Football Victoria (FV) is proud to announce Knox United FC as the Club Changer Club of the Month for November, recognising the club’s outstanding commitment to building a strong, sustainable volunteering culture and fostering opportunities for women and girls.
Knox United’s involvement in the Club Changer program has helped shape the club’s long-term direction particularly in advancing female football. With intentional planning and dedicated leadership, the club has focused on creating an environment where women and girls feel supported, valued, and able to thrive.
Club President Felice Lomuto says this vision is already becoming reality.
“We’re not just growing teams, we’re creating a genuine environment for female players to thrive and feel supported at every stage of their football journey, exemplified by this photo showing all of our female teams together at our regular joint training sessions,” he said.
“This commitment was recently strengthened through the appointment of the club’s first Female Football Coordinator, tasked with leading the pathway from MiniRoos Girls through to the exciting return of a Senior Women’s program in 2026.”
Alongside their growth in the women’s space, Knox United has placed a strong emphasis on volunteer support, a cornerstone of the club’s success.
Lomuto said the club continues to refine its volunteer engagement each year.
“The club offers rebates to coaches and team managers, showcases its volunteers through social media recognition posts, and most importantly, maintains a simple but powerful tradition — always saying thank you,” he said.
“Our club runs on people giving up their time, so we make it a point to recognise that whether it’s a post on social media, a coffee shout, or a quiet thank-you after training, appreciation goes a long way.”
Knox United has also demonstrated exceptional commitment to coach development through the Club Coach Coordinator (CCC) program, actively engaging for the past three years to support and upskill their coaching community.
The club provides regular learning opportunities, mentoring, and collaboration creating an environment where coaches feel confident and supported.
FV CCC Program Manager Rob Taylor said the relationship built between Knox United and the CCC network has been “excellent” over the past three years.
“Their open communication, shared goals, and a genuine passion for improving grassroots football sets them apart, their continued dedication sets a great example of how the CCC program can strengthen both coach education and club culture," he said.
Over the past three years, the Club Changer Program has demonstrated outstanding success. Clubs involved have strengthened their capabilities, embraced new initiatives, and created safer, more inclusive environments. It has been a privilege to witness this growth and to support clubs on their journey.
Looking ahead, we are encouraging more clubs across Victoria to progress to 2 Star accreditation. This step is key to implementing safeguarding measures that protect and empower everyone in the club community. By committing to this pathway, clubs not only enhance safety but also build a culture of trust and respect that benefits players, volunteers, and families alike.
Together, we can continue to raise the standard of community football and ensure every club is a safe, welcoming place to belong.