Sutherland Shire Football Association players write letter to Football NSW to save female representative program

One of Sydney’s biggest football associations is set to be without a female representative program next season. A letter to Football NSW – signed by 87 players – is calling on the sporting body to not fail the athletes once more.

Harrie Dening Centre number 2 field where some of the female players train.

The state’s football governing body is under the pump with one of Sydney’s biggest female football programs in “crisis” with 87 players left in “limbo” following an association’s decision to not field representative senior women’s and youth girls teams next season.

A group statement from players, coaches and allies from the Sutherland Shire Football Association’s (SSFA) female football programs, shared last week, said they felt “disempowered” after the association announced it would not compete in Football NSW’s (FNSW) women’s first grade, under 20s and girls youth league competitions for 2024.

As the current season comes to a close, 87 players have signed a letter sent to FNSW board members asking for “urgent clarity” on whether the Sutherland Shire will have a women’s football program for 2024.

The letter said “without any action by FNSW, an association with [more than] 7000 female players … will NOT have a representative program”.

Without a representative team in the Sutherland Shire, players would be forced to look as far as the Illawarra, an almost hour one-way trip from Sutherland, or St George which is about 30 minutes.

Sutherland Shire Football Association. Photo: Facebook

Sutherland Sharks FC. Photo: Supplied

A spokesman for the playing group said given a huge portion of the players were still at school, the travel for training at least three times a week and weekend games would have a huge impact on families.

As previously reported, the group says the SSFA rejected “long-running attempts” for improvements to be made to the women’s program resulting in a request for the licence to be transferred to neighbouring club Sutherland Sharks.

Seymour Shaw – home to the Sutherland Sharks.

It is understood a number of other clubs in the region are also interested in taking the licence if made available.

In response to the group statement which said players had felt “disempowered”, SSFA CEO Jeff Stewart said the female representative program had been in place for decades with teams provided priority access to the playing pitch, made-to-order uniforms, payments to first grade players and opportunities to gain coaching accreditations.

The letter to FNSW, signed by the 87 players, said losing the region’s only female representative program would be a “tragic outcome”, particularly in the wake of the Women’s World Cup success.

“We deserve so much better … after years of neglect,” they said.

The group called FNSW to find special circumstances to allow them to remain playing in the region.

“We have a passionate group of people ready to launch a new era for women’s football in the Shire,” they said. “This group is laying the groundwork for a new team that centres female players and their development.”

FNSW did not answer questions from this publication on whether it was considering handing another club, like Sutherland Sharks, a caretaker licence or if the issue was a priority.

Instead, in a statement, it said “Football NSW is aware of the matter at SSFA and is working through the issue” and it would provide an update “in due course”.