The headlines in Canberra’s media earlier this week all sang the same song.
“Canberra United has been saved,” it read.
But did you really get it?
For months, the future of Canberra’s beloved – and only – professional football club was in serious doubt after its governing body said it did not have enough money to field a team next season.
That was until the ACT government provided an extra amount one-time payment of $200,000 to Capital Football to keep the team alive for season 17.
The announcement was welcomed with open arms, but for many it raises more questions than it answers.
How does this funding compare to other Canberra clubs?
This additional payment brings Capital Football’s total government funding to $420,000 for 2024 alone.
Next year, and hopefully Capital Football will not find itself in such dire financial straits, funding will likely return to its original level of $250,000 until the current deal ends at the end of the 2025/26 season.
It should be kept in mind that just under a year ago, funding was half as much.
Minister Yvette Berry last week offered Canberra United a one-off financial lifeline. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore)
When you compare it to Canberra’s other major sporting teams like the Raiders, Brumbies and even the adopted Greater Western Sydney (GWS) Giants, the disparity is clear.
Let’s start with Canberra’s most popular professional club: the Raiders.
The ACT government gives the Raiders $2.6 million a year for the NRL and NRLW teams.
It’s unclear how much of that money is going to the women’s team alone, but when it was announced they would join the competition in 2023, the government increased funding by $300,000.
Then there are the ACT Brumbies, who also have a men’s team and a women’s team.
In 2022, the government announced it would invest $1.78 million per season in the Brumbies to help ensure their long-term sustainability.
Perhaps the most surprising figures come from the amount of public money spent on the GWS Giants AFL club, which – as the name suggests – is in western Sydney.
Two years ago, the Giants signed a 10-year, $28.5 million partnership with the ACT government to stage at least three men’s and two women’s AFL games at Manuka Oval each year.
That’s a whopping $2.58 million per season, just $2.33 million more than the average funding of Canberra United and Canberra Capitals.
This season, Canberra United and Canberra Capitals played 10 home games, worth $25,000 each.
“Inequality” in funding for women’s sport
Asked how it compared to other sporting codes in Canberra, ACT Sports Minister Yvette Berry said there was still much to be done.
“For over 40 years, men’s sport has been funded more than women’s sport, so there is a significant gap that we need to reduce,” said Minister Berry.
“There is a huge inequality gap there that we need to close, which is why we are starting with the Canberra United team now.
“There is still work to be done, I don’t want to say that we have done enough.”
So why didn’t the government propose a higher figure?
“Capital Football wrote to us and said they needed $200,000, so that’s what we offered,” Ms Berry said.
“We don’t throw money around randomly.
“Canberra United players’ wages and conditions are currently capped. Paying them money they don’t need would not deliver the results we want.”
Former Matilda player Sue Read said the struggle to fund the club reminded her of the early days of women’s football. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore)
Sue Read is a former Matilda member and founder of the group Save Canberra United, raising more than $77,000 for the club.
She saw similarities to when she was raising money for the Matildas, just so they could play.
“When I was playing we were selling raffle tickets and chocolates and I feel like we’re doing the same thing,” Ms Read said.
“I feel like it was good training for what we still do today.”
What is the future?
Although the extra funding allowed the team to remain on the football pitch next season, Capital Football’s financial woes were far from over.
CEO Samantha Farrow said the organization is still $200,000 short and current funds will only cover the essential needs of the team’s operations.
“What I’m trying to do is we can implement some new ideas around changes to sponsorship packages, some additional membership options, this new jersey that we’re excited to bring out,” Ms Farrow said.
“We hope this will help to close the gap.”
Samantha Farrow said there was still much work to be done to ensure Canberra United’s long-term certainty. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore)
Of course, the other option – besides selling T-shirts – would be to create a men’s A-League team, which would provide financial support to the women’s team.
But Farrow said she was unsure of the status of that offer.
“I hope it happens again… I hope that for the 25/26 season there will be a more professional and better suited team to lead Canberra United into the future,” Ms Farrow said.
“It’s difficult because we are not part of the application, so we are not aware of everything.”
The bare bones budget included the minimum salary cap of $500,000 for the the entire team, which is about $25,000 per player per season.
Other, more financially stable A-League women’s teams could pay their players up to $600,000.
Star striker Michelle Heyman has remained loyal to Canberra United amid offers from rival clubs. (Getty Images: Matt Blyth)
For that reason, current Canberra United stars – like Michelle Heyman – would seriously consider the multitude of offers she has received from teams not just in Australia but around the world.
That’s fair enough, given Heyman’s recent form for the Matildas and that the 35-year-old could be near the end of her career.
Meanwhile, other rising stars – such as the three Canberra United players in the young Matilda squad – could look to sign multi-year deals elsewhere.
So we expect our girls in green to qualify for the final, which is a tough task for a team that runs on the smell of an oily rag.
