Media release – Western United, 24 February 2021
Tasmania turns green and black with new A-League partnership
Western United has partnered with the Tasmanian Government and Football Tasmania to bring A-League football to Tasmania.
The expansion into Tasmania is a significant one, with the club excited to play two home game fixtures at York Park in Launceston during both the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 seasons.
“We are excited to make Tasmania green and black,” said Western United CEO Chris Pehlivanis.
“We were presented with an opportunity to work with the Tasmanian Government and Football Tasmania to not only showcase Western United’s brand of football but to bring the A-League to the state.”
The partnership will also include a women’s exhibition match between Calder United Soccer Club and a local Tasmanian representative team, as well as community football initiatives. The vision for 2022 includes a W-League fixture as part of a broader festival of football in the state.
“The philosophy of Western United has always been to ‘dream big’ and we believe the partnership reflects this. The shared values of being self-made and hardworking naturally align both the people from Victoria’s west and the Tasmanian community.
“In addition to growing the game of football at a grass roots level in Tasmania, our ambition is to also work with tourism bodies in Australia to give the industry a much-needed boost after a difficult 2020 and start to 2021 with Covid-19 lockdowns and border closures.
“We see sport as being in the business of entertainment, and entertainment and tourism go hand-in-hand.
Football Tasmania CEO Matt Bulkeley said the announcement marked an exciting step forward for the World Game in Tasmania.
“With close to 40,000 participants, football is Tasmania’s most-played team sport and continues to rise in popularity, especially among junior players,” Mr Bulkeley said.
“The next step in growing the sport in Tasmania is to increase the A-League’s presence, and partnerships like this are integral to maintaining football’s position as Tasmania’s most-played team sport.
“On behalf of the Tasmanian football community, I’d like to thank Western United and the State Government for bringing the A-League back to Tasmania.”
Western United members who have purchased full season memberships will be offered the opportunity to attend two away games in Victoria against Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City as replacement games. Western United has selected these two blockbuster games in a show of good faith and as a way of saying thank you to loyal Western United fans.
Media release – Peter Gutwein, Premier & Jane Howlett, Minister for Sport and Recreation, 24 February 2021
A-League games return to Tasmania
For the first time since 2013, A-League games will be played in Tasmania this year following an agreement between the Tasmanian Government, Western United Football Club, and Football Tasmania.
Premier Peter Gutwein said the agreement would see Victorian club Western United host two games per year at UTAS Stadium in Launceston across the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Calder United, a women’s team affiliated with Western United, will also play a match against a Tasmanian women’s select team in 2021, with a W-League game to be played in 2022.
“The return of A-League games to Launceston is a great win for our State and once again confirms Tasmania’s ability to host elite level sport,” the Premier said.
“Tasmania has a rich sporting history and this partnership is another important marker in our plan to secure elite sports that deliver numerous economic benefits, as well as positioning Tasmania as a destination of choice for visitors.
“We have seen strong growth in football participation in recent years in Tasmania, and this will further create opportunities and incentives to develop our local talent, as well as further our ambition to establish an A-League team of our own here in Tasmania.”
As part of the agreement, the Government will provide funding of $480,000 across two years which will include junior football clinics and youth camps attended by the WUFC and Calder United players and coaches.
Minister for Sport and Recreation Jane Howlett said the partnership would encourage further participation in football across the State.
“Football is surging in popularity as a participation sport in Tasmania and this partnership with Western United Football Club and the A-League will further encourage people to take up the sport at all levels,” Minister Howlett said.
“Tasmania is already punching above our weight in our ability to host elite level sporting events, including the introduction of our very own NBL team later this year.
“There is no doubt that Tasmanians love their sport and I encourage everyone to turn out in force and get behind Western United in their home away from home, as well as supporting our own Tasmanian women’s team when they face Calder United.”
Media release – Football Tasmania, 24 February 2021
Western United matches to boost the World Game in Tasmania
Football Tasmania has welcomed the return of A-League fixtures to Tasmania, predicting further growth of the sport after it was announced Western United would play two matches in Launceston each season for the next two years.
In an exciting opportunity for Tasmania’s high performance female players, Calder United, Western United’s feeder NPLW club, will also play a match against a Tasmanian women’s select team each year for the next two years.
Football Tasmania CEO Matt Bulkeley said the announcement marked an exciting step forward for the World Game in Tasmania.
“With close to 40,000 participants, football is Tasmania’s most-played team sport and continues to rise in popularity, especially among junior players,” Mr Bulkeley said.
“The next step in growing the sport in Tasmania is to increase the A League’s presence and partnerships like this are integral to maintaining football’s position as Tasmania’s most-played team sport.
“On behalf of the Tasmanian football community, I’d like to thank Western United and the State Government for bringing the A-League back to Tasmania.
“As well giving Tasmanians exposure to the very best players from Australia and abroad right here in Launceston, the partnership also offers exciting opportunities for community engagement and player development which will greatly benefit our aspiring junior and youth players.
“We’re looking forward to working with Western United to raise the profile and popularity of football in Tasmania even further and will continue to pursue opportunities to bring more elite level football matches to the state in the future.”
