Sydney FC’s defence of its W-League title will commence on November 5 after the FFA announced a revamped 10-round competition on Thursday,
Football Federation Australia (FFA) can today announce the Westfield W-League 2010/11 Season will kick-off on November 5 in a revamped 10-Round competition concluding in the Westfield W-League 2011 Finals Series in February.
Westfield W-League 2010/11 Season will see seven (7) teams from across Australia compete in the third edition of the competition with Adelaide United, Brisbane Roar, Canberra United, Melbourne Victory, Newcastle Jets, Perth Glory and Sydney FC will all again enter teams.
Central Coast Mariners will not enter a team in the competition for this season.
“A new season presents new challenges to what is fast becoming the prominent, elite pathway for women footballers in Australia,” said FFA Head of Women-s Football Leeanne Grantham.
“We are disappointed that Football NSW and the Central Coast Mariners will be unable to register a team for season three of the Westfield W-League.
“Due to significant financial impediments and to maintain a sustainable, professional and high-quality competition the Westfield W-League will, this season, revert to a seven-team competition that will showcase Australia-s best female footballing talent.
“The Westfield W-League is an elite pathway for female athletes in Australia which was witnessed by millions of Australians following the success of the Westfield Matildas at this year-s AFC Women-s Asian Cup.
“Newcastle Jets through the fantastic effort of the Northern NSW Football Federation will continue to represent football on the NSW coast together with Sydney FC, NSW based female footballers will continue to have the benefit of an elite pathway into the Westfield Matildas.”
Last season-s Westfield W-League unearthed five rising talents who all made their Westfield Matildas debut in 2010 with 16-year-olds Sam Kerr (Perth Glory), Teigen Allen (Sydney FC) and Emily Van Egmond (Canberra United) along with two players, Michelle Heyman and Aivi Luik, who made their first appearances for an Australian National team after hugely successful season-s in the Westfield W-League.
With the FIFA Women-s World Cup 2011 on the horizon for the Westfield Matildas a successful Westfield W-League 2010/11 Season will see even more talent surface and see the continued rapid growth in participation of women-s football in Australia.
