A $660K win for local women’s football
Source: NEOS KOSMOS
Alamein FC and Ashburton United Soccer Club have secured $660,000 in federal and local funding to upgrade Dorothy Laver West Reserve, a key football ground for women and girls in the eastern suburbs.
The project that will feature a new electronic scoreboard (already fully funded by Bendigo Bank Ashburton), shaded seating, a video streaming platform, improved wheelchair access, safety upgrades and fencing enhancements.
Dorothy Laver West Reserve has been home to women’s football since 2018, shared by both clubs.
The funding will support more than 450 local female players, many of whom are from culturally diverse backgrounds, including Greek.
Helping lead the project is Alamein FC President Kathy Stamatopoulos.
“This grant is not just an investment in turf or scoreboards, it’s an investment in women and girls. It’s an acknowledgement that their sport matters. That they matter,” she told Neos Kosmos.
“At Alamein FC, we’ve always believed that football is more than a game. It’s a pathway to confidence, resilience, leadership and belonging. And when young women feel that their community believes in them enough to invest in where they train, where they play, and where they gather, that belief stays with them for life.”
She said that the funding means so much to not only the club, but herself personally.
“Some of my fondest childhood memories are of going with my father to watch soccer. It was our shared passion, and the start of a lifelong love for the game.”
“Years later, I experienced that same joy again watching my own daughter grow through football, from her first kicks to competing at the elite level.
“Football has been a constant across generations in my family, and I know that’s true for so many in our community. That’s why this project means so much.”
Stamatopoulos has been a driving force behind Alamein’s growth as one of Victoria’s only all-female National Premier League football clubs.
“This is also a proud moment for me as a Greek-Australian woman,” she added.
“The Greek community has a deep and rich history in Victorian football. Many of our great clubs were founded and nurtured by migrants — passionate, hard-working people who found meaning and connection through the beautiful game.
“I feel honoured to carry forward that legacy as the President of one of the few all-female NPL clubs in Victoria. And I feel an enormous responsibility to continue creating a space where our daughters — and their daughters — feel empowered, respected and supported in every aspect of the game.
“This grant allows us to do that.”
The grant will mean better infrastructure across the board, from grassroots to the elite, and off the field, allowing more girls to stay in the sport and potentially step into leadership positions.
“Together, we’re not just building a better facility — we’re building a stronger, more equitable future for women in sport.”
The original article: belongs to NEOS KOSMOS .
