Whangārei’s Hannah Wilkinson celebrates after scoring the Football Ferns' first goal during the Fifa Women's World Cup last year. Photo / NZME
Whangārei’s Hannah Wilkinson celebrates after scoring the Football Ferns' first goal during the Fifa Women's World Cup last year. Photo / NZME
The 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup brought some terrific football to the country, and now it’s leaving a lasting legacy with Fifa giving 250,000 to New Zealand football clubs to help grow the game further.
In Northland, Kamo FC was the only recipient of the funding, getting US$3407(about $5790) to help grow the game from the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup Club Benefits Programme from the global competition, which was held in New Zealand and Australia.
The club is where Football Fern legend Hannah Wilkinson started her footballing journey and she scored the team’s goal in the match against European powerhouse Norway at Eden Park in the first game of the World Cup. It was the Football Ferns’ first win at a World Cup.
Kamo FC board member Brad Flower said the club was delighted to receive the funding, and while it had yet to decide where it would be used, it was committed to growing the women’s game and would probably put it towards that direction.
“But as a club we are just so proud and honoured to have had Hannah in the Ferns and her starting her football here being coached by her dad [Simon]. What Hannah has achieved for New Zealand Football is what we are so proud of, and her starting that journey here is a big honour for the club.”
Jennie Cross played with Hannah Wilkinson who scored the Football Ferns’ only and winning goal against Norway in the Fifa Women's World Cup in NZ last year. Kamo FC, where Wilkinson started her footballing journey, has her World Cup shirt as pride of place at its clubrooms.
“We’ve already got the [Fifa] money, but we haven’t sat down yet and decided what to do with it. But we’re very hot on growing the female participation in football, so that’s where it’s most likely to go.”
Clubs in Australia and New Zealand are being rewarded for player development from the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup Club Benefits Programme.
Professional and grassroots clubs in both nations enjoyed a financial windfall with this week’s announcement of the recipients. Introduced for the 2019 edition of the tournament, the programme rewards eligible clubs for their role in developing players selected for the Fifa Women’s World Cup.
Over 80 clubs representing a wide area of Australia and New Zealand have received funds through their respective national associations.
The payouts are part of the US$11.3 million Fifa has paid out to 1041 clubs in 42 member associations, investing the proceeds from the Fifa Women’s World Cup back into the local game.
