Mudgeeraba president John White concedes club’s entry into NPL Women’s ‘just didn’t work’

MUDGEERABA president John White concedes the Wallabies’ NPL Women’s foray “just didn’t work” as they set about rebuilding their once-powerful female program.

MUDGEERABA president John White concedes the Wallabies’ NPL Women’s foray “just didn’t work” as they set about rebuilding their once-powerful female program.

After just one NPLW season that yielded 10 wins in 83 games across senior, under-13, 15 and 17 competitions, the club late last month handed back its licence to Football Queensland.

Despite joining forces with fellow female powerhouse Robina City under the Coast FC banner, White said Mudgeeraba simply could not pull together enough numbers for its senior and under-13 teams.

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With the Robina partnership now dead, the Wallabies will focus on fielding juniors girls’ and a Midweek Metro side this season, as well as throwing their support behind remaining NPLW club Gold Coast United.

“It’s just very, very disappointing for the girls,” White said of the withdrawal.

Mudgeeraba's Lucy Rowell (left) takes on the Brisbane Roar at Sid Bigg Park last season. Picture: Jerad Williams

“It wasn’t an action that was taken lightly. As a few people commented, they were wondering how I slept at night - I didn’t.

“It’s not through lack of trying within the clubs (Mudgeeraba and Robina), we were doing everything we could. The (other Coast) clubs just did not embrace it. It’s just one of those things.

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“There’s no one reason why it failed, there’s lots of little ones. But I think if people could step back, have a look, see the end picture and started supporting each other as a group, it could’ve been a lot better.

“We will be rebuilding our women’s football program back to the state it was before, which was No.1 on the Gold Coast. We will be working very closely with Gold Coast United to continue the pathway for Gold Coast girls to play at the highest level.”

Shelby White (Mudgeeraba) and Serena Davidson (Robina City) celebrate the establishment of Coast FC late last year.

Magnifying the club’s player shortage, White said, was the entry of Robina, Southport, Broadbeach and Coomera into this year’s Women’s Brisbane Premier League.

And while he would not rule out another crack at the NPLW with Coast FC, he said it would require significant change.

“Never is a long time, isn’t it? Nothing is dead but I don’t believe Football Queensland would be revisiting it until there’s a few more numbers of women in football on the Gold Coast.

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“We did it (last season) to have a place for girls to play high-level football at what we believed was an affordable price and everything else. But it just didn’t work.

“Having four clubs go to Brisbane to play this year, that didn’t help us. The timing was s***. You’ve got 30 players from four clubs so that’s 120 players.

“You’re trying to start two competitions. This (NPLW) is meant to be an elite pathway but it’s not treated as such.”