15/07/2005: Qantas Matildas coach Tom Sermanni has taken a 20-strong squad to Asia, departing last Monday for an 18-day tour that will incorporate two international matches against China, plus one-off fixtures against Japan and Korea. Two players yet to make their full international debut are included, in Queensland striker Jessica Mitchell and Canberra-based goalkeeper Lydia Williams. The tour is a build-up towards the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China.
The squad is: Goalkeepers – Melissa Barbieri (Melbourne), Lydia Williams (Canberra); Defenders – Dianne Alagich (Sydney), Kim Carroll (Brisbane), Rhian Davies (Sydney), Kate McShea (Brisbane), Karla Reuter (Brisbane), Cheryl Salisbury (Newcastle); Midfielders – Leah Blayney (Sydney), Heather Garriock (Sydney), Lana Harch (Brisbane), Collette McCallum (Perth), Joanne Peters (Newcastle), Sally Shipard (Sydney); Forwards – Lisa De Vanna (Perth), Alicia Ferguson (Brisbane), Kate Gill (Newcastle), Jessica Mitchell (Brisbane), Caitlin Munoz (Canberra), Sarah Walsh (Sydney)
The games are: Thursday 14 July - v Tianjin, Tianjin, Saturday 16 July - v China, Tianjin, Tuesday 19 July - v China, Tianjin, Saturday 23 July - v Japan, Tokyo, Tuesday 26 July - v Korea, Daejeon City, Thursday 28 July - second match v Korea, Daejeon City, TBC. In their first game the Qantas Matildas had a 1-2 loss to top Chinese Club team Tianjin FC, with Australia's goal a 65th minute strike by Leah Blayney. [ FFA More ... ]

International Football: Women's
Australia's Young Female Talent

01/07/2005: The cream of young Australian female football talent will gather this week in Sydney for the Qantas National Youth Championships (NYC) for girls. For the Under 18 and Under 16 age groups the week-long tournament for State, Territory or regional teams. The tournament, which will be played at Valentine Sports Park, the home of Soccer NSW, will commence on Saturday 2 July and conclude with the final day of competition on Saturday 9 July. In related news former Socceroo Alistair Edwards has been appointed the new Qantas Young Matildas coach under Tom Sermani, leading up to the 2006 Women’s Youth World Championship in Russia in 2006. NSW Metro took out the Under 18s championship with the three points from their victory over ACT enough to ensure the home team finished top of the competition ladder. Queensland had to settle for second despite their victory over South Australia though their Qantas Young Matilda, Alannah Reed, claimed the 18s player of the tournament award. A single goal first-half from Gemma Simon was enough to ensure Northern NSW won the Under 16s championship with a 1-0 win in the final over NSW Metro while Northern's Lauren Hough won the 16s player of the tournament award. [ FFA & SNSW More ... ]

International Football:
Australia Part of Asia from 1 Jan 2006

30/06/2005: In what is the most monumental decision for Australian Football since our re-admission to FIFA in 1964 the FIFA Executive Committee has approved the move of Australia into the Asian Football Confederation from Oceania - effective 1 January 2006. This will not affect Australia's representation of Oceania if we qualify in November for the World Cup in June 2006, but will impact on all future men's and women's FIFA tournaments. This move is expected to provide a higher level of competition and access to regular club as well and national team play. [ FFA More ... ]

International Football: Men's
Australian Coach Farina Resigns

30/06/2005: Australian national men's coach Frank Farina stood down on Wednesday 29th June 2005 after 6 years in the job, and just two games before the world cup qualifiers.

State Football: NSW Premier League
Bankstown City Lions Beat Bonnyrigg WE
26/06/05

The 2005 Premier League Grand Final took place on Sunday 26th June at Parramatta Stadium. Results: Bankstown City Lions 3 (Peter Tsekenis 21', Zjelko Babic 54', 56') defeated Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Michael Hawrysiuk 76'), and in the U20s Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2 lost to Marconi Stallions 5
Stephen Webb reports from Parramatta: [ More ... ] and [ BOTN PL pages ... ] and [ Soccer NSW ... ]

Opinion: 'A Marinator Born'!
... by Brett Taylor
07/06/05

"For a long long time there's been something missing from my life. It was as if I had a hole down in my chest, like the inside of a dormant volcano, waiting to be filled up with fire. I could feel it when I stayed up until 3am to check English Premier League results on the internet ....." [ Read Brett's opinion .... ]