Soccer kids kick in for Tassie soccer to get more funding as the sport booms

The World game is booming in Tasmania and with the 2023 Women’s World Cup on the way, officials say football is going to grow even faster.

Soccer players from the Lindisfarne Soccer Club, Maci, 6 and her brother Xavier Clark, 7 on parliament Lawns. Picture: Zak Simmonds

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BUDDING soccer players took the World Game to state parliament to showcase a boom in participation and for the sport to get is fair share of the funding pie.

Lindisfarne Soccer Club young guns, Maci Clark, 6, and her brother Xavier, 7, are part of Tasmania’s burgeoning soccer army.

Football Tasmania president Bob Gordon said soccer with the 2023 Women’s World Cup on the way, numbers will continue to grow.

“Sport Australia statistics show close to 40,000 Tasmanians play football each year, and EMRS polling reveals one-in-five Tasmanian households are directly involved in the World Game,” Gordon said.

“Today is an important opportunity to remind politicians just how big the football community is and to make our case for fairness in funding when it comes to grassroots support.

“The government has really supported grassroots sport during the COVID crisis and the football community would like to see that close-working relationship carry on into the future.

“We know that by supporting football, the government is helping the community stay healthy and connected.”

Football Tasmania presented its 2020 Female Football Awards as well at Parliament Lawns.

The winners were Cathy Edwards (Female Administrator), Wendy Ollington (Female Referee), Simon Edwards (Male Champion of Female Football), Karen Wills (Female Coach of the Year), Jo Rolands (Female Community Player of the Year).