The Melton Phoenix Football Club is one of many soccer clubs across the state to record a boom in female participation.
Following the Matildas’ historic run at last year’s Women’s World Cup, new data from Football Victoria has found the state is on track to have the most women and girls registered to play the sport since records began.
Phoenix president Michelle Williamson said she had seen first-hand how the female program had grown over the last year.
“It’s true, we’ve got two senior women’s teams for the first time,” she said.
“It’s through all of the recent promotion; the Tillies have really driven this.
“It’s a really strong female program at the club.”
Now 30 per cent of the club’s registrations are females and the club has achieved gender parity on its committee.
Ms Williamson has seen the growing acceptance and popularity of the women’s game grow over several decades.
She first started playing for the club in 1987 as a 10-year-old.
After playing two seasons with the junior boys, it was regulation at that time girls aged 12 and over must play in the women’s competition.
Ms Williamson said she was often playing in teams as a 12-year-old where she was up against women in their 40s.
Now, the club has girls programs from all age groups from under-7s to under-15s.
“To see the programs we have now for girls to go right through, it’s very pleasing,” she said.
Ms Williamson said the entire club had also been deeply invested in the Matildas’ semi-final run at the World Cup.
“It was amazing, I played for Victoria when I was younger, but back then you had to pave your own way,” she said.
“Now it’s like everyone has the same opportunities as the girls.
“Melton has always been a female friendly club, but the Tillies have helped even more.”
