Western United partnership expands Ballarat's sporting leadership

The City of Ballarat continues to prove its ability to attract elite level sport, today announcing a funding agreement with Western United Football Club and the State Government to bring even more world-class sporting action to town. 

The agreement brought the Western United men’s A-league team to Ballarat for games in the 2022 season and will see Ballarat’s Regional Soccer Facility host the inaugural Western United Cup, a tournament for junior girls. 

The three‐day girl’s event will also showcase the purpose‐built football facilities at Morshead Park and align with City of Ballarat’s Active Women and Girls Strategy. 

The Western United Cup will provide a competitive stage for junior girls in Victoria to display their talents at the end of their club season, taking place from September 29 to October 1, during which Western United will also be partnering with Australian Football Skool. 

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Daniel Moloney said this agreement cements the strengthened relationship between the City of Ballarat, the State Government, and the Western United Football Club.  

“Western United is not only our adopted A-League soccer team – we want them to feel like Ballarat is their fortress with the local community right behind them waving their green and black scarves in the air,” he said. 

“Having A-League games in Ballarat is yet another big coup for Ballarat’s sport-loving community and helps our post-pandemic sporting recovery continue to gain massive momentum.” 

Cr Moloney also said the Western United Cup will be a boon for women’s football in our region.  

“We know how important it is to foster this kind of growth and positivity for women and girls in sport, so we are so excited to host this tournament for the first time ever later this year,” he said.  

“City of Ballarat is really serious about making sure women and girls in our community have every opportunity to get involved and showcase their sporting prowess and this tournament will do just that.” 

The Western United Cup will be open to junior girls from under 10s to under 18s with an open age bracket also. There will be limits on the number of teams, and Western United encourages clubs to act fast once registrations open. 

Western United’s Women’s Football Integration Manager Amanda Stella said this will come at the perfect time as the Club continues to strengthen its commitment to growing the women’s game. 

“As a club, Western United continues to grow in the female space with our partnership with WNPL’s Calder United, the girl's development squad and the imminent A‐League Women’s team for next season,” she said. 

“Our commitment to the female game and the initiatives we are creating are something that, as a Club, we are proud of. Launching a tournament that is inclusive for all girls' teams across the state is another step forward in Western United promoting women and girls who are a pivotal part of the growth of football. 

“The tournament will come at a time when we are less than 10 months out from the start of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup which is the perfect time to have as many girls as possible on the pitch to promote women's and girls' football.”