FOOTBALL ST GEORGE

Despite the wet weather, the 2022 season saw a full and exciting season of football in the St George region.

In 2022, over 6,160 games were played during the winter football season. Considering the significant impact wet weather had on field access, this is no small feat, and something to take great pride in. This was only possible due to the dedication, perseverance, and commitment of the Football St George (FSG) Clubs, Committees, staff, and Competition Secretary; to all of whom a great debt of thanks is owed.

On the field, the football was competitive and played in great spirit. Over 240,000 minutes of FSG’s flagship competition, the McDonalds Premier League for Women and Men, was enjoyed by spectators on the livestream provided by Cluch.TV.

In state-wide competitions, FSG was represented by 56 teams in the State Cup and 18 teams in the Champion of Champions. In the Football NSW Champion of Champions competition, four FSG teams qualified to the finals; Rockdale City Suns FC in the U12 girls, Sans Souci FC in the U21 men, Banksia Tigers FC in the All Age men, and Hurstville City Minotaurs in the O/45 men. It was a proud moment for FSG when the Rockdale City Suns and Hurstville City Minotaurs were crowned Champion of Champions competition winners for their respective divisions, with Hurstville City Minotaurs taking out the O/45 men’s division for a record breaking fourth time.

Following a hiatus since 2019 due to COVID-19, the St George Cup made an emphatic return in July 2022, with 40 junior teams competing over two days in youth boy’s and girl’s divisions.

Similarly, the Chairmans Cup, played in honour of the late FSG Chairman Sok Mallios, returned in 2022 with 24 O/35 men and mixed All Age teams competing in a 6-a-side tournament. The main focus of the Chairman’s Cup was to raise much needed funding to support ongoing research into the treatment of cancer. Female Football thrived with participation of women and girls growing to 25% of all registered players.

The FSG girl’s Skill Acquisition Program continued to provide a pathway for local female players and the Association established a Female Coach Mentor Program, with 20 female coaches who were provided with free access to education courses and ongoing mentorship delivered by the FSG Technical Director.

FSG acknowledged two stalwarts of the game at the end of season awards night, with Leo Blanda from Ramsgate RSL FC and Jeremey Babb from All Saints Oatley West FC receiving the Associations highest award, the Gold Medal. Football NSW awards followed shortly after for another long serving club volunteer, with Carlton Rovers FC President Peter Mallios accepting a 2022 State Award. Refereeing remains an area of focus moving into 2023. While 83% of all youth and senior matches were covered by at least one referee in the 2022 season, more needs to be done at every level of the game to promote, recruit and retain referees in football, and to ensure referees are provided a safe and welcoming environment, free of anti-social behaviour and abuse.

In the office, FSG undertook a review of its financial management policy and ratified a new organisation structure aimed at enabling an enhanced level of service delivery by better aligning the Association’s human resources with the programs, competitions and services offered to the football community.

FSG extends its thanks to the staff, volunteers, and committees, the loyal sponsors, community partners, member clubs and their army of volunteers, without whom football would not be offered to the 10,000 plus players in the region.