During their captivating run in the women's FIFA World Cup last year, the whole country was talking about the Matildas. Now Football New South Wales says that passion is leading to more participation with a big jump in player registrations for soccer clubs this season.
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00:00 An unforgettable victory etched into the hearts and minds of millions of Australians.
00:07 The atmosphere was so intense and then everyone was just celebrating and it was so nice to
00:10 be around.
00:12 Inspired by the Matildas, high schoolers Lily Carter and Neve Lynch joined Maroubra Football
00:17 Club.
00:18 They made me want to play and just be like them.
00:21 And seeing the atmosphere of all the crowd, both men and women, just supporting one team
00:28 full of girls, I didn't think that was a thing until I saw them last year.
00:32 Football NSW says registrations are up by 25,000 compared to this time last year.
00:39 That includes a 23% jump in female players.
00:42 It's fantastic, I mean we talk about the Matildas effect but the Matilda effect has been a long
00:46 time coming.
00:47 I mean we're very, very proud of what they've exhibited.
00:50 I think any indication that kids are putting down playstations and phones and electronic
00:55 devices and getting out and playing team sport is fantastic.
00:59 Signing up new players is one thing but making sure they've got somewhere suitable to play
01:03 is another.
01:05 And while they won't all need amenities up to this standard, local clubs want grassroots
01:10 facilities to be improved.
01:12 We need to make sure that the pipeline is nurtured, that the next group of girls coming
01:15 through, the future Matildas, are motivated, encouraged and ease of access to facilities
01:20 will allow that to happen.
01:21 And with just four months until the Matildas play in Paris, there's never been a better
01:26 time to get the ball rolling.
01:28 - Thank you, sir.
01:29 [BLANK_AUDIO]