Growth of more than 800 new players over the past year has helped cement football as the largest participator sport in the Illawarra.

In 2014, there are more than 12,000 players currently registered in Football South Coast competitions, and many hundreds more social players.

Football South Coast Chief Executive Officer Ann-Marie Balliana said there had been significant growth in the  sport of football over recent years with the strongest growth in the past 12 months. This was especially so with junior players," Mrs Balliana said.

"Overall an additional 800 players are playing our beautiful game compared to this time last year and it’s important we recognise the great jobs our volunteers being our club committee’s and coaches put into our sport," she said.

"In particular there has been growth in our junior female players and across all competitions more than 2600 females are now playing the World Game."

Mrs Balliana said the previous 12 months (2012 to 2013) had seen growth of almost 400 registrations, so to more than double that in the last year had been an outstanding achievement.

"The Football South Coast Board is extremely pleased to see such growth in our sport," Mrs Balliana said.

"It truly is a reflection of some exciting times ahead for football especially so with the World Cup this year and the Asian Cup and Women’s World Cup in 2015.

"The Board believes this growth will only continue with the increasing profile of football."

Mrs Balliana's comments are echoed by FSC Chairman Eddy De Gabriele who says football is a sport for all and this is reflected in some of the initiatives by FSC over the last six months. 

‘Football is a great and safe sport for everyone, regardless of age or ability and Football South Coast has certainly broadened the sport to include all members of our community.  The FSC Knights program and our Women’s Futsal Program are certainly great examples of this. Football Unification has been a highly successful and inclusive program for our communities, our region and our Sport’. 

Another great innovation is that Football South Coast has commenced working with the Multicultural Communities Council of the Illawarra to implement football program for refugees, Mr De Gabriele said.

"With the World Cup, Asian Cup and some great growth in our A-League and W-League – football just keeps getting stronger and stronger.  Truly the World Game – truly the Beautiful Game for everyone," he said.