Like many local sporting clubs, Altona North Soccer Club is seeking to attract more female players into its ranks.
This season, Altona North fielded its first ever junior girls team with an under-12s side taking to the field.
With the inaugural season over, Altona North’s junior girls head coach Joe Fraietta said the club was now looking to the future.
“The club’s strategy is to create an inclusive and competitive girls platform and look to build and potentially expand their program in season 2025,” Mr Fraietta said.
In order to do this, the club need more girls to sign up, with Mr Fraietta hoping a strong junior program will just be a starting point.
“Future expansion into senior female teams is highly desired,” he said.
“The club would aspire to create a pathway to senior women’s football once facilities would support such a vision. We are working closely with Football Victoria on our game changer strategies of which girls and womens football is a key pillar.”
Altona North’s ability to expand its women’s program is currently restricted by a lack of dedicated female facilities at its home ground at Duane Reserve in Brooklyn.
Mr Fraietta said he hoped the new junior girls program would lead to upgrades.
“We are convinced that the demand for girls and womens football will eventually encourage more broader strategies around gender inclusivity at all soccer facilities to cater for all participants,” he said.
Training for the new season has already begun.
Expressions on interest: form.jotform.com/222258695300859
Cade Lucas
