A-Leagues launch new digital hub for football

The Australian Professional Leagues (APL), the entity charged with growing the professional football leagues in Australia, has unveiled its unique digital platform KEEPUP in an effort to unite football fans on and off the pitch.

Featuring football content from around the world, the platform aims to broaden and enhance the fan experience by connecting A-Leagues fans and international competition fans in one place.

The KEEPUP digital platform and data infrastructure, which launched today, represents a major investment in football in Australia. It is currently available as a website or app on both IOS and Android.

In its current form, the platform will focus on creating and curating content to bring fans close to the game however they choose, with significant expansion planned into the future.

KEEPUP will feature compelling content from the best of the A-Leagues, European and world football, the Socceroos and Matildas, NPL, and FFA Cup. A-League clubs’ content hubs will also be integrated onto the platform to ensure fans are offered the most comprehensive football resource available in Australia.

“KEEPUP is a football platform, built by football people for football fans and which delivers a unique experience and provides a central source of news and features to unite the currently fragmented football market. Our digital-first strategy creates the opportunity for our fans to experience what’s happening in the world of football, both on and off the pitch,” said Ant Hearne, Chief Commercial Officer, APL.

KEEPUP will continue to evolve through the season as it adds layers of dedicated coverage, augmented by significant tie-ups with domestic and international content providers.

KEEPUP has already assembled an unprecedented array of voices to tell unique and powerful stories about football in Australia and around the world. The site and app will provide insights, in-depth features and analysis on games, transfer news, as well as stories on culture and football identities from a team of football journalists on staff led by Richard Bayliss, Director of Content.

APL will also feature commentary from some of Australia’s football elite including Premier League great Mark Bosnich, Matildas legend Melissa Barbieri and Socceroos captain Matt Leckie.

“And this is just the beginning. We have a bold plan to evolve KEEPUP into an unparalleled global digital hub, expanding functionality beyond a content base to include gamification, e-Commerce, ticketing, second screen live stadium experiences and loyalty programs,” continued Hearne.

Future phases of development also include engagement with Australian grassroots football players via digital products and services designed to improve their football experience, to ensure every fan can enjoy the football in the way they choose.

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Football Australia appoint Heather Garriock as Interim CEO

Football Australia has announced the appointment of Heather Garriock as Interim Chief Executive Officer, following James Johnson’s resignation

This appointment is a landmark moment for Football Australia, with Ms Garriock becoming the first woman ever to lead the organisation.

As the most popular sport in both Australia and the world, this marks a significant turning point in the history of Australian sport.

A former Matilda, Olympian, and accomplished sports administrator, Ms Garriock brings a wealth of experience to the role.

She has previously led Australian Taekwondo as CEO, has been a member of the Football Australia Board since 2021, and currently sits on the Asian Football Confederation’s Technical Committee.

Ms Garriock also had an exceptional playing career. She represented the Matildas in three FIFA Women’s World Cups, three AFC Women’s Asian Cups, and two Olympic Games.

In recognition of her remarkable contribution to the sport, she was inducted into the Football Australia Hall of Fame in 2021.

As part of standard governance procedures, Ms Garriock officially stepped down from her position on the Football Australia Board yesterday.

Ms Garriock expressed her honour in taking on the role, highlighting her commitment to inclusive leadership, key strategic goals, and drawing on her lifelong experience in football to guide the game’s future at the highest level.

“I’m honoured to step into this role at such a pivotal time for football in Australia,” Garriock said in a press release.

“My focus will be on strong, collaborative and inclusive leadership as we work to deliver on key priorities — from Socceroos World Cup qualification and the appointment of a new Matildas coach, to the delivery of major tournaments and the continued development of our digital platform, PlayFootball.

“I have spent a lifetime in football and have literally played every position in football both on and off their field.

“This experience provides me with the unique ability to bring all perspectives of our game to the highest levels of decision making and build on the great work of James Johnson.”

She will now take on the role of Interim CEO while the Board undertakes both a local and international search for a permanent Chief Executive Officer.

KAM Melbourne to acquire majority stake in Western United FC

KAM Melbourne has confirmed its agreement to acquire a majority stake in the Western United Football Club and its parent company Western Melbourne Group.

Since launching in 2018, Western United Football Club (WUFC) has quickly made its mark on the pitch.

In 2019, Western Melbourne Group (WMG) and its group of investors set out with a bold vision: to create a vibrant, sports-led hub blending retail, residential living, and football in Melbourne’s west.

Their 62.5-hectare site in Tarneit, 25 kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD is at the heart of a groundbreaking public-private partnership with Wyndham City Council, focused on building world-class sports infrastructure.

At the core of this development will be a purpose-built football stadium and a home for an elite professional club.

KAM Melbourne, part of KAM Sports, brings specialist knowledge and will work alongside WMG’s partners and stakeholders to bring this vision to life.

The company is headed by Chairman and co-founder Maciek (MG) Kaminski, and CEO and co-founder Mikhail Kaminski.

With a strong background in managing large-scale residential and commercial projects in the US and Europe, the team brings deep expertise in investment, development, and project structuring.

Looking ahead, WUFC will be part of a broader, international multi-club strategy focused on football development. The goal is to create elite-level opportunities and pathways for Australian talent.

With over 40 years’ experience in both public and private real estate sectors, the Kaminski family is well-placed to lead this ambitious project.

For them, combining their global property development experience with football club ownership has been a long-held dream—and WUFC, along with the larger WMG project, offers the perfect way to make that dream a reality in Australia.

Chairman of Western Melbourne Group Jason Sourasis expressed his excitement ahead of the acquisition.

We are thrilled by the significant investment and commitment from KAM Melbourne,” Mr Sourasis said in a press release.

“It was important to partner with a group that aligned with our values and believed in the vision.

It has been an intensive 12-month due diligence process, in which KAM Melbourne took the time to truly understand our vision and the role it will play in shaping the needs of a fast-growing community.”

The deal is still pending and will go ahead once it receives the required approvals from Wyndham City, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL), and Football Australia (FA).

Western United and the Western Melbourne Group will provide further comments once the necessary regulatory approves have been finalised.

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