A new home for football will be delivered in Brisbane’s north under a landmark agreement between the Schrinner Council and Football Queensland.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner today announced Football Queensland had been awarded the tender to lease the $35 million transformed Nudgee Recreation Reserve.

With the vision to expand football in Brisbane, the peak body in Queensland will work with Council to deliver state-of-the-art playing fields, a clubhouse, and community spaces.

This investment will support further growth of the recently launched Girls United social league and the highly popular multicultural Q-League, seeing even more players take to the field in Brisbane.

Cr Schrinner said football is experiencing an incredible take-up, particularly among women and girls, and the new headquarters will help meet demand for additional playing fields.

“Brisbane is the fastest growing capital city in Australia and it’s important that we continue to deliver the facilities our residents need to stay active and play their favourite sports,” he said.

“The incredible efforts of our Matildas and the huge crowds during the Women’s World Cup show this facility is being delivered right in time to meet the booming participation in football by women and girls.

“After attending the World Cup and watching my son play each weekend, I’m proud our Council team is playing a role in helping Football Queensland grow the game in Brisbane with this great new sport and recreation facility on the north side.”

Football Queensland CEO Robert Cavallucci said the Nudgee facility would build vital capacity for the game as Brisbane’s and the state’s largest participation sport continues its rapid growth.

“Today’s announcement will help meet the existing pressures and demands of the 40,000 strong club-based participants in Brisbane LGA and further support the delivery of community, development, and female football programs to the more than 35,000 social players in Brisbane as part of a Metro North Football hub,” Mr. Cavallucci said.

“Enabling infrastructure projects like this are key to delivering opportunities for the thousands of boys and girls who are being turned away by local clubs every season due to a lack of infrastructure to service the current demands of our ever growing game.

“I’d like to commend Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and recognise the great work of the Brisbane City Council for acknowledging this and delivering such a critical boost to the community. Football Queensland will create more places for the local community to play football and deliver more programs to improve the football experience for participants of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

“The success of the biggest ever FIFA Women’s World Cup™ currently happening in our own backyard is a reflection that Brisbane is a football city, with a huge appetite for the beautiful game.

“With the CommBank Matildas inspiring a new generation of young male and female footballers, infrastructure like this facility will ensure we can serve the next generation by meeting the infrastructure needs of today.”

Council has overseen the transformation of the former landfill site since community consultation began late 2018.

Councillor for Northgate Adam Allan said local residents will also have access to a significant range of other facilities at the reserve.

“The Reserve will feature fantastic amenities to cater to a number of other sports and recreational activities, with a playground, dog off leash area, barbecues, and fitness equipment,” he said.

“Residents have been keen to tell us what they want at the reserve and I’m confident the reserve will have something for everyone.”

For more details about the Nudgee Recreation Reserve, visit Council’s website.