Gungahlin United Football Club’s debt exceeds $550,000 as closure leaves families ‘totally blindsided’

Four times a week during the football season, Marita Fuhrer would take her family in her car and make the round trip from Braidwood to Canberra, which took more than two hours.

His four boys – six-year-old twins and 10-year-old twins – were all part of Gungahlin United Football Club (GUFC).

“We have a great, close-knit team,” she said.

“It’s a family we’ve built.”

But the boys will not see their teammates again next season, after GUFC announced on October 18 that it was $200,000 in debt and would close its doors.leaving more than 2,000 players without a club.

The club did not receive a 2026 license to play in the National Premier League (NPL) from Capital Football, which they said meant it was “neither feasible nor reasonable for the community arm of the club” to continue normal operations.

Two days later, a statement on social media indicated that the club’s estimated debt was actually more than double the initial figure.

“Since the publication of the club’s press release, other creditors have been identified,” said the October 20 press release.

For the Führer family, the news was “such a shock”.

“We had absolutely no idea. Totally blinded,” Ms Führer said.

“It was an incredible source of community spirit and a meeting place that has now disappeared.

A “tidal wave” of players without a club

Ms. Fuhrer had already paid an $800 deposit for her two older boys to participate in the NPL pathway program, which funnels players to the highest level league.

“We just assume we’ll never get this back,” she said.

It might be difficult for former GUFC players to join other clubs who are already halfway through the tryout process for top teams.

Ms Fuhrer has sent expressions of interest to other clubs in the area, but acknowledges she is now part of a “tidal wave” of demand hitting every other club in the competition.

“They are like family and they played so well together and they were so strong,” Ms Fuhrer said.

The latest statement from GUFC says they understand the impact of the news on players and their families, and are working to provide “program refunds to players.”

The club also refuted claims it allowed registrations despite knowing its NPL license was being revoked.

“It has been reported that GUFC continued to accept deposits while it planned to enter administration. This is not accurate,” the statement said.

“We remain committed to providing accurate and timely updates as more information becomes available.”

“We will find more grass if necessary”

For now, the closure of the GUFC means Gungahlin – one of the fastest growing regions in the ACT – is left without a football club.

Fifteen minutes’ drive from the GUFC club, Belnorth Football Club president Ruth Parker is setting up the nets ahead of evening matches.

The club already has 1,600 players and Ms Parker expects hundreds more to sign up with GUFC.

“It’s quite sad that a lot of families don’t have a place to play football,” she said.

Ms Parker is happy to be working with other clubs to ensure children can continue to play football with their friends, but she acknowledged there were challenges: resources, people, the number of volunteers and the fact that many teams were halfway through their trial process.

“I won’t be surprised if 2026 is pretty disruptive for everyone,” she said.

“There are a lot of parents and volunteers who I’m sure would like to step up to help in some way, to keep their community on the ground. We just have to figure out how that’s going to happen.”

One potential problem is simply space requirements.

“We’re being very creative in using every inch of turf we have to fit in as many teams as possible,” she said.