BLACKTOWN DSFA

The 2022 season brought hope that after two COVID-19 ravaged years, a full season of competition would be played.

To help Members, rebates were offered to returning players ranging from $10 to $40, depending on their age.

The Blacktown District Soccer Football Association (BDSFA) undertook a sustained registration marketing campaign which was aimed at the different segments of competition offered and included a Coaching and Referee promotional drive.

From the outset, registrations were tracking lower than 2021 and, in the end, our numbers were down by 839 players year-on-year (8.4%).

The BDSFA focused a lot of energy in engaging with its membership throughout the season. The Deploy Football Premier League Match of the Round, Phoenix League Livestreams, the weekly Blacktown Football Hour Podcast, the interviewing of our junior players in the LJ Hooker MiniRoos Moments and the LJ Hooker Goal of the Week segments again proved popular in 2022.

Membership became involved and connected to our digital assets with the BDSFA Facebook page increasing its followers from 6,630 in January to 7,780 in November (1,150/17%).

While we had hoped for an uninterrupted season, rain played havoc from the outset. Unfortunately, the early rains were a sign of things to come, and the local grounds were inundated with precipitation, leading to closed grounds for days on end.

BDSFA Football Operations Manager Michael Carraro was adamant that after two seasons of COVID-19, Blacktown players were going to contest 18 rounds and a full finals series. An aggressive strategy was deployed to make up as many games as possible, with the community working tirelessly together to make up the postponed matches on weeknights, weekends, public holidays and during school holidays.

A highlight due to the volume of catch-up games was the number of local grassroots teams who were given the opportunity to play on Blacktown Football Park. Nearly every Monday and Wednesday night was filled with local footballers who had the opportunity to experience a pitch walkout, goal celebrations through music stingers, goal scorer announcements, a scoreboard and playing on a synthetic pitch.

With further rain, a plan of management with scenarios based on numbers of matches played in differing sized competitions was issued.

Testament to the BDSFA stakeholders in being able to achieve 18 rounds and a full finals series.

During the season, long serving Office Manager and Member Protection Information Officer Sue Sim retired. The BDSFA congratulates Sue on a wonderful career, and thanks her for her amazing service to football in Blacktown.

Our Grand Final weekends were again a great spectacle, all matches were video recorded and were made available on YouTube via the BDSFA TV channel. Congratulations to our competition Champions.

The BDSFA would like to acknowledge the clubs and the Blacktown City Soccer Referees Branch for their support, the time they give to the game in the District and for the unbelievable job they have done over the last three seasons to allow members to play their chosen sport of football.