Brisbane Roar FC and Griffith University today announced a significant partnership which will see the University closely aligned with the Roar men’s Hyundai A-League team.
The John Aloisi-coached Roar will make Griffith University their formal Hyundai A-League training facility in Brisbane.
The Roar Westfield W-League squad, coached by Belinda Wilson, will have an extended training base on the Gold Coast at Musgrave Football Club, which is supported by Griffith Student Guild.
Brisbane Roar FC interim chief executive David Pourre said the partnership with Griffith University would allow the Roar to utilise the elite sporting facilities at Griffith campuses and allow for further pathways for the development of young footballers across the region.
“Brisbane Roar is committed to expanded engagement across Queensland,” Pourre said.
“This partnership with Griffith University will allow the Roar to not only connect regularly with the university’s students and staff but will also provide the club with opportunities to benefit from the University’s ground-breaking and renowned research,” Pourre said.
“Having our Westfield W-League team expand their training base to include the Gold Coast is an opportunity to develop pathways for young girls to see, be inspired and potentially participate in football.”
Griffith Deputy Vice Chancellor (Engagement) Professor Martin Betts said the partnership with Brisbane Roar would benefit students, staff and the broader community.
“Having an elite, professional team such as Brisbane Roar on campus is terrific and will also lead us to possible student internships, research and collaborations that will further enhance Griffith’s reputation as a leading sports University,” Professor Betts said.
“We are particularly excited about facilitating the Roar Women’s presence on the Gold Coast and congratulate Musgrave Football Club and the Griffith Student Guild for helping make that a reality.
“This sporting partnership follows Griffith becoming an official partner of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and being overall runners-up nationally in the recent University Games.”
Griffith Sports College general manager Duncan Free, a gold-medal Olympic rower, said having elite athletes in close proximity would lead to more opportunities.
“Already we are looking at a research project involving young women in professional sport. These are the sorts of possibilities that will arise and integrate Griffith’s research, student and academic pursuits with the most successful Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League teams in the game,” he said.
The announcement was made at Suncorp Stadium today prior to the Roar putting in an one-hour session (below) on the thick, well-grassed playing surface.
The partnership will see Brisbane Roar train at Griffith University fields, gym and pool at Nathan and Mt Gravatt.
The Roar Women will train at Musgrave, which recently hosted the Australian University Games and the Football Gold Coast’s junior grand finals.
The two squads have had temporary arrangements in place until now.
Musgrave GU Football Club president John Bills said hosting the Roar’s Westfield W-League team was already paying dividends for Gold Coast football.
“We have had our women (club) players and coaches come along and watch the Roar train already,” he said.
“The Roar are planning coaching clinics in the future as well so that will be fabulous for the progression of the women’s hub here at Musgrave.”
Ties between Brisbane Roar and Griffith University also extend beyond the sporting fields.
The Roar’s Westfield Matildas Tameka Butt and Clare Polkinghorne study at Griffith while the club’s Young Socceroo and Hyundai A-League striker Brandon Borrello is a Griffith Business student.
