Words: Staff Writers
Image: Chris Simpson

The Football Queensland Board has confirmed the number of participating clubs for the PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland 2016 Women’s season will increase to 12.

A board review determined the current 11 participants will all return for the next season, along with a full reinstatement of Redlands United following their withdrawal from the Women’s competition in 2015.

The decision was taken in the interest of continuing to promote elite development of female football from junior age groups through to the senior level.

Further specifics of divisional structures across the competition’s age groups will be considered in consultation with participating clubs and announced in the coming weeks.

The 2015 season marked the first year of senior women’s football under the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland structure, following on from the admission of junior girls divisions in the competition’s inaugural 2013 season.

Football Queensland Chief Operating Officer Graham Lee said the member federation is committed to providing a pathway for female football through to the Westfield W-League.

“Women’s and girls’ football remains a strong focus of the game at both the state and national level and the National Premier Leagues is a major part of that focus,” Mr Lee said.

“The high level of coaching and club administration requirements of the competition are laying a platform for the continued development of the women’s game in Queensland.”

“It is Football Queensland’s desire to see further growth in women’s football at the elite level, but also our responsibility to ensure that progress is sustainable in the long-term.”