Football
23 August, 2025
Futsal competitions to start in Horsham
Kelly Sports Bendigo is partnering with Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly (WRSA) and Horsham Falcons soccer club to launch a summer futsal competition in Horsham.
The competition will provide an opportunity for people to try futsal, and the partnership with the WRSA and schools aims to offer opportunities for multicultural and disadvantaged participants.
Competition will start in October and run through to March, taking place at Holy Trinity Lutheran and Horsham Primary School stadiums.
Beau Cross, owner and manager of Kelly Sports Bendigo, said the competition was an ideal opportunity for both children and adults, with the possibility of boosting soccer participation in the winter months.
“Traditionally, our programs are very introductory-based,” Cross said.
“It naturally provides a pathway for kids to join soccer clubs and, hopefully, at the end of summer, if kids haven’t found another sport or have grown a passion for the game, we want them to go and play with the Horsham soccer club.
Paul Barnett, president of the Horsham and District Soccer Club, otherwise known as the Falcons, said it would raise exposure for the club.
“This partnership is massive for the club,” Barnett said.
“A lot of people still don't know we exist so it will be nice to get the word out there.”
Kelly Sport Bendigo’s partnership with WRSA will include scholarships and funded participation to limit the challenges faced by disadvantaged children and people from multicultural communities.
“We are working in conjunction with WRSA to deliver a lot of community-based programs, with futsal being one, and Tony (Caccaviello) has been fantastic in supporting all these initiatives and how we want to promote opportunities for disadvantaged children who probably wouldn't generally have the opportunity to play community sports,” Cross said.
“With the cost of living and with the community becoming probably more multicultural over time, providing more opportunities for kids to be able to get involved is important.”
Caccaviello, executive officer of WRSA, acknowledged that boosting participation across different communities would help with the growth of futsal and soccer in the Wimmera.
“It's a great chance to get more people more active and we’re very keen to remove any of those barriers that might exist to people, whether that might be financial or it might be awareness of the program,” Caccaviello said.
“We’re very keen to link with multicultural communities and community groups and make sure there is access and representation, allowing them to participate in soccer or futsal.
“There’s not an offering for futsal at the moment, and if we can expand that, create interest for soccer and increase participants, it means greater things for the Wimmera.”
The competition allows people of various ages to participate, including under 6s, 8s, 10s, 12s, 14s, 16s and 18s and a mixed senior competition.
Interested players or teams can sign up via https://www.kellysports.com.au/bendigo.
As an extra incentive, Kelly Sports Bendigo is offering a 40 per cent New Balance discount card when people sign up.
Additionally, the sporting group is offering a club incentive where sporting clubs can receive a $300 equipment voucher if they sign up a team that is linked with the relevant club.