First look: Gold Coast football club unveils game changing new facilities for women’s sport

The flow on affect of the Matildas World Cup success has started to manifest for the first time. Get your first look at one Gold Coast club’s bold plans to construct facilites tailor-made for females here.

General manager Magic United Andrew Robinson and Gold Coast councillor Bob La Castra with players Briella Bird, Khloe Madsen, Zara Pinto and Chloe Pike. Magic United are delighted to announce the construction of additional changing facilities to accommodate the growing number of female players and teams at the Club. Wednesday June 5, 2024. Picture, John Gass

Magic United Football Club have unveiled bold plans for the construction of new changing facilities to accommodate the fast-growing interest from female players.

It comes after the raging success of the Matildas in 2023 which sparked a rapid growth of girls soccer in the region, with Magic’s female program now boasting 150 junior girls and women.

magic united new changing facilities concept plans

magic united new changing facilities concept plans

“It is important to us as a club that our female players have a safe environment to prepare, train, play and change.

“We are delighted to make this announcement and to be able to provide facilities that meet the needs of all our players,” General Manager Andrew Robinson said.

Pippa Watkinson, Ivy May and Sophia Pirie Magic United are delighted to announce the construction of additional changing facilities to accommodate the growing number of female players and teams at the Club. Wednesday June 5, 2024. Picture, John Gass

“The changing rooms, first aid room, storage and multifunctional space is an important step for us in meeting our 5 year strategic plan for the Women and Girls Program at Magic United.

“As part of the plan we will be working with Football Queensland to enter competitive football teams into the Academy leagues providing the same opportunities for both girls and boys at the club.”

Brisbane Roar women’s star Hollie Palmer was a junior at Magic United from the ages 11 to 14, and touched on her experience growing up as a female athlete in football.

“Obviously there were no girls teams back then so I always just played with the boys,” she said.

Palmer said playing in a male-dominant team was one of the highlights of her junior career and helped shape her into the player she is today

“I was actually having a chat with someone the other day about how I didn’t want to leave Magic and I didn’t want to go to a girls team.

“I just grew so much playing with the boys and under the coaching staff at Magic so I didn’t really understand then how to go to the next level.

“Growing up, all I knew was playing with boys so I didn’t want to leave,” she said.

“To be honest, I love being the only girl because obviously people aren’t expecting much from you … it is quite nice when you can kind of go out there and perform and play well.”

The 22-year-old earned her first professional contract at 16 and has since been part of the Roar’s squad.

She said the construction plans at Magic would be a great addition to the club, as women’s football continues to grow at a rapid pace.

“It will help make young girls and women feel more comfortable.

“(It’s) a good start and I think a lot of clubs on the Gold Coast will start to catch onto this idea.”

General manager Magic United Andrew Robinson and Gold Coast councillor Bob La Castra. Magic United are delighted to announce the construction of additional changing facilities to accommodate the growing number of female players and teams at the Club. Wednesday June 5, 2024. Picture, John Gass

Magic United have continued on their search to appoint a Project Manager to oversee and deliver the project.

“(The club) is ambitious and committed to providing fair and equitable opportunities for girls and boys,” Robinson said.

Cr Bob La Castra congratulated the club on securing a substantial grant funding towards the new facilities.

“Over the past few years, the growth of female participation in football on the Gold Coast has been phenomenal and Magic United, as always, has led from the front in terms of encouraging more female players to take up the sport.

General manager Magic United Andrew Robinson and Gold Coast councillor Bob La Castra with players Briella Bird, Khloe Madsen, Zara Pinto and Chloe Pike. Wednesday June 5, 2024. Picture, John Gass

“It is for all these reasons that Magic United has deservedly been rewarded with the receipt of grant funding,” he said.

“You are to be congratulated on your proactive, genuine support of female football, and football in general.”

See more from the club’s plans here.