Football Victoria (FV) announced its support today for those impacted by Victoria’s savage bushfires.
CEO Peter Filopoulos said FV had begun engaging its broader footballing community to contribute towards fundraising initiatives and had kick-started the campaign with a $10,000 donation to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.
In addition to the $10,000 donation, FV will dedicate its two annual 2020 Community Shield matches and Round 1 of the NPL Victoria Men's season as a Bushfire Relief Appeal round.
The Community Shield is FV’s curtain-raiser to each NPL season. In the men’s match, 2019 Dockerty Cup holders Hume City FC will take on 2019 NPL Victoria Champions Bentleigh Greens SC on Saturday, February 8, 2020, from 5pm.
The women’s match will see 2019 Nike F.C. Cup winners Calder United FC face NPLW Victoria Runners-Up FC Bulleen Lions on the weekend of March 15, 2020 (exact match date and time TBD).
Both matches will be played at City Vista Reserve, the new home of Caroline Springs George Cross FC, in City Vista Rd, Fraser Rise, near Taylors Hill in Melbourne’s north west.
Following the Community Shield support, FV will also mark Round 1 of the NPL Victoria Men’s season (Feb 13-16, 2020), as the Bushfire Relief Appeal Round. This ensures clubs involved in Rounds 1 and 2 of the Junior NPL Victoria season can also be involved.
Mr Filopoulos said the Victorian football community was widely spread throughout affected areas, particularly in and around East Gippsland and North East Victoria.
In the coming weeks, FV will take a whole of community approach to assist our affected clubs to ensure we provide them with the necessary support to enable them to resume their football activities and provide a positive impact and experiences for devastated communities.
“The bushfire crisis has affected so many parts of our Victorian landscape and the communities involved. Football is a wonderful vehicle to unite people, especially in difficult times, so dedicating this year’s Community Shield matches and Round 1 of the NPL Men’s 2020 season to help seemed very appropriate,” Mr Filopoulos said.
“We’ve received messages from football club associates across East Gippsland who are very grateful for any support they can receive. The Victorian football family has a proud history of helping each other and this continues that spirit and tradition.
“We’ll be engaging with our 355 clubs across the state to help provide the most meaningful ways to contribute.” he said.
Funds raised from FV’s Community Shield and Round 1 NPL Men’s dedicated round matches (see details below) will also go to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal. The Victorian Government has partnered with Bendigo Bank and The Salvation Army to establish the appeal, with 100% of donated funds going directly to communities in need.
|
Event |
Date |
Teams |
Venue |
Time |
|
FV Community Shield (Men’s) |
Sat, Feb 8,2020 |
Hume City FC vs Bentleigh Greens SC |
City Vista Reserve, in City Vista Rd, Fraser Rise |
5.00pm |
|
NPL Rd 1 |
Thurs, Feb 13, 2020 |
Oakleigh Cannons FC vs Avondale FC
|
Jack Edwards Reserve, Edward Street, Oakleigh
|
7.45pm |
|
NPL Rd 1 |
Fri, Feb 14, 2020 |
South Melbourne FC vs Heidelberg United FC |
Lakeside Stadium, Albert Road Drive, Albert Park
|
7.30pm |
|
NPL Rd 1 |
Fri, Feb 14, 2020 |
Port Melbourne Sharks FC vs Melbourne Knights FC |
J L Murphy Reserve, Plummer Street, Port Melbourne
|
7.45pm |
|
NPL Rd 1 |
Sat, Feb 15, 2020 |
Dandenong Thunder FC vs Dandenong City SC |
George Andrews Reserve, Trewin Street, Dandenong South
|
7.00pm |
|
NPL Rd 1 |
Sat, Feb 15, 2020 |
Hume City FC vs Altona Magic SC |
ABD Stadium Broadmeadows Valley Park, Barry Road, Westmeadows |
8.00pm |
|
NPL Rd 1 |
Sun, Feb 16, 2020 |
Eastern Lions FC vs Bentleigh Greens FC |
Gardiners Creek Reserve, Sixth Avenue, Burwood
|
3.00pm |
|
NPL Rd 1 |
Sun, Feb 16, 2020 |
St Albans Saints SC vs Green Gully SC |
Churchill Reserve, Fox Street, St Albans
|
5.00pm |
|
FV Community Shield (Women’s) |
Weekend of March 15, 2020 |
Calder United vs FC Bulleen Lions |
City Vista Reserve, in City Vista Rd, Fraser Rise |
TBD |
Football Federation Australia (FFA) also announced it would dedicate the upcoming two Rounds of the Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League to acknowledge the disasters and raise much needed funds to assist those impacted.
In the meantime, FV encourages the Victorian football family to contribute to any of the recognised charity partners such as:
- Victorian Bushfire Appeal;
- Bushfire Disaster Appeal;
- Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Appeal; and
- Buy a Bale
If you have been affected by the bushfires and need support, please reach out to Lifeline. Support is available 24/7 on 13 11 14, or nightly via Lifeline Text. Lifeline Text is available 6pm - midnight (AEDT) on 0477 13 11 14. You are not alone. Bushfire Relief tool kits are also available at lifeline.org.au