Palm Beach Soccer Club are one of 59 clubs awarded money from FIFA’s 2019 Women’s World Cup Club Solidarity Fund

Palm Beach Soccer Club has already had a hand in producing two star Matildas but a welcome cash bonus could see them produce many more.

PALM Beach Soccer Club has already had a hand in producing two star Matildas but a welcome cash bonus could see them produce many more.

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The Sharks have joined Coast clubs Mudgeeraba, Football Gold Coast, Tweed United, Robina City, Southport and Burleigh Heads as part of 59 Australian clubs set to receive a combined total of $387,237 from FIFA’s 2019 Women’s World Cup Club Solidarity Fund.

FIFA introduced the fund to reward “clubs for providing players with a professional football pathway.”

Matildas star Aivi Luik returned to her roots at Palm Beach Soccer club this month. The club has been granted over $8000 for helping develop current Matildas. Pic: Supplied.

Clubs received money if a player who participated in the 2019 Women’s World Cup was registered to them or if a player was trained by them between the ages of 12 and 22.

Palm Beach received around $8,600 for its role in developing current Matildas Hayley Raso and Aivi Luik as they seek to develop the next wave of international talent.

“We do have one player in particular I feel could go places if she wanted to and we’ve also seen lots of junior girls around who could develop into something special,” said Palm Beach senior women’s coordinator Jessica Rose.

“We were very excited to be one of the clubs receiving money and it’s good to know we can take pressure of the girls having to find money or fundraise for themselves.

“We just want them to come and play and have a good time so the grant took some pressure off.

“We’ve increased to three senior women’s teams this year so we’re hoping to keep that participation up and maybe even increase in the future.”

Palm Beach will aim to stretch their FIFA funds over three years and will put the money towards reducing playing fees, purchasing equipment and commencing goalkeeper specific training for women over the next few years.

The club also purchased pairs of hot pink socks for their senior sides and Under-15 girls team which they wore earlier this year and will continue to wear as an alternate strip.

Rose said the Sharks also had a long-term interest in fielding a Brisbane Women’s Premier League side.