19/5/22
Above: An artist impression of Brisbane Roar’s new A-League Women Centre of Excellence. Image supplied to Impetus by: Brisbane Roar.
Brisbane Roar’s elite new A-League Women’s and Academy home will soon become a reality after major work officially began on the $22 million Moreton Bay facility.
Head Coach Garrath McPherson, midfielder Hollie Palmer, and the club’s Vice-Chairman Chris Fong joined Moreton Bay Region mayor Peter Flannery in Brendale on Thursday to turn the first sod on the Women’s Centre of Excellence and Youth Academy.
The site will become one of the best women’s sports facilities in Australia once complete and a great new breeding ground for Queensland football talent.
“We’re thrilled to turn the sod today and bring us one step closer to this brilliant new base in Moreton Bay,” Mr Fong said.
“The people of Moreton Bay are proud and passionate supporters of football and especially women’s football, so we can’t wait to bring our A-League Women’s program and our youth academy to this part of South East Queensland.
“This will be a huge advantage and benefit to our players, and it’s a big part of our strategic plan to not only reclaim our place at the top of the A-League Women’s competition but to grow the sport in Queensland.
“I’d like to thank the Moreton Bay Regional Council for delivering this amazing new facility and hope to have a long and successful partnership.”
Construction is set for completion in early 2023, in time for the FIFA Women’s World Cup on home soil.
The Roar will benefit from three natural turf fields plus dedicated recovery spaces, a gym and training room, three changerooms, and a clubhouse incorporating coaching and administrative offices as well as spectator amenities.
Mayor Flannery said the deal between Moreton Bay Regional Council and the Roar would see hundreds, if not thousands, of aspiring young footballers take up the sport and emulate their heroes.
“Moreton Bay is positioning itself as an up and coming sports capital of Australia, especially for women, fresh after hosting the history-making 2022 NRLW Grand Final,” he said.
“Participation in women’s sport is skyrocketing and we want to be at the forefront of developing facilities that will help grow women’s sport locally and nationally.
“This $22 million investment comprises state of the art high-performance facilities for the Roar as well as brand new facilities to support the growth of our existing local clubs.
“The Roar facility will have the best modern features for a professional squad to be competitive like a high-performance gym, ice baths, coaches’ offices, and changerooms modelled on Manchester City club rooms, as well as architectural design features to make it a welcoming space to be in.”
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