Foxtel and FFA have announced a new national development and grassroots football program designed to encourage more kids to play football and lead an active lifestyle.
Foxtel and Football Federation Australia (FFA) today announced a newly created national development and grassroots football program designed to encourage more kids to play football and lead an active and healthy lifestyle.
Over the next four years Foxtel will invest over $20 million dollars into supporting football in Australia, including an exciting new grassroots and development program to help to grow the game.
Foxtel is proud to join forces with Socceroos superstar Tim Cahill for an exciting initiative, the Foxtel All Stars Ambition Program which will reach kids and clubs all over Australia seeking to provide young players with the inspiration to be their best and follow their football ambitions.
Other aspects of the partnership include a naming rights sponsorship of the newly formed Foxtel All-Stars, who will play Manchester United here in Sydney in July and a naming rights partnership for the Foxtel National Youth League.
Foxtel Chief Executive Richard Freudenstein said: “We at Foxtel believe participation in sport is a vital part of the Australian culture and we think we have an important role to play inspiring a new generation of football fans and players.
“It-s no secret that Foxtel is a huge supporter of Australian football. Since the inception of the Hyundai A-League in 2005, we have been committed to taking the game to the next level and our long association, along with our partner Fox Sports, has given our customers the best viewer experience in Australia.
“This new program takes us full circle with our involvement in football, from development and grassroots to our live and extensive broadcast of every single A-League match, in HD and without ad-breaks and our extensive live coverage of the Qantas Socceroos as they strive to qualify for next year-s FIFA World Cup.”
FFA Chief Executive David Gallop said: “Football has 1.7 million participants across Australia and the majority are young players who enjoy a game that is skilful, safe and accessible to boys and girls.
“I-m delighted that Foxtel will be a partner in community football and will give 1,000 young players a special opportunity to be a part of the Foxtel All Stars Academy with Tim Cahill.
“At the elite level, it-s great to have Foxtel behind the A-League All Stars and backing the next generation of stars in the Foxtel National Youth League. Today marks another big step forward for football in Australia.”
Socceroo Tim Cahill said: “I'm thrilled to join Foxtel for this exciting new initiative and program. My passion is to increase the footprint of football in Australia and I'm excited that Foxtel share the same enthusiasm I have for growing the game.
"To me it's a perfect partnership that will deliver what is needed to provide children of Australia a fun and active way of enjoying football."
The project will see the introduction of the Foxtel All-Stars Academy and the Foxtel All-Stars Ambitions Tour.
The Foxtel All-Stars Academy will be offered free to 1,000 kids around Australia with 10 two-day clinics in capital cities and regional centres. Would-be participants will be asked to share stories of their passion for the game and then selected to join these school holiday camps that will include all aspects of football preparation and training.
Foxtel and the Tim Cahill Coaching Clinic will work together to create and manage these camps and other elements of the extensive program.
Freudenstein said: “Tim Cahill shares Foxtel-s passion for grassroots football and has been an amazing ambassador for Australian football both here and around the world, playing a key role in growing participation in the game. It-s fantastic to have such an iconic Australian hero be part of this.”
The Foxtel All-Stars Ambitions Tour is another strand of the program and will be a week-long intensive experience for young future potential superstars of the game, who might otherwise not get an opportunity to develop their skills.
The program will choose 30 girls and boys, aged between 10-15 years and host them at a specially designed and created week-long football academy during the A-League season.
Throughout the week participants will get access to experts across all facets of the game and competition as well as advice on exactly what it takes to reach the elite level of football.
“We see the importance of engaging with passionate, talented young football players, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and giving some of them the chance to be part of something very special,” said Freudenstein.