Soccer in the Australian Capital Territory

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Soccer in the Australian Capital Territory
Caitlin Munoz Canberra.jpg
Caitlin Munoz playing for Canberra United
Governing body Capital Football
Representative team Australian Capital Territory
First played19 August 1910, Ginninderra Showground, Ginninderra [ citation needed ]
Registered players25,905 (2022) [1]
National competitions
Club competitions
International competitions
Audience records
Single match20,032 (5 March 2009). 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification Australia v Kuwait (Bruce Stadium, Canberra) [2]

Soccer in the Australian Capital Territory is predominantly amateur with a local, interstate, national and international history. Soccer in the ACT is organised and administered by Capital Football and involves teams from within the ACT and surrounding NSW regions, Monaro, Southern Tablelands and Riverina.

Contents

National competition

Current

Canberra United FC (CUFC) compete in the elite national women's competition, the A-League Women (formerly known as the W-League). CUFC was established in 2008 by Capital Football and is one of eight founding members of the league. United is the only A-League Women team not affiliated with an A-League Men team. [3]


Since 2014, Canberra, through Capital Football, has been granted one qualification place for the round of 32 of every FFA Cup annual national tournament. [4] The Capital Football Federation Cup is the qualification process for ACT clubs to qualify for the FFA Cup, with the winner of the Cup qualifying. As of 2018, the following ACT teams have qualified and competed in the FFA Cup:

ACT (Capital Football) FFA Cup all-time record
RepresentativeResultRounds
SeasonTeamEnteredPositionRound of 32Round of 16Quarter finalSemi finalFinal
2014 Tuggeranong United Round 32Round 16Won 5–4 (South Hobart)Lost 0–6 (Melbourne Victory)
2015 Gungahlin United Round 32Round 32Lost 0–1 (Sydney Olympic)
2016 Canberra Olympic Round 32Semi finalsWon 1–0 (Surfers Paradise)Won 2–0 (Redlands United)Won 1–0 (Green Gully)Lost 0–3 (Sydney FC)
2017 Canberra OlympicRound 32Round 32Lost 1–0 (Sorrento FC)
2018 Canberra FC Round 32Round 32Lost 1–4 (Broadmeadow Magic)
2019 Tigers FC Round 32Round 32Lost 0–2 (Hume City)


Central Coast Mariners (CCM), in an effort to secure the Canberra region as a catchment for the regional team, but has moved home A-League fixtures away from their normal stadium in Gosford to Bruce Stadium in Canberra in both 2009 and 2016. During the 2009–10 A-League season, CCM played Perth Glory in September and Adelaide United in October at Bruce Stadium in front of crowds ranging from 5,100 and 5,500. In 2016, CCM entered into an agreement with the ACT Government to play Wellington Phoenix and Adelaide United in Canberra during the 2016–17 season. [5] The Phoenix was chosen due to Canberra and Wellington's sister-city partnership. Adelaide United was chosen as they were the defending champions of the A-league at the time. Both matches were coordinated with Canberra's W-League team, Canberra United, to create double header match-day events. [6]

Central Coast Mariners Canberra A-League Matches
RefDateTime (UTC+11)Home TeamResAway TeamGroundAttendance
[7] 4 September 200920:00 Central Coast Mariners 2–1 Perth Glory Bruce Stadium 5,193
[7] 31 October 200919:00Central Coast Mariners0–0 Adelaide United Bruce Stadium5,437
[8] 12 November 201617:35Central Coast Mariners0–2 Wellington Phoenix Bruce Stadium5,497
[9] 5 February 201717:00Central Coast Mariners2–1Adelaide UnitedBruce Stadium5,072

Previous

Former NSL clubs
Two Canberra clubs have competed in the now defunct National Soccer League (NSL). Canberra City (then known as Canberra Arrows) competed in the NSL between 1977 and 1986 and Canberra Cosmos between 1995 and 2001. The Queanbeyan based Capital Football affiliated club, Inter Monaro (now known as Monaro Panthers) also competed in the NSL between 1985 and 1986. All three clubs shared limited success in the NSL but the Arrows did attract Australian national team legend Johnny Warren as manager of the club during this period as well as giving then future Socceroo and national team manager Frank Farina his first senior soccer debut. The Cosmos attracted the Australian national team captain at the time, Paul Wade, when they joined the NSL as well as nurturing a number of future Socceroos including Jason Polak, Robbie Hooker, John Markovski, Nik Mrdja, Lindsay Wilson and Vince Grella. The Cosmos were also led by Sport Australia Hall of Famer and former national team manager, Rale Rasic for two seasons.


Former Women's NSL clubs
The Canberra Eclipse competed in the Women's National Soccer League from formation in 1996 till folding in 2004. The team played home matches out of West Belconnen Leagues Club and the AIS in Belconnen. Similar to the other five teams in the national competition, the Eclipse had an alternative name, the ACT Academy of Sports. The Canberra Eclipse won the league in 2001–02, beating NSW Sapphires 1–0 in the grand final. Canberra also finished runner-up in 1998–99 when the Eclipse lost 0–2 to SASI Pirates. Australian internationals, Lisa Casagrande and Caitlin Munoz both won league Golden Boots in 98–99 and 01-02 respectively in Eclipse jerseys. Other Australian internationals to represent the Eclipse include Ellie Brush and Amy Taylor.


Failed A-League4Canberra bid
In July 2008 TransACT CEO, Ivan Slavich, formally established the A-League4Canberra bid organisation along with other key local business identities. The organisations goal was to obtain an A-league licence for the Canberra region. [10] The A-League4Canberra bid officially launched 11 December 2008 at Jerrabomberra Primary School, headed by Ivan Slavich alongside Canberra United player Ellie Brush and Member for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly. [11] A-League4Canberra quickly secured ACT Government support for their bid in 2009 with the ACT Labor Government committing $2.5 million towards the bid. [12] Former Canberra-born Australian internationals, Ned Zelic and Carl Valeri signed on to become founding members and spokespeople of the organisation. The bid signed 2000 members, raising $5 million as it gathered capital to meet FFA bid criteria. [13] In 2009 and 2011 Canberra's bid was overlooked by FFA in its initial rounds of league expansion in favour of now defunct North Queensland Fury, Gold Coast United and Sydney Rovers. [14] When the Sydney Rovers bid collapsed the A-League4Canberra organisation again submitted a bid for inclusion in the league, however the FFA again overlooked the bid in favour of establishing its own team in Western Sydney that would become Western Sydney Wanderers. [15] [16] On 10 May 2012, after its failed attempts and FFA's announcement that expansion beyond ten teams was on hold for the foreseeable future, the A-League4Canberra bid organisation's CEO, Heather Reid, announced the organisation would cease efforts to gain an A-league licence for the Canberra region, would wind-up operations and refund founding members monies. [17]

Local competition

Capital Football operates and administers all local competitions in the ACT for senior men and women and junior girls and boys.

Junior

The ACT breaks its junior structure and league system up into Miniroo (formally Rooball) for early development and junior league soccer for teenagers. The junior elite pathway comes under the banner of the NPL.

Senior

History

The first senior soccer match played in the ACT was played in 1910 between Ginninderra and Yarralumla. The match was played at the Ginninderra showgrounds and came about because Ginninderra locals wanted to play a different sport from the already established Rugby Union. The visiting Yarralumla team won the match 1–0. [18]

League system

The ACT senior men's competitions are generally run between April and September each calendar year. The league system is amateur in nature with a few semi-professional exceptions. The system consists of a pyramid of leagues, headed by three single divisions that do not encompass promotion and relegation, instead league licences to compete are granted by Capital Football. However, divisions 1–6 are bound together by the principle of promotion and relegation. The most successful club in each league rises to a higher league, whilst the club that finishes at the bottom of their league finds itself sinking down a level. Division 7–10 are open leagues for casual/social players. All leagues contest a regular season and conclude with a finals series. [19]

The ACT senior women's competitions are generally run parallel to the men's with the competition running between April and September each calendar year. The league system is amateur in nature. The system consists of a pyramid of six leagues that do not encompass promotion and relegation, instead league licences to compete are granted by Capital Football. All leagues contest a regular season and conclude with a finals series. [19]

Leagues structure

The ACT men's league structure is broken into thirteen league levels, at the top is the single division of National Premier Leagues Capital Football (Level 1, which is often referred to as the “top flight”), containing ten teams, of which, as of 2017, seven are based in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, with the final three based in the New South Wales towns of Queanbeyan, Cooma and Griffith. One of the teams, FFA Centre of Excellence, is an age restricted youth academy, which is ineligible for the finals series. Below The NPL is the Capital Football State League structure of twelve leagues (Levels 2 to 13). The Capital League (Level 2) and The Capital League Reserves (Level 3) both contain eight teams each. State League Division 1–6 (Level 4–9) are competitive divisions that are restricted to ten teams but may sometimes contain less than ten teams. Divisions 7–10 (Level 10–13) have no limits on competing teams and are open for inclusion submissions. [19]


The ACT women's league structure is broken into six league levels, at the top is the single division of Women's National Premier League Capital Football (Level 1, which is often referred to as the “top flight”), containing eight teams, of which, as of 2017, seven are based in Canberra, ACT and one based in Queanbeyan, NSW. Below the NPL is The ACT State League women's structure. This structure is broken into five leagues, at the top of the system is Division 1 (Level 2, sometimes referred to as Women's Capital League), containing 9 clubs, of which, as of 2016, eight are based in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory and one is based in Goulburn, NSW. Divisions 2 to 5 (Level 3–6) contain between 8 and 10 teams each with thirty-four clubs coming from Canberra and two coming from NSW, Queanbeyan and Yass. [19]

Cup competition

The ACT Federation Cup (Fed Cup) has been in existence since 1962 under various sponsorship names. Currently the cup is named the Capital Football Federation Cup. As of 2016, the Fed Cup uses a nineteen team bracket broken up into five rounds (Round 1, Round 2, quarter-finals, semi-finals, Final). Round 1 consists of six qualifier teams, predominantly State League Division 1 teams, competing in three matches with three teams advancing. Round two sees thirteen clubs enter from the NPL Capital Football and Capital League (Level 1 and 2) and join the three qualified teams. Since 2014, the cup has been used by Capital Football as the qualifying tournament for FFA Cup qualification with the final winner qualifying for the FFA Cup round of 32. The Cup has been awarded every year since 1962 with one exception, 1973. In 1973, the Cup final between Croatia Deakin and Juventus was abandoned by the match officials after twenty minutes with the score locked at nill-nill due to crowd trouble. The match was not replayed and the cup not awarded. [20] The most successful club in the Cup's history is Canberra FC, who under its various different names has lifted the cup seventeen times. [21]


The ACT Women's Federation Cup is run as a pre-season cup competition that is open to all teams of all levels. From 2015, the cup has consisted of a group stage followed by a grand final. Prior to that, it consisted of a group stage with two pools and then a grand final of the two pool winners.

Futsal

ACT Futsal consists of an elite level women's and men's league (referred to as the Premier League) plus five men's divisions broken into regions, three women's divisions and two mixed divisions. League seasons are run during the spring and summer months with the premier leagues running from September to December each calendar year. All leagues contest a regular season and conclude with a finals series. As of 2017, there are 5,000 registered futsal players in the ACT. [22]

International events

The ACT hosts an annual international youth tournament named the Kanga Cup. The tournament is organised and run by Capital Football and attracts participants from all over the globe. Matches are played at selected ACT playing districts across Canberra over a two-week period in July. [23]

History of Matches

2000 Olympics

Canberra's Bruce Stadium was selected as a host venue for men's and women's soccer for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The ACT hosted five men's and women's group matches at Bruce Stadium between 13 September and 20 September 2000 including the Australian women's national soccer team (the Matildas). Bruce also hosted one of the women's semi-finals on 24 September 2000. [24]

2003 OFC Women's Championship

The 2003 OFC Women's Championship was hosted at McKellar Park between 5 and 13 April 2003. Five nations contested the championship including Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Cook Islands. The championship doubled as the OFC Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament for the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup held in the US. [25]

2015 Asian Cup

Canberra was selected as one of five host cities for the 2015 Asian Cup Finals. [26] Bruce Stadium was selected as the host venue in Canberra with McKellar Park and Deakin Stadium selection as training venues. Gungahlin Enclosed was selected as a back-up training venue in case one of the other two become unavailable. [27] Iraq, North Korea and Qatar all used Canberra has their tournament base while Kuwait based themselves in Queanbeyan just over the border in NSW. Bruce Stadium played host to six group stage matches and one quarter-final match. One AFC representative labelled the Canberra playing surface as the best of the tournament while tickets sales for Canberra doubled budgeted expectations. [28]

2015 Asian Cup Matches in Canberra
DateTeam #1ResultTeam #2Attendance
10 January 2015Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 1–0 Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 12,552
11 January 2015Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 4–1 Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 5,513
13 January 2015Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 0–1 Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 8,795
15 January 2015Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 1–2 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 7,925
18 January 2015Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 2–1 Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea 18,457
20 January 2015Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 2–0 Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 10,235
23 January 2015Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 3–3 (a.e.t), (6–7p)Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 18,921

Australian National Men's Team matches

The Australian men's national team (the Socceroos) has played in the ACT five times with the first match in 1996 against Tahiti in the second leg of the 1996 OFC Nations Cup Final. In 2015, off the back of Canberra successful 2015 Asian Cup hosting, the nations capital secured a World Cup qualifier for the first time. The Australian national team played Kyrgyzstan in a 2018 World Cup qualifier in the second round of AFC qualifications. [29] In 2019, it was announced the Australian men's national team would return to Canberra for the first time in four years with another world cup qualifier. Australia would come up against Napal in an AFC 2022 World Cup qualifier. [30]

Australian men's National Team's matches in Canberra
DateTeam #1ResultTeam #2EventGroundAttendanceRef.
1 November 1996 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg5–0Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti 1996 OFC Nations Cup Final Bruce Stadium 9,421 [31]
5 March 2009 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg0–1Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 2011 Asian Cup Qualifiers Bruce Stadium20,032 [32]
7 October 2011 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg5–0Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia International Friendly Bruce Stadium10,041 [33]
12 November 2015 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg3–0Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg  Kyrgyzstan 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Bruce Stadium19,500 [34]
10 October 2019 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg5-0Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Bruce Stadium18,563 [35]

Australian National Women's Team matches

The Australia women's national team (the Matildas) has a long history of playing matches in the ACT. In total the Matildas have played 17 matches in Canberra. The first match against New Zealand was played on 17 March 1995 in an international friendly. The Matildas have been involved in two major FIFA sanctioned tournaments in the ACT. Australia played one group match of the 2000 Olympic Games at Bruce Stadium against Germany. In 2003, McKellar Park played host to the 2003 OFC Women's Championship, Australia went on to win the tournament. In 2019, FFA and the ACT Government announced a deal to bring the Australia women's national team back to Canberra for the first time in six years. [36]

Australian women's National Team's matches in Canberra
DateTeam #1ResultTeam #2EventLocation
17 March 1995 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg4–0Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand International friendly Canberra, Australia
19 March 1995 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg2–0Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand International friendly Canberra, Australia
5 March 1997 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg0–3Flag of the United States.svg  United States Ram Sports Cup Canberra, Australia
23 November 1997 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg2–1Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Tri Nations Series Canberra, Australia
10 January 1999 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg4–3Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Australia Cup Bruce Stadium, Canberra, Australia
13 January 1999 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg1–0Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Australia Cup Bruce Stadium, Canberra, Australia
31 May 2000 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg1–0Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Pacific Cup Bruce Stadium, Canberra, Australia
13 September 2000 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg0–3Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 2000 Olympic Games Bruce Stadium, Canberra, Australia
26 January 2003 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg2–0 [lower-alpha 1] Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea Australia Cup McKellar Park, Canberra, Australia
29 January 2003 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg2–0Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico Australia Cup McKellar Park, Canberra, Australia
1 February 2003 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg1–3Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Australia Cup McKellar Park, Canberra, Australia
5 April 2003 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg19–0Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 2003 OFC Women's Championship McKellar Park, Canberra, Australia
7 April 2003 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg11–0Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 2003 OFC Women's Championship McKellar Park, Canberra, Australia
9 April 2003 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg13–0Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 2003 OFC Women's Championship McKellar Park, Canberra, Australia
13 April 2003 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg2–0Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2003 OFC Women's Championship McKellar Park, Canberra, Australia
7 February 2009 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg1–5Flag of Italy.svg  Italy International friendly Bruce Stadium, Canberra, Australia
13 June 2013 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg1–0Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand International friendly AIS Athletics Track, Canberra, Australia
  1. Match abandoned after 77' (with result standing) following an incident between a Korean official and an assistant referee

Interstate competition

Inter-connection with NSW clubs and competitions

During the history of football in the ACT there has been frequent inter-connection with NSW. The following points detail this connection history: [18] [37]

Sydney FC A-League Pre-Season Cup matches in Canberra

During the 2006–07 and 2007–08 A-League seasons, Sydney FC played two Pre-Season Cup matches at Bruce Stadium in Canberra.

Sydney FC's Canberra Pre-Season Cup Matches
DateHome TeamResAway TeamGroundAttendance
22 July 2006 Sydney FC 2–1 Newcastle United Jets Bruce Stadium 7,226
29 July 2007Sydney FC0–3 Central Coast Mariners Bruce Stadium5,735

A-league club friendlies in Canberra

Since the A-League inception in 2005 a number of interstate A-League teams have travelled to Canberra to conduct training camps, youth coaching clinics and play pre-season trial matches against local ACT clubs and representative teams. A-League teams to have travelled to Canberra include Sydney FC, Central Coast Mariners, Newcastle United Jets and Western Sydney Wanderers. ACT clubs to compete in these interstate friendlies include Belconnen United, Canberra FC, Gungahlin United and Canberra Olympic.

A-League Pre-Season Matches in Canberra
YearHome TeamResultAway TeamGroundRef.
2005 Belconnen United 0–1 Sydney FC McKellar Park [42]
2007Belconnen United0–4 Central Coast Mariners McKellar Park [43]
2008 ACT Rockets 0–4Central Coast Mariners Deakin Stadium [44]
Belconnen United1–2Central Coast MarinersMcKellar Park [45]
2009Belconnen United0–3Central Coast MarinersMcKellar Park [46]
2010 Canberra FC 0–4Central Coast MarinersDeakin Stadium [47]
Belconnen United1–4Central Coast MarinersMcKellar Park [48]
2011Canberra FC1–2Central Coast MarinersDeakin Stadium [49]
Belconnen United0–5Central Coast MarinersMcKellar Park [50]
2012Canberra Rockets1–9 Newcastle United Jets McKellar Park [51]
2013ACT NPL All-Stars0–3Newcastle United JetsMcKellar Park [52]
Canberra Olympic 1–3 Western Sydney Wanderers AIS Athletics Track [53]
2014Canberra FC0–1Western Sydney WanderersDeakin Stadium [54]
Canberra FC0–5Sydney FCDeakin Stadium [55]
2015Belconnen United0–3Sydney FCMcKellar Park [56]
Canberra FC0–3Western Sydney WanderersDeakin Stadium [57]
Canberra Olympic2–3Central Coast Mariners Gungahlin Enclosed Oval [58]
Gungahlin United 1–3Central Coast MarinersGungahlin Enclosed Oval [59]
2016Canberra FC1–4Western Sydney WanderersDeakin Stadium [60]
Capital North Region Select2–2Central Coast Mariners Woden Park [61]
Capital South Region Select0–4Central Coast MarinersWoden Park [62]
2017Canberra Olympic0–5Newcastle United JetsDeakin Stadium [63]

ACT interstate A-League partnerships

In 2007, Belconnen United signed a mutual benefiting relationship agreement with A-League club Central Coast Mariners. The two clubs agreed to play an annual pre-season friendly match in Canberra at McKellar Park named The Bank of Queensland Cup. The agreement opened up opportunities for a development pathway for ACT talent to the A-League while the Mariners gained a foothold within the ACT soccer community. [64] The agreement lasted five years with annual matches played between 2007 and 2011, starting with a 4–0 victory to the visiting Mariners on 30 June 2007. [65]

On 10 April 2015, Belconnen United announced they had formed a formal relationship with A-League heavyweights Sydney FC. The agreement between the two clubs established a formal pathway for Belconnen youngsters to progress and gain the possibility of an A-League contract with Sydney FC. The agreement also opened up ongoing opportunities for Belconnen coaching staff to work with and information share with Sydney FC staff including Graham Arnold. Finally, Sydney FC agreed to tour Canberra in 2015 pre-season to host coaching clinics and play a friendly match against the Blue Devils. [66] Belconnen lost the friendly match against Sydney 0–3 with second half goals to Andrew Hoole, Jacob Tratt and Matt Simon in front of 1,852 fans. [56]

ACT interstate NPL partnerships

On 2 January 2017, Belconnen United entered into a mutual benefiting agreement with NSW NPL club Wollongong Wolves to co-host a "festival of football" in the South Coast town of Nowra. [67] From 28 to 29 January 2017, the two clubs played a number of women's and men's junior and senior exhibition matches, ran free all-ages coaching and refereeing clinics, training drills, player sessions and family activities at Nowra's Ison Park. [68]

Academies

FFA Centre of Excellence (formally Australian Institute of Sport Football Program) – Established in 1981 as one of the eight founding programs at the Australian Institute of Sport. [69] The FFA Centre of Excellence (FFA COE) is run by the national federation of Australia and is based in Bruce, Australian Capital Territory. Funding for the program is provided by the federal Australian Sports Commission. 20 students from all over Australia between the ages 14 and 17 are selected for a 12-month study and development program, with the option of a second year. [70] The FFA COE fields their squad in the top division of men's football in the ACT, NPL Capital Football but is ineligible for the Federation Cup and league finals series. The program has previously competed in the NSW and Victorian Premier Leagues and has produced a host of Australian international players.


Canberra United Academy (CUA) – Established on 15 December 2015 by Capital Football, the CUA was an amalgamation of Capital Football's various elite high performance soccer programs into one entity. [71] CUA is the elite academy for both boys and girls from the ACT and surrounding regions between the ages of 10 and 17. In 2016 the academy fielded their boys squad in the NPL Capital Football but its inclusion was controversial with ACT NPL clubs threatening to form their own breakaway league [72] or boycotting matches [73] at one stage before negotiations with Capital Football avoided that scenario [74] and a compromise was reached for 2017 onwards that would see the boys CUA merge with the FFA COE, with two players selected from CUA to be included in the FFA COE squad. [75] CUA has fielded their girls program in the Women's National Premier League Capital Football since 2016 onwards.

Motivate Football Academy Australia (MFAA) – Established 2013, the MFAA is a private academy based in Canberra. The academy focuses in individual skills, technique and confidence not game tactics and formations. [76]

ACT soccer association names

ACT Football Associations/Federations
#NameFromTo
1The Central Southern District British Football AssociationApril 1914July 1914
2Federal Capital Territory Soccer Football Association19261930
3Federal Monaro District Soccer Association19321934
4ACT Soccer Association (under the name Soccer Canberra)19602005
5ACT Football Federation (under the name Capital Football)2005Current

Stadiums and grounds

Bruce McKellar Deakin Gungahlin Phillip Wanniassa Acton
Canberra Stadium McKellar Park Deakin Stadium Gungahlin Enclosed Oval Woden Park Viking Park ANU Willows
Capacity: 25,011Capacity: 3,500Capacity: 1,500Capacity: 1,150Capacity: 1,000Capacity: 8,000Capacity: 200
BruceStadium19032005.JPG Deakin Stadium at Night.png Woden Park, Canberra.jpg Viking Park v2.jpg Willows Oval Aerial 2011.JPG
Soccer, Rugby league, Rugby union Soccer Soccer Soccer Soccer, Athletics Rugby union, Soccer Soccer

Representative

ACT representative teams often compete at national junior level competitions and tournaments. ACT representative teams play in yellow, blue and white colours, representing the colours of the ACT found on the Territory's flag. Since 2008 there have been a number of different incarnations of an ACT top flight select XI who has played visiting teams, predominantly visiting A-League teams. This select XI has been named ACT Rockets, Canberra Rockets, Capital Football Select, ACT NPL All-Stars and Capital North/South Region Select. These teams have versed Central Coast Mariners (2008, [77] 2009, [78] 2016 [61] [62] ) and Newcastle United Jets (2012, [51] 2013 [52] ) at ACT venues including the Australian Institute of Sport, McKellar Park, Deakin Stadium and Woden Park.

Kit left arm.svg
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ACT Representative colours
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body whitestripeonright.png
Kit body.svg
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Capital Football colours

See also

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The 2014 Capital Football season was the second season under the new competition format in the Australian Capital Territory. The competition consisted of two divisions across the ACT. The overall premier for the new structure qualified for the National Premier Leagues finals series, competing with the other state federation champions in a final knockout tournament to decide the National Premier Leagues Champion for 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gungahlin United FC</span> Football club

Gungahlin United Football Club is an Australian professional soccer club based in the Canberra district of Gungahlin, ACT. Gungahlin currently competes in the National Premier Leagues Capital Football with home matches played at the recently constructed Gungahlin Enclosed Oval.

The 2015 Capital Football season was the third season under the new competition format in the Australian Capital Territory. The overall premier for the new structure qualified for the National Premier Leagues finals series, competing with the other state federation champions in a final knockout tournament to decide the National Premier Leagues Champion for 2015.

The Federation Cup is a soccer competition established in 1962 that is held between clubs who are affiliated with Capital Football in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and surrounding areas of New South Wales. It is the premier cup competition in the region. Since 2014, the Federation Cup has concurrently served as the ACT competition for the preliminary rounds of the FFA Cup, now known as the Australia Cup, with the cup winner representing the ACT.

Clubs affiliated with Capital Football in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) - and surrounding areas of New South Wales - competed in 2014 for the Capital Football Federation Cup. Teams from the same Club playing in multiple divisions were allowed to compete. This knockout competition was won by Belconnen United, their 4th title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gungahlin Enclosed Oval</span> Stadium in Canberra, Australia

Gungahlin Enclosed Oval is a multi-use stadium located in the north Canberra region of Gungahlin, Australian Capital Territory. It is the home ground for Gungahlin United, Gungahlin Jets, Gungahlin Bulls and Gungahlin Eagles. The venue has a seating capacity of 1,150 people and an overall capacity of 5,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deakin Stadium</span> Football ground in Australia

Deakin Stadium is an association football ground located in the south-central Canberra suburb of Deakin, ACT. It is the home ground of Canberra Croatia FC in the NPL ACT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lleyton Brooks</span> Australian soccer player

Lleyton Andrew Tanabe Brooks is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Canadian Premier League club Cavalry FC.

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