An Indigenous team will represent Northern NSW Football for the first time at this year’s Women’s State Cup.
The Women’s State Cup will return in July with the best NNSWF Premier and Community teams converging on the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility for the chance to be crowned state champions.
The three-day tournament, to be held from Friday 8 to Sunday 10 July, will feature defending champions Maitland FC and NPL Women’s NNSW leaders Broadmeadow Magic.
A NNSWF Indigenous team will also enter the competition for the first time made up of Indigenous players and coaches from throughout northern NSW.
Players and coaches aged 16-years and over are encouraged to register their expression of interest to be considered for selection.
NNSWF Female Participation and Inclusion Officer Annelise Rosnell said it was a chance to highlight talented female Indigenous footballers in the region.
“The NNSWF Indigenous representative team will provide talented female Indigenous players with a platform to be recognised but it will also give them a chance to represent their culture and community,” Rosnell said.
“It will be a great opportunity for these players and a chance for players from across northern NSW to connect with each other and share this experience.
“This team is another way NNSWF is increasing football opportunities for First Nations coaches and players.”
The NNSWF Technical team will select the squad in partnership with the NNSWF Indigenous Reference Group, with the concept coming as a result of collaboration with the reference group.
The tournament will be completed over a round robin group phase followed by a knock-out finals series and a play-off phase including a Community Women’s plate, similar to previous seasons.
To be eligible for the NNSWF Indigenous Women’s State Cup team players must:
- Identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
- Identify as female
- be turning 15 or older in the 2022 calendar year
- be a registered football player/coach within the national PlayFootball registration system to a NNSWF affiliated club
- provide a club letter of support
- coaches must hold a paid Working with Children Check
The Women’s State Cup was established in 2017 as a strategic initiative in Northern NSW Football’s 2016-2019 Strategic Plan as a development opportunity for Women’s Premier League and community league players.
Registrations for expressions of interest are available here:
