The Eureka Strikers will prepare another application for a place in the women’s National Premier League after Football Federation Victoria put another spot up for grabs in the semi-professional competition.
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The Strikers put forward an application to be part of the original nine-side competition in 2016, but were overlooked due to a lack of junior structure.
If the FFV’s goal is to make the NPL accessible to girls throughout the state then we’ve definitely got a good chance.
- Laura Brady - Eureka Strikers coach
In order to be part of the NPL competition the club would need to able field an under-13’s, 15’s and 18’s side as well as a senior outfit.
Similar to the men’s NPL under-20’s competition, some overage players are allowed to compete in the under-18’s women’s competition.
Strikers coach Laura Brady said the club had a strong basis for applying as a regional club. Of the current nine NPLW clubs, Geelong Galaxy is the only club not based in wider Melbourne.
“After the last application we were told in the long term (FFV) could see us being added,” Brady said.
“If the FFV’s goal is to make the NPL accessible to girls throughout the state then we’ve definitely got a good chance.”
The Strikers have made significant headway into developing a junior program in 2016, with the club entering an all-girls side in the Ballarat and District Soccer Association’s under-13 division one competition.
Brady said securing an NPL license was crucial to ensuring the region’s ability to develop professional players going into the future.
“(Entering the NPL) is what we have to do otherwise there really is nowhere for the girls to go,” Brady said.
“In terms of providing ongoing pathways its almost impossible to systematically develop players without access to the NPL.”
The Strikers are likely to face stiff competition if they are to earn the nod from FFV, with just one new license to be handed out for the 2017 season.
The Ballarat club will probably have to compete with metropolitan state league powerhouse South Melbourne for the spot, who were the notable omission from the inaugural NPLW season.
In a statement about the league’s expansion, FFV said geographical location and an existing junior structure would be the two key criteria for selecting the new club.
