As we celebrate Female Football Week, Football Queensland has launched the Women’s Football Champions initiative to shine a light on the unsung community heroes who have gone above and beyond for women and girls in our game.

Regardless of age, gender or location, the Women’s Football Champions are all recognised as doing great things to support, develop and deliver opportunities for women and girls within our state’s footballing family.

Each chosen individual is being profiled on Football Queensland’s website and social media channels, and will be invited to attend a special event in relation to the centenary season of women’s football in Queensland.

The first of our Women’s Football Champions is Teresa Littlemore from Parkside United Junior Football Club in North West Queensland.

Josh Littlemore, Teresa’s husband, nominated her in recognition of her tireless efforts to improve the club.

“When we came into the club, our junior club, it was really struggling,” Josh said.

“We had low numbers. Without the contributions from her and a few other people, there might not be a club around now.

“Teresa has been in almost every position at our junior club – secretary, treasurer, registrar, team manager, assistant coach, groundsperson, fundraiser.

“She has helped grow our club when it was close to folding, to now have 160 members. Teresa also is one of the first to help out at the zone as a volunteer canteen convenor, arriving on a Saturday at 7:00am and leaving after 10:00pm. She has been a rep team manager and assistant coach, right down to washing the playing strips every weekend.

“She has helped nurture girls through our club system and we are proud to have the largest female membership at a junior club in North West Queensland.

“Everyone seems to love Teresa and love having her in and around the club.”

Teresa and Josh’s son, aged 14, and daughter, aged 11, both play at Parkside United, and Teresa said developing opportunities for girls has been a “big time” passion in her many and varied roles at the club.

“It’s been a few years. Josh started coaching when my son was in Under 8s and we jumped on the committee after that. We’ve been building from there, doing a little bit of everything,” Teresa said.

“My daughter plays as well and we have a couple of female coaches in that age level, so I help them out where needed.

“She’s pushing me to be more involved as well. She wants me to play this year because I was playing futsal over the break, so she’s determined that I’m going to be playing this year. I don’t quite have the skill level the other ladies do!

“Our club has the most girls of any of the clubs in town, so to see all the girls getting involved is really good.

“I like to see girls getting involved and hustling the boys a bit.”

Visit the Female Football Week page to read more about how FQ is celebrating in 2021 and to see a list of upcoming events.