An Update on our Girls’ and Women’s License Application
September 26 - Update
Today we received confirmation from Football NSW that our application for a Girls’ and Women’s license for the 2025 competition was unsuccessful. We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who expressed interest in the Sharks, and while disappointed, we will continue to work towards providing more opportunities for female footballers in the Sutherland Shire.
We’re excited to share an important update with everyone about our progress towards securing a Girls’ and Women’s football program at Sutherland Sharks FC for the 2025 season and beyond!
Earlier this month, we submitted our application to Football NSW, requesting a licence for a dedicated female football program. This has been a significant milestone for us, and we want to reassure you that we’ve done everything in our power to make this a reality.
While we’re incredibly hopeful, we also want to set realistic expectations. In order to focus on improving the quality of the competition, Football NSW has confirmed they don’t plan to expand the competition in 2025 or 2026, meaning our application relies on the reallocation of a licence from an existing club. While this makes the process more challenging, we remain optimistic, and the incredible interest in a potential program has only strengthened our enthusiasm.
The response from our community has been overwhelming—since launching our Expression of Interest in July, over 500 girls and women have expressed their desire to represent the Sharks. This fantastic show of support demonstrates how ready and eager our region is for additional female football pathways.
Now, we await Football NSW’s decision later this month when the Declaration of Leagues is announced. If we’re successful, we’ll move quickly to organise trials and build the strongest coaching team possible, led by former Socceroo and our Head of Football, Paul Reid.
We’ll keep everyone updated and thank you all for your continued support. While we’re hopeful, we acknowledge this is a long shot, and we’ll continue working to provide more opportunities for female footballers in the Sutherland Shire, no matter the outcome.
The application was submitted along with the Sharks 3 Year Strategic Plan, which we look forward to sharing with you soon.