Jamie Harnwell: The Matildas’ impact has been immense but WA’s grassroots need tending

Has there ever been a sporting month like it in Australia? The FIFA Women’s World Cup delivered all that was promised, and more.

Firstly, congratulations to Spain, who came good when it mattered most. Some of their football in the final, especially in the first half, was the best of the tournament and fitting of the showpiece occasion.

Sadly, the CommBank Matildas were not able to claim the ultimate prize. What they did do, however, was build a bond with the nation, with the quarter-final against France and last Wednesday’s clash against England unmissable occasions.

And though the disappointment of defeat in the semi-final stung, there were no recriminations. Instead, the feeling of sadness was quickly replaced by a sense of pride and joy at what we had all been a part of.

As one young woman in Albany told reporters: “I’ve been playing soccer for most of my life so for me, having women on the screen that are playing, and playing well, and are supported by the whole nation, that’s pretty special, that doesn’t just happen.”

It doesn’t happen. Or it didn’t. Now, as the record TV audiences and packed stadia bore out, the whole country knows who the Matildas are. And not only Sam Kerr.

We are lucky in WA that we don’t have to wait long to get another taste of ‘Matildas Mania’. In two months’ time, fans will have the chance to cheer on Kerr, Mary Fowler, Hayley Raso and Cortnee Vine when they come to HBF Park for three Olympic Qualifiers against Iran, the Philippines and Chinese Taipei.

All released tickets have been snapped up and we know from the five World Cup ties played in Perth that the atmosphere will be electric. It would be a real surprise if the team does not pick up maximum points on their way to Paris 2024.

These players are torchbearers, taking the women’s game to places unseen in Australia. Yet they cannot do it alone. What we as a sport must do next is ensure their heroics are one glorious chapter in an ongoing journey.

That means attracting investment, both public and private. It is no secret that our sport has been underfunded, something Kerr addressed in her post-match comments following the loss to England. “We need funding in our development, we need funding in our grassroots. We need funding everywhere,” the Matildas captain said, adding: “The legacy is what you do off the pitch.”

While the construction of the State Football Centre is timely, Kerr’s words were in keeping with Football West’s 2022 Statewide facilities audit, which found that over 60 per cent of clubs lacked proper female-friendly facilities. Grassroots infrastructure is key if we are to help youngsters develop an affinity and love for the game.

The State Government’s announcement that they will double the KidSport voucher for eligible WA families is wonderful news for families struggling with the rising costs of living. The cost of fees, uniforms and sporting equipment can be a significant barrier to participation for some children, and this extra cash boost for families is well timed and targeted.

Giving more female coaches the opportunity to excel is another focus area for Football Australia and Football West. Sarina Wiegman has led England and her native Netherlands to the past two Women’s World Cup finals and has been spoken of as a possible successor to Gareth Southgate as the England men’s manager. But she was still in the minority - 20 of the 32 teams at this year’s tournament had male coaches, including seven of the eight quarter-finalists.

With that in mind, I would like to congratulate West Australian Tanya Oxtoby, a previous member of the Football West Game Development Committee who has been appointed the national team coach of Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, a welcome challenge facing football is to meet demand. Already the highest participation team sport in Australia, it is exciting to hear that clubs in WA are fielding calls from parents about getting their children involved for next season.

We may be biased but this past year has shown that the Matildas and the Socceroos have a pull that no other Australian national team can match. It is something everyone involved in our game should be immensely proud of.

Jamie Harnwell is the chief executive of Football West