‘It’s a big deal’: MP in Victoria soccer pledge as World Cup fever grows in Shepparton

Back in 2019, Australia’s senior women’s side dazzled at the World Cup in France as Sam Kerr led the way for the Tillies with five goals en route to the Round of 16 stage.

This provided the springboard for an all-time best showing at the tournament on home soil four years later, as Matildas Fever swept the land down under on the way to fourth place at the finals.

Now, as the Socceroos prepare to descend on the Americas for the Men’s World Cup in less than a month’s time, Birrell MP has reinforced his commitment to supporting the growth of the sport in northern Victoria.

“Soccer, or football, is a big deal in Canberra,” he said, revealing his own love for the game.

“They have a parliamentary sports club and every morning during sitting week at 7am, there’s sport and every Wednesday there is a soccer day - so I go down there and play.

“You’re playing against people from the other side, it’s not Coalition versus Labor, for instance.

“It’s all inter-mingled and so I’ve found that a really great way to play religiously and get to know people from across the aisle.

“I’ve had funny moments where I’ve assisted a minister on the pitch and he got a goal and then we had a tense exchange in parliament later on!”

The National Party representative confirmed that he is committed to using his platform to encourage investment in facilities in the division of Nicholls at government level.

“There’s a realisation that we’ve got to make women’s facilities appropriate so everyone feels comfortable playing sport general - and sporting clubs are really good for society and physical and mental [wellbeing],” he said.

“Part of the reason I was doing training with all of the clubs was to draw attention to the fact that we do need to keep investing in these things.”

As the House of Representatives member alluded to, he has been on a mission with sports clubs from across his electorate of Nicholls as part of his Advocating for Your Sporting club project since he was elected in 2022.

In the past seven years, there has been a 120 per cent increase in women and girls participation in soccer across Victoria, with a surge of 57 per cent in player numbers reported by Football Victoria (FV) since 2022.

“There’s the appropriate things that entice all people to get involved in sport and the Anthony Albanese Government introduced the Play Our Way Grant - I wish there was more to be honest,” Birrell said.

“It’s just a constant battle to pick an issue like that and advocate it - you’ll talk about it for three years and then, all of a sudden, it’ll become a hot button issue.”

This pledge comes after a petition entitled Funding for Football Victoria was listed on the Parliament of Victoria website and gained nearly 7000 signatures, at the time of writing.

The petition calls on the Government to commit new investment and resources to help Football Victoria deliver its strategic priorities - including the re-establishment of a dedicated World Game Facilities Fund.

The Level the Playing Field Campaign, launched by FV in February, has garnered the support of political voices from across the aisle including State Labor Member for Pascoe Vale Anthony Cianflone and Liberal Member for Hawthorn John Pesutto.

FV CEO Dan Birrell, speaking earlier this year, urged the public to back their campaign.

"Whether you're a coach, a player, an official, a volunteer, or a parent, I urge everyone to get on board and sign this petition,“ he said.

“This is our opportunity to unlock the funding we need to ensure the sport continues to grow for generations to come.”

You can sign the petition on the Parliament of Victoria website.