Brisbane Roar’s Westfield W-League squad & Academy will soon have a new home at a state-of-the-art facility in the Moreton Bay region.
The Roar Women & the Roar Academy will be based at a brand new $18 million Women’s Centre of Excellence and Youth Academy at Moreton Bay Region’s South Pine Sports Complex.
Set to be complete ahead of the 2023 campaign, and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the announcement is a coming of age for female sport in Queensland.
Brisbane Roar Westfield W-League captain & games record holder, and 125-time Westfield Matilda Clare Polkinghorne says it’s another momentous development for women’s football.
“The development of this new facility in the Moreton Bay region is terrific news for both the Brisbane Roar Women’s Team & football in Queensland,” Polkinghorne said.
“Striving to be the best and at the top of the [Westfield] W-League is a core component of Brisbane Roar and to have a state-of-the-art facility to call home will only help us achieve those goals.
“Female football continues to go from strength-to-strength in Queensland and across Australia and this is another big step forward.”
Brisbane Roar has previously hosted a number of Westfield W-League fixtures in the Moreton Bay Region at Redcliffe’s Dolphin Stadium, including a 2018/19 Semi-Final.
Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Peter Flannery says the major investment would come just in time for the landmark 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will be hosted in Australia and New Zealand.
“Ready for the 2023 season, the new football precinct will be kitted out with a high-performance facility, clubhouse and fields which will support some of Australia’s best players in their tilt at World Cup success with the [Westfield] Matildas,” Mr Flannery said.
“It’s massive news for football lovers all across Southeast Queensland and we are particularly excited to bring the Roar Women and Queensland’s elite youth to our booming region.”
Roar Vice Chairman Chris Fong says a dedicated training facility for the Roar Women sets another benchmark in women’s sport.
“We hope that with a bit of hard work on-field, this off-field decision will help rocket our already fantastic women’s program back to the top of the [Westfield] W-League,” he said.
“Moreton Bay is the third largest council region in Australia and its population is only set to grow further – so we see this as an exciting opportunity to cement our women’s program within an emerging community and help contribute to the growth of the region for years to come.
“Our women’s football team is passionately supported by many people throughout the region. We’ve had thousands of members and fans visit Moreton Bay Region to support our [Westfield] W-League matches and this next important chapter will not only strengthen women’s football but further unite a community with a hope to share future success together.”
Brisbane Roar Academy General Manager Warren Moon says the new precinct is an exciting opportunity for the Club, the Moreton Bay region and young footballers across Queensland.
“It’s a great day for the Club and the region. It’s one of the fastest growing regions in the State and it’s a really exciting time for everyone involved,” Moon said.
“We’re a two-star elite Academy and what we have coming is something we can all be excited about – it will be one of the best Academy setups in the country.
“It’s really exciting not only for our players, but for all young footballers in the State to have something to aspire towards.”
