Football Federation NT CEO Bruce Stalder aiming to lift sport’s profile in Territory

RECENTLY appointed Football Federation NT CEO Bruce Stalder has identified five key areas within the sport, which if improved could lead soccer into a golden-age in the Territory

Football NT have appointed Bruce Stalder as the organisations new chief executive. PICTURE: Elise Derwin

RECENTLY appointed Football Federation NT CEO Bruce Stalder has identified five key areas within the sport, which if improved could lead soccer into a golden-age in the Territory.

The former Central Coast Mariners chief executive officer and Brisbane Roar head of operations took the top job following the departure of former boss Craig Chapman in September.

Although having arrived in Darwin less than four weeks ago, Stalder has already spoken to enough of the sports’ stakeholders to realise there is potential to grow like never before. “There are a lot of opportunities here. It’s a Territory-wide gig and my later interests have always been in community football, so this was just a natural progression,” Stalder said.

Stalder has identified financial sustainability and meeting the game’s future needs as being crucial to the code’s success.

“That (financial sustainability) is not a simple thing to do, it’s a simple thing to say, but the bedrock is key,” Stalder said.

“We need to get out there and do a current and future asset matrix.

“By that, I mean working out how much green space there is and how much is dedicated to our game.

“I see lots of AFL posts and I understand that it is generational.

“They have done a marvellous job up here, but that doesn’t in any way persuade me from trying to take that path and set the bedrock for that one.”

The establishment of a football economy will be vital to success, according to Stalder.

“Not just sponsorship, but we need people involved in the business of NT, involved in the business of our game,” he said.

“That is exactly where I will be starting.”

The profile of the code and the relationship between the game’s stakeholders are other aspects the experienced football administrator has pinpointed.

“Being truly open and transparent with everybody, that is certainly the way I have dealt already with government and council and that is not going to stop,” Stalder said.

“We are competing against not just other sports, but all leisure activities.

“If you start thinking it’s a competition between us and AFL — it is very short sighted.”

Stalder will eventually release a strategic plan on the game, which will be based partly on inclusion.

“Not just women and girls, but everybody who wants to play our game from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, those with disabilities and the indigenous population,” he said.

“They are areas of great interest to me, if you don’t do it, you don’t grow.”