The announcement of Australia and New Zealand winning the hosting rights for the Women's World Cup in 2023 was celebrated at St George FC last week. Matilda Amy Harrison and New Zealand Ferns coach, and Bayside Council resident, Tom Sermanni made an appearance at St George Stadium following the Saints' girls training.
For St George FC, who are the only club in the St George district to run a full representative level program of girls, youth and senior women's football, this boost will surely flow over into the club.
Amy was announced as one of the St George FC Women's Football Ambassadors, along with fellow Matilda Chloe Logarzo and was presented with her own St George jersey.
A member of the Matilda's World Cup squad in France 2019, Amy was overjoyed with the joint bid getting up and said they were treated like royalty in France and it was a great experience.
" It is just so hard to describe, the atmosphere at the games and in the towns were just amazing. The hosting will bring such a boost to the game here".
Tom Sermanni the Ferns coach and former Matilda's coach, provides technical support to the St George FC women's program, said the boost to the game once you have won hosting rights is just phenomenal.
"When I took over the Australian team in 1994, that was the first time players didn't have to pay to play for the Matildas. That was largely due to Sydney having won the hosting rights to the Olympics and women's football being added to the Olympic schedule."
St George FC Director Carlo Tini believes their success is a result of the appointment of quality coaching staff supported by a dedicated team of volunteers.
"It's all about the girls. The coaches, the managers, the volunteers; they all do it because they believe in the potential of the girls. We all work together to reach the same goal," Tini said
There is a lot of pride in the historic football club with a planned redevelopment of the St George Stadium recently considered by Bayside Council.
This grand old football club, which dates back to 1957, certainly sees a bright future ahead.