A host of former Matildas, current Westfield W-League players and Foxtel National Youth League players are set to compete at the Big Issue Street Football Festival in Sydney.
It will be a special event in more ways than one when a host of former Matildas, current Westfield W-League players and Foxtel National Youth League players compete at the Big Issue Street Football Festival in Sydney.
A specially designed floating football pitch at Darling Harbour will be the unique location today for the event.
The men-s competition will be held between 3pm and 5pm, and will feature Foxtel National Youth League teams representing Central Coast Mariners, Melbourne Heart, Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers.
Football Federation Australia Chief Executive David Gallop will be on hand for the medal presentation.
The women-s competition will be held between 5.30pm and 7pm, and includes teams representing Newcastle Jets, Sydney FC and Marconi Stallions.
Completing the field will be the Former Matildas; a team of former national team players including Sarah Walsh, Di Alagich, recent FFA Hall of Fame inductee Sunni Hughes and the legendary Julie Murray.
The competition is run by The Big Issue Australia, an independent organisation that develops and operates a number of social enterprises providing opportunities for homeless and marginalised people to positively change their lives. Their highest profile activity is the Big Issue magazine.
As Australia-s largest free community football event, the festival is promoting social inclusion and celebrates the life-changing power of sport.
The fourth annual festival includes competitions for corporate and government agency teams, junior players and participants from The Big Issue-s Community Street Soccer Program, which brings together disadvantaged men and women from around the country.
A-League Youth Challenge Tournament
Teams: Central Coast Mariners, Melbourne Heart, Sydney FC, Western Sydney Wanderers
Round Matches: 3pm – 4.30pm
Finals: 4.35pm – 5pm
Trophy/medal presentations: 5.05pm – 5.15pm
Women-s Challenge Tournament
Teams: Sydney FC, Newcastle Jets, Marconi Stallions FC, Former Matildas
Round Matches: 5.30pm – 7pm
Finals: 7.05pm – 7.30pm
Trophy/medal presentations: 7.35pm – 7.45pm