FEMALE footballers at Seaford Football Netball Club have been left devastated by the club’s decision to axe its senior women’s sides just days out from the start of the season.
On 30 March, players were informed that the club’s women’s teams would not compete in 2025. The shock decision comes off the back of a successful 2024 season on-field for Seaford FNC’s women – the division one side made finals and the division three side finished runners up.
An ex-player at the football club, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the two senior women’s coaches had exited at the end of 2024 and the situation was not resolved. Players soon began to leave for other clubs. “No effort was made by the president to help the remaining women with recruitment. It was communicated there would only be one team, Division One. With that a lot of the reserves team felt like they didn’t belong to the community team,” she said.
“On 30 March at the Seaford FNC season launch it was announced that there wouldn’t be any women’s football team for 2025. Reasoning for the fold was due to lack of numbers for a competitive Division One side. “No attempt was made with the MPFNL to ask for help. The club has gone from fielding two sides in 2024, approximately 67 women across the season, to nothing for 2025.”
Seaford FNC’s home ground, RF Miles Reserve, received a $9 million upgrade in 2021. A new pavilion was constructed, with money for the project coming from all three levels of government. The former Seaford FNC player said “while there are now female-friendly facilities, there was no longer a culture that supported women”.
“None of the women who played football at the Seaford FNC are paid players. While the men’s team are paid individually different amounts each game.”
Seaford FNC was contacted for comment.
First published in the Frankston Times – 8 April 2025