By Laura Michell
The Matildas could be calling Bundoora home, with La Trobe University’s sports park named as one of five possible locations for the national women’s soccer team base.
Football Victoria has nominated La Trobe Sports Park and Brimbank, Casey, Darebin and Maroondah as shortlisted locations for the Matildas’ headquarters.
The next stage of discussions will involve La Trobe and the councils as part of a feasibility study.
It is proposed that the Matildas’ base will include elite training facilities to cater for the senior and emerging Matildas programs, leading-edge medical and sports science facilities, strength and conditioning areas, an aquatic zone, indoor futsal facilities and offices for technical staff from Football Federation Australia and Football Victoria.
It is also proposed that the facility will include a training and education hub offering specialist coaching, refereeing and club administration programs.
Concept plans and cost estimates will be developed once a preferred site is chosen.
The establishment of the proposed national Home of @TheMatildas has moved a step closer with Football Victoria nominating five locations as the potential base for the state-of-the-art facility. #WeAreMatildas #FVFacilitiesStrategy
Read more ?t.co/KPY98yh9Sv pic.twitter.com/HyvhpzOaFB
— Football Victoria (@footballvic) June 19, 2019
Football Victoria chief executive Peter Filopoulos said the sport would continue to work closely with governments at all levels to create a dedicated world-class facility that would be a “game changer” for women’s soccer in Australia.
“Just as the Matildas are doing Australia proud … it’s incumbent on us as a nation to provide them the high-performance home base that will help them stay at the forefront of international football and ensure the game keeps developing the stars of tomorrow,” he said.
