Here's a promo video for "The Hive":



We need some visionary, bold thinking for Football going forward in the ACT, particularly in the area of playing facilities.

The FFA launched a National Curriculum and a National Development Plan that is intended to influence every level of the game, particularly in the junior and youth age groups, boys and girls. How can these wonderfully praiseworthy initiatives by the FFA be supported in the ACT Region without bold strokes across the playing facilities requirements in our region?

What we are doing, is what we have always done. Its not good enough, never was! And that seems to be the where the thinking stops! Dare I raise the matter of the $26m of ACT Gov funds that escaped to AFL (in Sydney)!

Why don't we have a Football and Futsal Centre in the ACT where we could focus the game in our community, provide a number of first rate playing surfaces, a family friendly cafe, Football / Futsal shop, medical services, swimming pools, live in accommodation for visiting teams, just to name a few elements that come to mind. A place to cater to all levels of football development from ACTAS to Capital Football and Club development training, competitions across all age groups and levels from Junior to State League to Premier League, a place to focus the Kanga Cup and the FFA Futsal Nationals.

And why not two of them? Is this something that the ACT Government would be likely to be interested in? You bet! Why? Because its a plan that stands to continue to benefit all the Football community for many, many years to come. And ours is a very large sporting constituency.

If we had the flexibility with regard to playing facilities, delivered available and up to standard faciltties, we could, if we wanted to, completely restructure when and how we play our competitions during the year, giving both games a whole of year presence, without the constraints currently limiting the conduct of games in the ACT.What a fantastic thing it would be.

Why wouldn't Capital Football, together with the Clubs and in partnership with the ACT Government want to be a proud "owner" of this type of vision for Football and Futsal?

Every time we talk of doing something different with the scheduling of our game, we are told that the grounds are not available. And they are not, because we don't own or have any priority control over them! And nothing changes. So tell me why / how our present and long standing approach is making things better for the game in the ACT? Its not good enough in 2011 going forward.

So Capital Football - tell us what the plan is in detail!

New Capital Football Technical Director, Royston (Roy) Thomas Talks About the Task Ahead

Capital Football have appointed a new Technical Director, his name is Royston (Roy) Thomas.

In this interview, Royston speaks of his Football background / experience and describes the first steps he has taken in his new position.

The position of Techncial Director is a pivotal one in ACT Football. In past years the emphasis, almost sole emphasis has been on the very small population of taletend players at age, prior to selection of an even smaller number of players to attend ACTAS. That's no criticism of the persons who have held this position; they obviously did what they were asked to do and the production of talented players in the ACT, beyond State / Territory Federation members is necessary if the we are to see National teams become more competitive. But the truth is that community football and Clubs have got lost in the background, sometimes feeling more put upon than supported by Capital Football and the FFA in these matters. And CAPital Football is in the business of running competitions - good competitions.

Royston arrives at a pivotal time in the development  and expansion of the game in the ACT region. The FFA National Football Curriculum and the National Development Plan, together with a massive shift to the good in Coach Education are the prime drivers in relation to Football players across the nation.

The Capital Football development programs (Academy / High Performance in thier turn) have been reviewed to a standstill. The question is now all about the "what" and the "how". Royston is cognizant of this situation. Playing facilities now demand more and more attention in the ACT and impact on player development and the provision of good competitions. Royston enters at a time with as is often said "a lot of balls in the air".

Royston has a mind to widen his contact with the Football community, reaching down to Clubs and Club Coaches, starting a continuing dialogue. He is presently visiting Clubs, junior and senior and speaks of creating a Forum for Coaches. He has quickly picked up on the important connections to the ACTAS Mens and Womens programs and coaches. Its early days and a productive start on a long and difficult journey in Football.

If you see him around the grounds or have him pointed out to you - go over and say hullo. He will need all the contact he can get outside the Capital Football offices, if he is to get across his portfolio in good time and make decisions that make sense to you. He's easy to talk to and a long Football background.

As you listen to this first interview, you will quickly get the impression that this is a person with a passion for Football. He is your Techncial Director, the game belongs to everyone, so use him! Hope you enjoy this first interview - I did!

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Capital Football and ACT Club Teams at the Bathurst Proctor Park Ladies Challenge

The Nearpost Local roving reporter, Simon Kravis has once again provided us with an excellent summary of this Football event. We were all well represented by the teams from the ACT. Should be more of it!

Capital Football Under 16 Girls team at Proctor Park Ladies Challenge, Bathurst Feb 2011

Capital Football (CF) and ACT Junior CLubs entered teams in the Under 14 and Under 16 competitions at the Proctor Park Ladies Challenge Cup held at Bathurst over the weekend of 26- 27 February this year.


The competitions were well-subscribed with 16 teams in the Under 14 competition and 17 in the Under 16. As well as the two Capital Football teams, Woden Valley entered a team of mainly under 14 players in the Under 16 competition as preparation for participation later this year in the Dana Cup in Denmark.

All other teams were from NSW.

The two CF teams both played in competitions above their age group, being mainly comprised of players under 12 and under 14 years old. Despite being matched with teams of players mostly two years older, both CF teams provided stiff opposition to teams of bigger and faster players and finished second in their respective groups. The tournament also exposed players to the more physical style of play found outside Canberra.

The CF Under 16 team had their first game against Albury-Wodonga, who dominated the game with speed, strength and anticipation and kept the play almost entirely in the CF half on a slow, well-grassed pitch. However, a stout defence from CF meant that Albury-Wodonga only won 1-0 after a goal from Zoe Corbett, who picked up a loose ball in the penalty area and slotted it home. CF goalkeeper Freya Brent did well to keep out a number of stinging strikes, and defender Hiwot Johnstone managed to obtain possession from attackers from all angles as though by magnetism.

Springwood used their pace advantage in the second game on Saturday and went ahead early in the first half when Jasmine Hewlett outran the defence in the centre and slipped the ball past the goalkeeper. However, CF regrouped and Springwood defence gave CF much more time on the ball. A strike from Hiwot Johnstone went just high and CF frequently had possession with four players just outside the penalty area. However, CF were unable to find the net and Springwood took the game 1-0, despite being outplayed for much of the game.

The first game on Sunday was against Wollongong team Balgownie and was slow to start with neither team taking the advantage and both playing off frequent turnovers in possession. Balgownie were the more collected team in the second half. Both teams had chances and the CF goalkeeper Georgia Doble was frequently saved from dealing from with an unimpeded strike after Balgownie breakthroughs by the speed and efficacy of CF defender Millie Mallinson and the game ended in a 0-0 draw.

CF started strongly against Griffith, their final opponents on Sunday, and were rewarded half way through the first half when a cross from Jay Williams was not cleared effectively by the Griffith defence and was tapped home by Maddie Whitall. However, Griffith had the better of the remaining play. CF keeper Freya Brent managed to keep a clean sheet against sustained pressure and CF took the game 1-0.

The Under 14 CF team first played Central Coast, who went ahead through a goal from Jaymie Fressard into an empty net after a collision with CF goalkeeper Jilly Scott, who was replaced by Ali Cook. Sam Roff equalised for CF soon afterwards and CF came out strongly in the second half but soon conceded a penalty, which Central Coast sent wide. A free kick about 30 yards from the Central Coast goal was taken outstandingly by goalkeeper Ali Cook, who floated the ball into the far top corner of the net to give CF a 2-1 lead which they held to the final whistle.

Sutherland Sharks were much tougher proposition, dominating the play from the outset. They went ahead through Rochelle Borromeo and Demi Koulizakis into undefended goals after defensive errors to take a 2-0 lead at half time, which they extended to 3-0 in the second half after Charlotte Reba trickled the ball over the line from a defensive melee. Sutherland’s Madison Farmer almost added a fourth goal after a blazing 40 yard run from the half-way line, but energetic defence from CF kept out any further goals.

In their two Sunday games, CF prevailed 6-1 over the local Cowra team, and held Griffith to a 1-1 draw in tightly fought game.

The Woden Valley team in the Under 16 competition drew 1-1 with Southern Branch, lost 5-0 to Macarthur Rams, won 3-0 against APIA and won 1-0 against Northbridge to take 3rd place in their group.

The Price We Pay for Not Owning Our Own Football and Futsal Facilities in the ACT Is Too High A Price to Pay!

We have precious little in the way of dedicated Futsal and Football playing facilities in the ACT, after so many years of running these sports. The difficulties this imposes on both games, at every level of the games, constitutes a major threat to the competitive viability of both games. Our flexibility to change how we organise Football and Futsal is very much limited by a lack of playing facilities, which we can control to effect change. The pressure from other sports on ACT Government public facilities drives what can be done for football. For futsal, we are int he hands of private owners who also service other sports. This must change if things are to improve.

Futsal has no home in the ACT. Nor does Football. We have no Futsal and Football complex in the ACT and our circumstances would indictae that this is the most obvious infrastructure development to be undertalen by Capital Football. The small but commendable introduction of a FIFA standard artificial surface at Hawker Enclosed is a step in the right direction, a beginning!

The Kambah 3 field is so often touted as the Capital Football centre for High Performance football - no one believes that! Not in its present confiuration. Not even close. However, there is no doubt that the Kambah fields area would make a fantastic multi playing surface hub for Football and Futsal. That's one view that has been around for a long time - and yet nothing has happened. Just talk! Same for the vacant space at Woden, near the Mawson playing fields. So much talk about it being a site for a FIFA standard playing surface (like Hawker enclosed) on the South Side of Canberra. Talk, talk, talk, inspection and wait, wait , wait. What's the plan, when and what will be done and where does the money come from? Is the ACT Government with us. We control nothing, we just wait for "crumbs from the master's table"! The artificial playing surfaces at Gold Creek High School are a terrific playing facility, alas, you need to take a long trek to a neighbouring field get to the toilets, as the school facilties are made available outside school hours.

We cannot rely on the good grace of the ACT Government. Nor should we. We should expect the ACT Government to be willing to make investments in the sport with the highest participation rate in the ACT. The tourism dollars generated by the Futsal Nationals and the Kanga Cup in the ACT, must be worth preserving and investing in. The AFL don't do anywhere near as much, nor are they likely too, but the sum contribution of nothing in the past and a bit in the future saw the ACt Government Minsters, Mr Barr, liberate $26 million over ten years ($2.6m per annum) from the Tourism and Chief Ministers respective buckets of public funds. So there is obvioulsy money around, just not much for Football or Futsal! And we accept it?

Alas, the departure of $26 million to the AFL, seems to have left Futsal and Football investment (in terms of ACT Government expenditure), high and dry! There has been no explanation from the CF Board as to the reason Football and Futsal missed a cut of this cake, nor did they go on the front foot and make a noise about it in the media. Its a subject that should be visited at the CF AGM. So, what's the plan now?

I know that Capital Football liaises with the ACT Government. So they should, as we are almost entirely dependent on the ACT Government for access to playing surfaces all over the ACT. The limitations on access to ACT Government playing surfaces (they are for they sports), menas that we are severely limited in how we can manage Football. As for Futsal, we hire facilties becasue we own nothing of our own - the wonderful "MPower Dome" facility is a good example of what can be done, but its not being by us!

The two ACT Football powerhouses of Belconnen United and Canberra FC own their playing surfaces and have developed good supporting infrastructure around them, while Capital Football, after all these years has established next nothing by way of a supporting playing infrastruture. Hawker Enclosed, as I have said, is a step in the right direction. It seems very unlikely that in the medium term, other ACT Football Clubs will do as Belco and CFC have done.

As to Futsal, we have three clubs in the ACT. The North and South Canberra Clubs are instruments of Capital Football, staffed by hard working volunteers, but in the contxt of this subject, little more than competition managers and venue co-ordinators. We shouldn't expect them by anything else. They don't raise and train teams. They are not like Belco or CFC. They have no capacity to do as say Vikings Futsal does when confronted with the same facilities issues. So its back to Capital Football. The other Club is Boomerangs FS and given the wonderful successes in the NSW Supa League, populated by creative, passionate, determined and business savvy people, they may turn out to be the savour of Futsal in the ACT on the subject of future Futsal facilites. I'll wager that had the Boomerangs FS been given a fraction of the ACT Government's grant to AFL, to sort out a playing centre for Futsal in the ACT, the solution to Futsal (if not Football's) infrastructre issues would already be solved and building begun.

If you go to metro NSW to play Futsal, you will find a robust Futsal environment and among the many Futsal Clubs, you will find community, NSW Government. Football NSW partnership arrangements and club Futsal owned / leased specific futsal facilties, and all this demonstrates is that it can be done and should be done. Same can be said for Football.

Its intersting to listen to the CEO Vikings Futsal talk about this important matter. Vikings know the value of creating Futsal specific facilties. This is a central activity in the Vikings Futsal business model. The CEO also speaks on other aspects of the Vikings approach to Futsal.

We desperately need  a Football / Futsal centre, a hub for our sport(s). But who will do it? Does the FFA care? What's the plan Capital Football Board?

It doesn't seem to stop Vikings Futsal.

Download Podcast here:

If You Want Something Done In The ACT - Start Demanding More of Capital Football and the FFA! - And Be Prepared to Do Something About It Yourself

This program was broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz), across the Asutralian Community Radio Network on Tuesday 15 Febriary 2011 at 7:00PM.

Tonight’s program begins with the Boomerangs FS, that Canberra Futsal Club that is campaigning so successfully in the NSW Futsal Supa League. They have won the club championship, got all 9 teams in the final series and have 4 teams in the Grand Finals this weekend in Sydney.


Boomerangs FS is the best futsal experience for players and families in the ACT, including probably the Nationals. The esprit de corps among the players of all ages and parents is fantastic. The remarkable thing is that Capital Football nor the Futsal Standing Committee had anything worth recording, to do with this most substantial achievement in Futsal in the ACT in many years. Makes you think!

Boomerangs FS is a private initiative by two football / futsal people. They simply took matters into their own hands and demonstrated to all that where there is a will there is a way. We need more of this in ACT Football and Futsal.

Boomerangs FS are now probably one of the most available and rewarding marketing opportunities for business in the ACT, among all our sports clubs / teams in the ACT. Sponsors take note and contact the Boomerangs, you will not be disappointed.

Tonights theme – getting off your backside, demanding more, much more of our peak body Capital Football, doing a little more where you can for the Club your child plays for or the one you support, getting to games, putting your hand in your pocket for a few dollars to help the clubs help young players.

Importantly, make your voice heard with your local MLA and ensure the ACT Government take our very, very large Football / Futsal constituency seriously. You should do it because we are not getting anywhere near enough raw, uncompromising effort from the CF Board. When was the last time you saw some fire and brimstone in support of Football on the CF website, or the CF Board giving a press conference to push the future needs of Football or Futsal in the ACT? We are so meek and mild we at present just what we deserve from the ACT Government. It’s as embarrassing as it is crippling for our game(s).

Capital Football’s strategic document is called “Going For Goals”. How many big ones have we kicked this year and did it factor in the possibility that the ACT Government would liberate $26 million over ten years? Did they go hunting for it? Now that is one big "own goal" for sure. The  failure of the “A League For Canberra” bid, a study in betrayal by the FFA, only served to lead the ACT Government towards AFL.

We want something akin to the $26 million over ten years the Minister shelled out to the AFL for a new AFL franchise club in western Sydney, a place where the FFA failed to mobilise a very much larger Football and Futsal constituency. Rest assured the AFL will be in Canberra in force, because they are real good at mobilising AFL clubs to make connections with communities. We haven’t got an A league Club that reckons we are worth the effort.

Very recently, the SBS World Game began a Community Forum in Sydney, one of a number they intend to conduct around Australia. ( http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/videos/18/Experts ) They started in Sydney, the subjects revolved around the A league problems. I have selected some of Craig Foster’s comments to illustrate the underlying issues in our football community. He makes a lot of sense, oozes passion for the game, doesn't "admire" problems and tells it just the way he sees it. Doesn't get any better. And thank goodness for the SBS World Game! You can translate the same themes Foster speaks on in this forum to our ACT Football environment. The key word is “community”. I am still knocked out by Fosters project to establish the Asia Pacific Football Institute, which  he makes mention of in the forum.

I hope the SBS World Game forum comes to the Canberra. We need a “forum”. We are the most disabused Football community by the FFA in Australia. I reckon our forum would make fantastic television.

When was the last time you attended a community consultation run by Capital Football? I can tell you - when the CEO and Technical Director of the day lauched the new HPP. It was probably the best thing they did on that subject, then the CF Board got involved. I guess that would dampen anyone's enthusiasm.

When did either Mens’ , Women’s’, Junior Football or Futsal standing committees hold public forums to discuss the game in the ACT?

We should do it. Why don’t the Zone Reps get it organised and invited the CF Board to attend? I’m not fussed about the format as long as the public can attend and participate. What are they scared of??
The CF Board’s response to the Ron Smith HPP review should be explained and discussed with the football community and not at arm’s length through the new Technical Director, Club or Zone reps. The report is now available on the CF Website in the “Library” section, but nothing else.
We just seem to be going not much of anywhere in the bigger picture in either Football or Futsal in the ACT. We are doing what we have always done, which in some respects is fine, but not the full story, surely?

The CF AGM will be held shortly and some Board positions will spill (3). Time people who are not happy at the present time (and there are plenty of them in all the Clubs) got moving and looking for alternative candidates among the many smart and enterprising people in the football community.

Download Podast here:

Asia Pacific Football Institute - Think Local and Act Local!

Sourced from http://www.northernstar.com.au/

Craig Foster is at the forefront of a fantastic Football inititative in Australia. It's breath taking. Together with the Southern Cross University (SCU), FFA, State Government and Local Government, they have put together a remarkable concept that is about to become a reality. And its all about Football!

As you read this article, just think what we could have done with a part of that $26 million over ten years the ACT Government handed over to the AFL for an AFL Franchise Club start up in Western Sydney. Its not a good deal for AFL, it almost certainly ensures that very little will be available going forward for Football (the largest participation sport in the ACT region) nor any other sport, and its such a rotten deal, an atrocious waste of public funds in its present form. Oh well done Mr Barr. What a spectacularly poor decision for all young sports persons in the ACT for years and years to come. It is a real kick in the guts for Football.

What a clever piece of sports politics at election time. Having established that we seem to have completely missed the AFL raid on the ACT Treasury, did anyone on the Capital Football Board think to use our Football constituency to motivate the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Simon Crean at election time, at any time, to do some good for Football in the ACT region. Ahh, but then you would need to have a few good ideas. Or is the extent of our fiscal reach and sporting clout limited to applying for grant money - crumbs from the master's table! It makes you weep tears of frustration, particularly when others do it right under your nose. And the AFL deal is such an easy one to beat. Why aren't we out there - loud and proud! Who will lead us?

Why am I on this topic again? Simple! The kind of mistake made by Mr Barr and the ACT Government will hold Football back unless the ACT Government finds new funds quickly and in sufficient amount over time to make a difference for our young players. Only Capital Football could have stood in the way, been an obstacle to this profligacy, and secured some investment for Football. They got king hit and we are penniless by comparison.

Contrast our situation with the the football intitative undertaken by Craig Foster, the Federal Government, NSW Government and importantly, Southern Cross Uni. It demonstrates just how stupid the ACT Government was in handing out money for the equivalent of an A League team and one that doesn't even have the virtue of being domiciled in the ACT region. The vague promise of an "academy" is little more than political slight of hand, because you can bet it wont be in the ACT. Oh yes, and four games of AFL . Strewth!

The Asia Pacific Football Institute by contrast is a sensational idea. It will serve the Football community. A Barcelona-esque kinda thing. Wow! This is thinking right outside the square. Fantastic.

Now just stop and think for a moment about what we might have here in the ACT - Uni of Canberra, Capital Football, FFA, ACT Government, Federal Government, AIS, ACTAS and hand over the A League money Ivan to kick start the bank account and we might have something that is every bit as sensational. Something substantial and designed to last and serve the football community.

I am reminded of a thought that the ever forward thinking John Mitchell said in an interview with the NPL some time ago - he proffered the notion that we here in the ACT could set up a Football development entity that could develop players to the highest standards for the world market and in so doing, fund all our ACT  community and talented development needs / programs. Not a bad idea to be starting with and I reckon that the Asia Pacific Football Institute will move into this space in order to underwrite all the other development work they seem to wish to do across the football community.

As Ron Smith is fond of saying - "are you serious". Well, Craig Foster and Southern Cross Uni certainly are!

What about the ACT? What will we do and who will lead us - where?

I'll follow up on this one. Again, we can learn a lot from others. Well done Craig Foster.

Soccer complex for Lismore


World game: Soccer legend Craig Foster with Page MP Janelle Saffin and Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Simon Crean at the announcement of the $2.5m soccer complex at SCU.

Mr Crean visited Lismore yesterday to announce a re-elected Labor Government would put $2.5 million towards the long-awaited Asia Pacific Football Institute in Military Road, Lismore. The institute would be built by Southern Cross University (SCU), which has set aside 14 hectares of land and $1 million for the facility, to be run by a newly-created ‘University Foundation’.

The institute would take about two years to build – much of that time would go to getting the pitch right – and would sit opposite, but utterly dwarf, the Thistles soccer field. It would include five separate football pitches, two accommodation blocks and a combined conference centre, dining area and office block.

The start date for work on the project would depend on when the Lismore City Council passed its new local environment plan, which would provide the necessary zoning for the complex.

Football Far North Coast general manager Steve Mackney said the pitches would be of such high quality – and the region so attractive to visiting teams – that Lismore could expect to be hosting some of the world’s top teams if Australia won its bid for the 2022 World Cup.

Former Socceroos captain Craig Foster, who came up with the idea for the institute, said the idea of it and its close connection to Southern Cross University was to produce ‘not just future Socceroos and Matildas, but future Socceroo and Matilda captains’.

“They’re not just training to be great soccer players, but great people,” he said.

Mr Foster said the institute would help lift Australia’s presence in the world game and provide new diplomatic and business entry points to soccer-playing nations, particularly in South-East Asia.

The ability of the institute to draw in students from overseas had major implications for tourism and the region’s economy, he said.

Mr Foster praised Page MPJanelle Saffin for her efforts insecuring funding for the project.
“When I came to you a year ago ... you said ‘don’t worry, I’m a good advocate’ and you have proven to be a fantastic advocate,” he said.

Mr Crean drew a line between the institute’s potential for success and the National Broadband Network, saying super-fast internet access would be critical to the facility.

University Vice-Chancellor Peter Lee agreed, saying the institute would rely on the network to broadcast teaching to other countries and its ability to draw on the expertise of the world’s top soccer nations.

“You can import expertise. If you want a super-coach from Barcelona to teach a lesson you can use the broadband network for it,” he said.

Mr Mackney said the Northern Rivers in general, and Lismore in particular, was recognised across the footballing world for its enthusiasm for the sport and because of its beauty. He said the things locals took for granted about the region stunned visitors.