Football West’s player registrations have hit a new high after passing the 50,000 mark for the first time.
The number of players in Western Australia registered on Play Football currently sits on 50,231 – almost 20% up on the same time in 2023.
This includes over 10,000 female players, again a record figure.
And it is not just players who have been signing up.
We have more than 3,800 coaches on board – almost 75% above last year’s figure.
Referee numbers are also 25% higher than at the same time 12 months ago.
In total, there are 59,434 registered participants.
Football West CEO Jamie Harnwell said: “These numbers are incredible and we are delighted to share them with the WA football community.
“We were expecting a spike after the success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. However, this is a wider success story and the result of much hard work done across clubs, associations and the Football West team over a number of years.
“We also know that there is a lot of work to be done to ensure these record numbers are not a one-off, rather part of a long-term growth that sees football continue to be the No1 participation sport in Western Australia.
“This includes tackling the extra demands on clubs by providing adequate facilities, including more female-friendly facilities. This will help attract new people and hopefully see them develop a lifelong love of football.
“This is why Football West is currently carrying out a new facilities audit across the state. We are also working closely with the State Government and the Local Government Authorities to identify key areas required for investment.”
