Westfield Matildas help launch The Big Issue Street Football Festival

A team including Westfield Matildas stars and captained by ABC Radio favourite Adam Spencer will help launch The Big Issue Street Football Festival tomorrow (Friday 18 January) in Sydney.

A team including Westfield Matildas stars and captained by ABC Radio favourite Adam Spencer will help launch The Big Issue Street Football Festival tomorrow (Friday 18 January) in Sydney.

More than 1,000 football enthusiasts from all walks of life will take part in the third annual festival from 18-28 January, playing on a purpose-built floating pitch at Cockle Bay in Darling Harbour.

FFA CEO David Gallop has praised the format of the festival, which will bring together elite players with those who are turning their lives around through the game.

“FFA is a great advocate and community partner of The Big Issue-s Street Soccer program because we can see the difference playing football makes to people,” Gallop said.

“This festival showcases football-s enduring strength as an inclusive and accessible sport for all.

“I-m delighted that our Hyundai A-League Clubs and the AIS have arranged an inaugural National Youth League tournament to be part of the festival for the first time.”

Recently retired national team legends Sarah Walsh and Thea Slatyer will lead a team including current Westfield Matildas star Servet Uzunlar.

“I-m really excited to be involved with The Big Issue Street Football Festival and look forward to getting out on the floating pitch to help launch what will no doubt be an excellent 11-day festival,” Walsh said.

“The Street Football Festival is a fantastic initiative and brings together disadvantaged men and women from all around the country; once again proving football-s power to unite people from all walks of life.”

The 11-day festival includes competitions for junior players, corporate and government agency teams, players from The Big Issue-s Community Street Soccer program and for the first time will include players from the Australian Institute of Sport, Brisbane Roar, Sydney FC, Western Sydney Wanderers, Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Heart National Youth League teams.

The festival is run by The Big Issue, a not-for-profit organisation that tackles homelessness through initiatives including a street magazine and a soccer program for disadvantaged men and women.

Launch Tournament

Date: Friday, 18 January Time: 8.15am - Festival launch 8.30-11am - Four teams take part in a round-robin tournament Location: Cockle Bay, in front of Palm Grove, adjacent to the Sydney Convention Centre