Matildas success sees huge growth in female participation rates

THERE are now 5500 female soccer participants in the Sutherland Shire - which is more than rugby league, rugby union and AFL combined for both male and female players.

Representatives of 27 clubs and 460 women's football teams in the Sutherland Shire. Picture: Diamond Photography

THIS is the phenomenal knock-on effect from the success of our Olympic-bound Matildas.

There are now 5500 female soccer participants in the Sutherland Shire – which is more than rugby league, rugby union and AFL combined for both male and female players.

While league’s junior numbers are falling, the extraordinary growth in soccer has now forced the sport to restrict registration numbers because there are not enough fields to play on.

The growth rate in the past 10 years is more than 32 per cent.

Every weekend there are 800 games (male and female) on 61 different fields in the Shire.

There are now 27 clubs and 460 teams in females alone ranging from under-6s to open age. A mixture of mums, teenagers and little girls in MiniRoo teams.

Football Federation Australia boss David Gallop says the participation numbers are a snapshot of what’s happening around the nation. Female footballers now represent about 22 per cent of playing numbers.

“There’s no doubt the Matildas fantastic effort at the FIFA Women’s World Cup last year has translated to bigger interest and more registrations this season,” Gallop said.

“The Matildas are fabulous role models, as we’ve seen in the Olympic qualifiers this week. More than 1.2 million Australians have watched the games on TV, so the interest will keep building.

“The Shire has a long heritage with football and the game is ingrained in the community there. That’s why we’ve identified the southern Sydney region as a future home of an A-League club.

“Expansion will come one day and we know the Shire will welcome the A-League and W-League with open arms.”

The area has long been earmarked in soccer’s expansion plans to give Sydney three teams.

There has been talk of using either the Sharks’ home ground or Kogarah Oval as a home base.

Originally published as Matildas success sees huge growth in female participation rates