Football Federation Australia (FFA) announced that a proposed ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ of the Matildas facility in Victoria moved one step closer today, with the state government announcing funding to kick start the project.
The Victorian Government confirmed it will commit $1.5 million towards master planning and design for the development, and a separate ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ of Rugby Union, to be located at La Trobe University, Bundoora. The facility will also serve as the future headquarters of Football Victoria and the home of its high-performance programs for women, men, girls and boys.
FFA Chief Executive James Johnson said he was delighted the project was moving closer to fruition, “I’d like to thank the Daniel Andrews’ Government for committing to further investment for this Victorian base for the Westfield Matildas, following on from the $200,000 already provided to Football Victoria for a feasibility study.
“The Victorian Government has again demonstrated its commitment to women’s football, following its support for our successful bid to co-host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, and with the Federal Government already having allocated $15 million, we very much looking forward to seeing the project progress.
“The importance of establishing a ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ of the Matildas is articulated in the XI Principles for the future of Australian football (XI Principles), and it will help maximise the potential of hosting the world’s biggest sporting event for women in three years’ time.”
Westfield Matildas captain Sam Kerr said her teammates were thrilled about the prospect of having a world class facility to call their own, “This is wonderful news for the Westfield Matildas and the prospect of having a state-of-the-art facility specifically designed for our use is very exciting.
“The team loves playing in Melbourne and we really look forward to having a dedicated base where we can train and prepare for matches.”
The preliminary work on the project is planned to be completed as soon as possible, with the goal of having phase one ready in advance of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.
