Nambour Yandina United eager to improve female, Indigenous football opportunities

A Coast club home to one of the region’s most popular female programs wants better facilities for its players to get changed before and after matches.

A Coast club home to one of the region’s most popular female programs is tackling a new challenge as it tries to provide new opportunities for Indigenous footballers.

Nambour Yandina United, which is the only football club on the Coast with a girls team in each age division, is also trying to conjure support for vital upgrades to their facilities.

NYU fundraising and grants co-ordinator Samantha Phillips said the club currently had three change rooms, one each for home and away sides along with a space for referees.

However, with three senior women’s teams, Phillips said it often wasn’t enough to cater for match days.

“On a Friday night we could have three girls teams playing plus one or two mens teams also playing,” she said.

“So, you can imagine the boys are getting changed in the car park and the girls are all sharing a change room.

“With the growth of our club and community we really need to try and get some funding from someone to build (better) amenities.”

Nambour Yandina United are seeking support to upgrade change room facilities for players like premier reserve women’s talents Tahlee Hamilton, Jemma Kennedy, Charlee Lawson, Grace Kavanagh. Picture: Patrick Woods

The club also needs to upgrade its disabled toilet access.

Phillips said the club opened its toilets on Saturdays for the Yandina markets to use as well as for the army reserve and Sunshine Coast pipe band, when they requested use of the clubhouse.

However, she said they had to hire a disabled toilet for such occasions with current facilities unable to meet requirements.

While they have letters of support from local politicians, no funding has been committed as yet.

The club also is also striving for better outcomes for Indigenous players.

In a bid to help raise awareness for upgrades and to create opportunities for Indigenous footballers, NYU will don and auction off special NAIDOC jerseys.

In a bid to help raise awareness for upgrades and to create opportunities for Indigenous footballers, NYU will don and auction off special NAIDOC jerseys.

The premier and reserve men’s and women’s teams will wear the 60 jerseys in games next week.

A silent auction will be held, open to the public from Monday.

Funds raised will go towards the club’s Indigenous Soccer Scholarship program to help fund and support the Indigenous community.

Phillips said donations were also welcome.

She was hopeful any leftover funds could also be put towards future upgrades.

KPI Sports produced the jerseys with designs by Luke Duffy at Murri Art.

To make a bid on the NAIDOC jerseys, email [e-mail] from Monday until 10pm, July 17.