As Football Queensland celebrates Female Football Week, Southside Comets Football Club is being recognized for its significant strides in promoting women and girls in football. Based in Cairns’ southern corridor, the club has seen its female participation soar by 65% over the past two years, growing from 90 registered players in 2023 to 146 in 2024.
The club’s goal is clear: by 2027, they aim to achieve a 50/50 gender balance in their teams. This ambitious target is part of a broader strategy that focuses on creating an inclusive environment for women and girls both within the club and in the surrounding community.
“We’re not just focusing on numbers, but on building structures that make girls and women feel seen, supported, and valued,” said Southside Comets President Kieren O’Brien. “Our recent growth reflects that commitment.”
Women now hold 75% of positions on the club’s executive committee and 80% of spots on the general committee—the highest in the club’s history. In addition, Tina Dillon, a long-time volunteer, coach, and committee member, has been appointed as the club’s first Women and Girls Ambassador. Dillon serves as a role model for young players and continues to inspire the next generation.
The Comets are also investing in the development of female coaches. The club offers women-only education sessions, ranging from entry-level courses to C Diploma licenses, and has ensured that all junior girls’ teams and the senior women’s squad are led by coaches with advanced qualifications. These coaches are dedicated to advancing women’s football.
A partnership with Bentley Park College, the largest school in Far North Queensland, has further boosted the club’s outreach efforts. The school, located near the club’s home ground, runs its football programs at the Comets’ venue. This partnership has created a clear pathway for young girls to get involved in the sport, whether as players or referees.
To accommodate its growing female membership, the club is building new, female-friendly changerooms and a dedicated referee’s room. The installation of security cameras and fencing to separate spectator areas has also enhanced safety for players and families.
“Leadership, coaching, visibility, facilities, and safety all matter,” O’Brien said. “We’ve made women and girls a priority in everything we do, and that’s key to our success.”
Football Queensland CEO Robert Cavallucci commended the Comets for their proactive approach and highlighted the club as a role model in the broader state-wide effort to achieve gender parity in football.
“As we work toward our One Football strategic goal of 50/50 gender parity across Queensland, Southside Comets is proving that a club can successfully center its development efforts on the long-term success of women and girls,” Cavallucci said. “With programs like Girls United and female-only coach and referee education, strong foundations are being laid for the future of the female game.”
Cavallucci also stressed that women and girls are the future of football, and Football Queensland will continue to support clubs like the Comets that are driving meaningful change for the sport.
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