Football Queensland (FQ) would like to thank the five Queensland clubs that applied for a National Premier Leagues Women’s (NPLW) licence for the 2020 season.
Following a comprehensive review, audit and assessment of submissions, the FQ Board has made the decision to delay expansion of the NPLW competition until the 2021 season.
Forming part of the ongoing NPLW review, FQ introduced additional criteria which was fundamental to the issuing of any new licences. ‘For the Good of the Girls Game’ criteria requires clubs to address important requirements that demonstrate how they will significantly contribute to the improved success and growth of the women’s game.
The five clubs that applied for a licence have raised the bar, demonstrating their genuine commitment to better the technical standard and quality of women’s football.
FQ will now seek to work closely with those five clubs over the next 12 months to help ensure they are well positioned to be successful in their bid to join a revitalised and renewed competition in 2021.
FQ will also now continue with its comprehensive review of the NPLW competition as a whole and work with the existing licence holders to ensure they are delivering excellence on and off the field in advancing the women’s game.
The comprehensive review process will begin immediately, with the terms of reference of the already established Technical Working Group expanded to include elements of the NPLW review.
The revised terms will be presented at the next Technical Working Group meeting and once approved, the group will develop a consultation plan to directly engage all current NPLW clubs, the five recent NPLW applicants and other stakeholder groups.