In a historic moment for Australian football, Football Futures Foundation has announced the creation of the first-ever pathway for women and girls living with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, stroke symptoms, and similar neuromuscular conditions to play football at an elite level.
On Sunday, 13 October, the Foundation brought together over 10 women and girls registered with Football West, all identified as having these conditions, to participate in a friendly match against a representative team from the Country Coastal Junior Soccer Association (CCJSA) in Bunbury. Led by CommBank ParaMatildas goalkeeper and Football Futures Foundation community coach, Katelyn Smith, the team scored two impressive goals, showcasing what a future all-female WA Para State Football team could achieve.
“This personalised approach to our WA Para Football Program underscores our dedication to access and inclusion, ensuring talented players from all parts of Western Australia have the opportunity to shine and progress into the national team pathway,” said Michael Kerr, Executive Officer of Football Futures Foundation.
This match is a significant milestone, as it marks the first time there has been a formal pathway for female para footballers to compete and represent Western Australia at both state and national levels. Building on this momentum, Football Futures Foundation plans to officially launch the WA Para Football Program for Women and Girls in 2025. The program will offer mixed-age social sessions and high-performance training for players over 16, creating opportunities for women and girls of all abilities to participate, develop their skills, and potentially represent WA on a bigger stage. Interested participants are encouraged to complete an Expression of Interest form by clicking here.
The match in Bunbury, part of the annual Cantoni Cup, highlighted the incredible local talent in WA for female para football. It was a fantastic day of football, with Football Futures Foundation’s Gold Fields WA Para State Team securing the Cantoni Cup after two years of conceding to CCJSA. Football Futures Foundation is proud to support and expand these opportunities, ensuring women and girls with disabilities have the chance to thrive in football.
