Eloise Paine took a short break from her intense football schedule, working with Sydney FC Academy staff in the High Performance football program at Endeavour Sports High School (an official Sydney FC Academy school in Sutherland Shire, Sydney), to have a full Matildas experience at the recent International friendly against Sweden.
Eloise has shown incredible dedication and reliance, having dealt with setbacks from a shock cancer diagnosis in November 2019, pushing through a year of Chemo and dedicating herself to continuing her football journey at the highest level. Eloise left the Den at the end of 2021 to pursue her football development full time in NSW under the watchful eye of Rae Dower.
The experience was made possible thanks to the Make a Wish Australia – and was originally intended for 2020 (COVID interruptions resulted in a 2 year wait for Eloise). Thanks to Make a Wish and the Commbank Matildas for inspiring our young athletes !!
Keep up the great work Eloise – Roar with the Pride !!!
Kingborough Lions United FC Women’s 2023 Pre-Season for WSL, SCW and U18s has commenced.
New or returning players considering playing with KLUFC in season 2023 should complete the player’s Expression of Interest Form so we can advise you of training locations and any changes to schedule.
Sessions are Monday/Wednesday 17:45-19:15 and Saturdays 07:00-08:30.
WSL, SCW and U18 Team selections will be made based on performance and attendance at pre-season sessions.
Further Enquiries or details – message or call Cathy James on 0458 291 156.
FIFA has launched the Volunteer Programme for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ today, with approximately 5,000 enthusiastic people needed to support the tournament.
Volunteers will play an important role in welcoming the world to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™, giving locals across the Host Cities the chance to share their knowledge and culture with participating teams and visitors.
To celebrate the launch, several activities are taking place across various Host Cities in the coming weeks, with each recognising local football community volunteers, and encouraging people to sign up to be part of the tournament next year.
Jane Fernandez, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ COO (Australia) said: “Volunteers are at the heart of the football community in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, without their dedication and commitment, major events like the FIFA Women’s World Cup wouldn’t be possible.
“The Volunteer Programme is an opportunity for the community to get up close to the action and behind the scenes of the biggest women’s sporting event in the world. We look forward to welcoming our volunteers to the team in 2023,” she said.
Volunteers will be the public-facing team on the ground, representing the FIFA Women’s World Cup with pride, enthusiasm and respect. Volunteers will be assisting in stadiums, training venues, FIFA Fan Festival sites, hotels, transport hubs and airports, and roles run throughout the tournament starting from 25 June to 22 August 2023.
A variety of positions covering 25 specialist areas including match operations and referee support, to media, broadcast and drivers are on offer.
Jane Patterson, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ COO (Aotearoa New Zealand) said: “The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 brings together so many diverse people and cultures. We’ll be delivering a world-class event to a global audience, so if you want to be part of history, and gain a once-in-a-lifetime experience we’d encourage you to apply through the FIFA volunteer platform.”
For more information on how to apply to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Volunteer Programme, click here.
To be eligible to volunteer for the tournament, applicants must be 18 years or older by 1 June 2023 and speak at least intermediate level English. Volunteers will need to be available for at least 10 shifts between 25 June and 22 August 2023.
The Club is excited to advise that the Stage Two component of the Lightwood Park upgrades is nearing completion and will see an additional four changing rooms, three referees rooms and a medical room complete the lower level of the new building.
Stage 3 engineering is nearing completion and the club is exciting to see the work progressing thanks to the ongoing efforts of AKA Architects and Maveric Builders.
The completed Stage One includes four new changing rooms, which in addition to readying the venue to host some of the world’s best players, will also make Lightwood Park a much more female friendly venue for years to come. Pitch and lighting upgrades are also well underway to meet the FIFA WWC 2023 Base Camp requirements.
Kingborough Lions United FC – Lightwood Park Pitch Upgrades
Kingborough Lions United FC – Lightwood Park Upgrades
Kingborough Lions United FC – Lightwood Park Pitch Upgrades
Kingborough Lions United FC – Lightwood Park Upgrades
Kingborough Lions United FC – Lightwood Park Upgrades
Kingborough Lions United FC – Lightwood Park Upgrades
Kingborough Lions United Football Club had their Annual Presentation Dinner on Saturday 15 October. It was refreshing to finally have an end of year event that was not affected by COVID-19 A great night was had by all as we celebrated on and off field achievements for 2022. Congratulations to all our Award Winners. A special mention to our Life Members – a mother-daughter combination, highlighting the family and community focus of our great club.
2022 Award Winners
Zoe Nolan Medal (WSL Best & Fairest) – Danielle Kannegiesser WSL Player’s Player – Sami Watkins
SWC Best & Fairest – Ella Hood SWC Coach’s Award – Greta Crevatin-Gunn
SWC 1 Best & Fairest – Michaelyne Chee SWC 1 Player’s Player – Tarryn-Lee Stevenson
George Arnott Medal (NPL Best & Fairest) – Kobe Kemp NPL Coach’s Award – Greg Downes & Jacob Huigsloot NPL Coach’s Discretionary Award – Danny Cowen
Bernie Siggins Medal (Champ Best & Fairest) – Danny Cowen Champ Most Consistent – Alastair Crane-French
U18s Best & Fairest – Gabe Easton U18s Coach’s Award – Zarian Simcox
Southern Champ 1 Best & Fairest – Jack Docking Southern Champ 1 Most Improved – Campbell Harms
Southern Champ 2 Best & Fairest – Nick Cuthbertson Southern Champ 2 Player’s Player – David Leamey
Southern Champ 3 Coach’s Award – Miles Nielsen Southern Champ 3 Players Player – Aiden Mackey
Southern Champ 4 Best & Fairest – Ben Glancy Southern Champ 4 Player’s Player – Tom Jackson
Southern Champ O35 Black Best & Fairest – Geoff While Southern Champ O35 Black Player’s Player – Wayne Quinn
Southern Champ O35 Blue Best & Fairest – Michael Boon Southern Champ O35 Blue Coach’s Award – Warren Iles
Golden Boot – Wayne Quinn
Golden Boot – Wayne Quinn
Sheena Harper Memorial (Most promising Female youth playing seniors) – Cara Lashmar Alistair Rattray (Most promising Male youth playing seniors) – Alastair Crane-French
Brian Dale (President’s) Awards – Georgia James & Doug Ollington
Mike Perrin Perpetual Trophy for Outstanding Club Service – Annaliese Cousins Laurie Harvey Perpetual Trophy for Outstanding Club Person – Georgia James
Life Members – Cathy James, Madison James, Martin Dunnington, & Natalie Ellis
These awards were presented at the Annual Youth Dinner Angus Whyte (Most promising Male Youth playing Youth) – Austin Hughes Lisa Jarman (Most promising Female Youth playing Youth) – Abby McLeod
The Skills Acquisition Phase (SAP) Program provides two (2) additional sessions per week for players looking to develop their football skills. The Young Lions Discovery Program is an 8 week fun football training program (training once a week in Kingston) for children who would like to learn football by playing football.
Skill Acquisition Phase (U9-U12)
The 8 week Skill Acquisition Phase development program for boys and girls commences Monday 17th October at Lightwood Park. It runs Mondays & Wednesdays through School Term and excludes Public Holidays. Players in this cycle will have the opportunity to participate in the SAP Festival in December. Each session focusses on one of the 4 core skills – running with the ball; striking the ball; first touch; and 1v1. Sessions are delivered by our qualified coaches and cater for all skill levels.
It runs through School Term, excludes Public Holidays – Players are encouraged to attend both nights however if another sport or activity prevents this, the Club will accept players into the program one night a week.
Mondays 4:30pm-5:45pm
Wednesday 4:30pm-5:45pm
You do not have to play for Kingborough Lions United FC to be involved !!
2022 Young Lions Discovery Term 4 (U5-U8)
The 8 week Discovery Phase Development program commences Wednesday 19th October at Lightwood Park . The program allows the children to play lots of varied fun football related games, and also extends the skill training component for younger players who are ready to progress their skills
It runs Wednesdays through School Term, excludes Public Holidays. (Wednesday 4:30pm-5:30pm)
Works have commences on the pitch and lighting upgrades at Lightwood Park, Kingston, Tasmania to prepare the facilities to meet the standards for a FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 base camp.
There’s a lot happening at Lightwood Park and every day sees new changes and advancements. Stage 2 of the building construction is nearing completion thanks to the wonderful work of Maveric Builders. The ground upgrade has commenced which will bring the pitch up to FIFA standard, concurrently lighting is being upgraded to 500 Lux.
The draw brings Kingborough Lions United Football Club one step closer to hosting a base Base Camp for one of the countries participating in the FIFA WWC 2023. Once the pool fixtures are drawn, we expect to host interested countries late October to show them our fantastic Base Camp facilities.
Media Release – Football Tasmania/Kingborough Lions Uniteed FC – 30 September 2022
The first stage of more than $6 million worth of upgrades is now complete at Lightwood Park, firming up the venue’s chances of being selected by a visiting international team as a base camp for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The facility has been selected among 35 venues nationally on FIFA’s Team Base Camp shortlist, with participating teams to choose from the options once the draw takes place next month.
The completed Stage One includes four new changing rooms, which in addition to readying the venue to host some of the world’s best players, will also make Lightwood Park a much more female friendly venue for years to come.
Stage Two will see an additional four changing rooms, three referees rooms and a medical room complete the lower level of the new building.
Works to upgrade the playing surface and lighting have also commenced this week, which will bring the venue up to FIFA’s required specifications when they are completed later this year.
Kingborough Lions President Brian Downes said the possibility of hosting some of the world’s best players at Lightwood Park was tremendously exciting for the club.
“As a proud community club, Kingborough Lions is committed to providing opportunities for local players to participate in and enjoy football at a level which suits them, from social to elite competition.
“The upgrades at Lightwood Park will not only give us the best chance of hosting the best international players during the World Cup, but it will also ensure our venue is able to accommodate our growing grassroots player base for years to come, which will be a tremendous legacy of having the tournament on our shores.
“On behalf of the club, I would like to thank the State Government and Minister Nic Street, and the Federal Government and Minister Julie Collins for supporting our project.”
Football Tasmania President Bob Gordon said the facility would be a gamechanger for football in Kingborough, and Tasmania more broadly.
“The transformation of Lightwood Park is an outstanding achievement that the Kingborough Lions should be very proud of,” Mr Gordon said.
“Across Tasmania, one of the biggest challenges facing football is a lack of suitable playing and training venues for our players.
“Kingborough have really led the way in showing what’s possible with passion and hard work, and there’s no doubt we’d love to see similar facilities in every corner of the state.
“We’re delighted to see the new Lightwood Park takes shape, and we look forward to a rich future for the venue, from World Cup basecamps, to A-League men’s and women’s training and matches after that.”
Tasmanian NPL Club Kingborough Lions United FC have appointed Alfred Hess as the Head Coach of the Club’s High Performance NPL Program for 2023 and beyond.
Hess, who returned to Tasmania this year to take up the role of Youth Technical Director for the Lions, has also been an integral part of the NPL playing group for the 2022 season.
“Alfred has demonstrated a clear understanding of the Club’s vision and football development plan through his role as Youth Technical Director in which he will continue in addition to his new role with the NPL” said Simon Edwards, Technical Director. “Alfred’s coaching experience also includes coaching in high performance youth environments in Canada and recently establishing the inaugural Men’s First Team at Majura FC in the ACT. We feel Alfred is a wonderful fit for the Lions as we embark on the next stage of the Club’s NPL football journey” Edwards added.
“I am grateful for the club’s support in offering me the opportunity as Head Coach of the Club’s NPL endeavour. The Club’s confidence in my ability makes me feel enthusiastic and confident about rising to this challenge. I look forward to being part of the Club’s ambitious vision going forward,” said Hess.
“I would sincerely like to thank Jez Kenth” said Hess. “Jez played a significant role in attracting me to the club and transitioning me into the role of NPL Head Coach. Jez has accomplished meaningful work in this space. In this respect, I look forward to building on the work that Jez has done and making my own contribution to the club’s success.”
“The NPL is about to enter a very exciting era here in Tasmania with the introduction of the new NPL criteria that is being rolled out nationally in 2023” said Brian Downes, Club President.
“With Alfred’s appointment to our NPL Program and following on from the great work that Jez Kenth has done over the past few years, I am very confident that Alfred will take our NPL Program to the next level, as we as a Club, strive to be the absolute best that we can be. This in turn will provide a clear and achievable pathway for our young players coming through our junior and youth programs. Obviously, we all want to see the overall standard of football in Tasmania continue to improve and we feel, as one of the larger NPL clubs in the State, that we have a responsibility to do what we can to help grow the success of this great game and Alfred’s appointment is certainly a move in that direction” Downes added.
Kingborough Lions United FC is supporting the SPSSA Winter Carnival again in 2022.
This event in late August brings together grade 6 boys and girls from Southern primary schools for a day that sees regional teams complete in a round robin tournament.
Kingborough Lions United FC has managed the trials to select players from the Huon/Kingborough primary schools and is providing training sessions for the 4 teams over the next fortnight.
The club encourages all Grade 6 players that would like to keep playing football to contact the Club to discuss their playing options for next season as they transition to high school.
