Melbourne club awarded $50,000 after being selected as Australia’s ‘Reserve Grade Heroes’
A suburban Melbourne football club has won $50,000 after being named Australia’s “Reserve Grade Heroes” by judges, including Matildas star Mary Fowler.
Vic Amateur
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A Melbourne club has been named Australia’s “Reserve Grade Heroes” and awarded $50,000.
A panel of judges, including Matildas gun Mary Fowler, picked West Brunswick Amateur Football Club as the winner of the country’s most deserving ressies.
The competition, supported by the Australian Sports Foundation, Hello Sports Podcast and Uber, saw clubs vie for funding with a series of quirky video entries.
The Magpies caught the judges eyes as a volunteer-run club where the reserve grade teams are the driving force both on and off field.
West Brunswick women’s reserves coach Lydia Holt said the funding would help the club create facilities and initiatives for the entire community.
“Winning Uber’s Reserve Grade Heroes competition has been such an honour for West Brunswick, to be able to say that Mary Fowler loves our ressies means so much to us,” Holt said.
“The Tillies are such an inspiration to our club as they have shown what can happen when you invest in diversity and foster support for everyone in sport, which is something we try to emulate.
“We truly are a player-run club, from the president down to the boundary umpires and canteen managers, so everything that we achieve – or at least try to – is by and for our players, supporters, family, and friends.
“We hope to create an inclusive and safe space for all our community, while also trying to achieve success on field, and we don’t see
those goals as in opposition to each other.”
West Brunswick participates in the Victorian Amateur Football Association.
The Magpies’ women play in the top-flight Premier Division, where the reserves reached the preliminary final.
The reserves have won a number of premierships recently, claiming flags in 2018 (Premier B), 2019 and 2022 (Premier A) and 2023 (Women’s Thirds).
The club’s men’s team plays in Division 1, where their reserves only missed finals last season on percentage.
Holt revealed the club’s plans for the funding.
“We are in for a really challenging year financially, due to our clubrooms being demolished and rebuilt, so the $50,000 will certainly relieve some of those pressures,” she said.
“It will allow us to invest in new equipment and resources, while also continuing our commitment to initiatives like providing Indigenous-designed jumpers and cultural awareness for all of our players, support for players with young children to be able to play, and generally keeping football accessible for everyone, regardless of their circumstances.”
Ryan Holloway, Australian Sports Foundation chief partnerships officer, said reserve grade sport was the life-blood of communities.
“The funding will certainly go a long way to assisting West Brunswick with the equipment and facilities they need to keep not only their reserve grade teams, but all participants actively involved with the club,” Holloway said.
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“Community sport continues to face funding pressures due to the current challenging economic environment and this places additional strain on community sporting clubs, many of which are already struggling with increased operating costs, declining participation numbers, and reduced volunteerism.
“Community sports clubs are a vital meeting place, where people come to connect and build a sense of community, ensuring these clubs not only survive, but thrive, is crucial.
“Those who volunteer or participate in community sport clubs should take pride in contributing to their local community and enjoy the benefits that community sport can offer.
“For clubs seeking assistance unlocking additional funding, we encourage you to contact the Australian Sports Foundation.”
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