Doncaster Rovers Soccer Club is building a thriving women’s football program led by passionate volunteers, community connection, and a strong commitment to inclusion.
The momentum has been unmistakable, culminating on April 26, when Anderson Park hosted Doncaster's first Senior Women’s match in over a decade. But the story is not about a gap — it’s about how the club created meaningful change and opened doors for women and girls at every level of the game.
The journey began with a simple enquiry — a mum looking for a team for her daughter and friends. This led to the formation of a new junior girls’ group, supported by the club and coordinated by Andrea Furlan, Junior Coordinator and Women’s and Girls Coordinator at Doncaster Rovers.
The girls were given a regular pitch allocation in early 2024, but with just five players at training, the team needed to grow. One of the objectives outlined in the club’s Action Plan was to develop a marketing strategy – and they did just that.
The club rolled out a recruitment campaign using local school newsletters, council advertising, flyer drops, and a consistent social media presence.
Coach Mel welcomed players of all skill levels, fostering an inclusive environment. By the end of the season, the squad had grown to 23 players.
“Through our inclusive environment for Women & Girls, by season’s end we had a squad of 23 players, “Andrea said.
“We persevered through challenges and concerns around recruitment. Word spread that Doncaster Rovers were building something special.”
Momentum from the junior side sparked interest across the wider community. Former Doncaster player Lexi reached out with the idea of re-establishing a Senior Women’s team.
By October, open training sessions had commenced. The marketing strategy was ramped up with help from media volunteers and support from sponsor Barry Plant, including free advertising boards to reach new players.
Facing challenges with recruitment, the club took a bold step – merging the growing U18 girls with the new women’s team. The result; a registered State League 4 team representing Doncaster Rovers SC in 2025.
“We were fortunate to have a group of 11 players join together and made the decision to merge our growing U18 girls’ team with the Women’s team,” Andrea explained.
“It created a pathway – and a team – that was built from within.”
Back in 2023, the club had just seven female players across MiniRoos and Juniors. In 2025, Doncaster Rovers proudly boasts U8s, U11s, U15s, Senior Women, and Masters Women’s teams.
“This isn’t just a team – it’s a whole-of-club culture shift,” said Andrea.
“It’s about visibility, opportunity, and creating a welcoming space for women and girls at every level of the game.”
The club’s turnaround was sparked by an initial meeting with Football Victoria’s Growth and Development team.
“My first involvement as a committee member in 2023 was joining an Action Plan support meeting with Leandro and other members,” Andrea recalled.
“That meeting was invaluable to see the support Football Australia and Football Victoria were offering clubs to help grow and maintain female participation.”