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Two locations in Melbourne’s north have been given the nod as potential sites for the new home of Australian women’s soccer. Find out if you could be next door to our biggest soccer stars.
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Darebin has emerged as the frontrunner in the search for the home of women’s soccer in Australia.
The Matildas, who had ambitions of winning the FIFA Women’s World Cup but lost in the Round of 16, are looking for a new headquarters.
And two locations in Darebin have been short-listed.
La Trobe University’s sports park in Bundoora and another site in Darebin, believed to be John Cain Memorial Park, have been given the nod by Football Victoria as suitable homes.
Also listed are potential sites in Brimbank, Casey and Maroondah.
Football Victoria chief executive Peter Filopoulos said they wanted to create a “game-changer for women’s football”.
“The creation of a national home of the Matildas will go a long way towards helping the game in Victoria meet our stated objective of 50/50 gender participation by 2027,” he said.
The $80m facility is expected to feature a boutique stadium of up to 5000 seats, as well as a number of other training grounds.
It will also have leading medical and sports science equipment, strength and conditioning areas, indoor futsal courts, an aquatic zone, and offices for Football Federation Australia.
La Trobe vice-chancellor, Professor Russell Hoye, said if La Trobe was chosen, the stadium would form stage three of their $150m sports park development.
The sports park is home to Carlton’s VFLW team and Melbourne City FC sides.
Stage two of construction is under way and expected to be completed next year.
Prof Hoye said the sports park had a range of existing services in sports science and medicine which would add value to their bid.
“The facility operation could provide great benefits for our students — opportunity for student internships, collaboration with our staff and PhD students for the provision of sport science and coaching support, and some additional sport facilities for student use,” he said.
Darebin Mayor Susan Rennie said it was fantastic two locations were on the shortlist and the council would work closely with Football Victoria to work on their proposal.
The state body is currently based at John Cain Memorial Park in Thornbury.
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Concept plans and costs will be developed once a site is chosen.
The FFA is aiming to have the training site up and running by 2022 as part of its bid to host the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
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