Junior Soccer - 2025 Devonport Cup
Hon. Mike Gaffney MLC
Member for Mersey
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23 September 2025
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Mr GAFFNEY (Mersey) - Mr President, this morning I would like to focus on all things football in my electorate of Mersey. By football, in this instance, I mean soccer.
On Saturday night I attended the Devonport City Strikers' annual presentation dinner. As patron of the club, it was wonderful to see that the Strikers won the McDonald's Women's Super League (WSL) and the Men's Under 21s for the second year running.
I was also delighted to report that the Devonport Strikers' multimillion-dollar, 700-seat grandstand redevelopment on Valley Road is complete and is in use. The outstanding new facilities include two A-League-standard change rooms, medical and physio rooms, function amenities, and a gymnasium, to name just a few improvements.
I am aware that the Valley Road redevelopment is just the start of the Strikers' bold vision to turn the facility into a state-of-the-art sporting centre capable of hosting A-League matches. Indeed, in Football Tasmania's 2025 policy proposals to government, Football Tasmania's CEO, Tony Pignata, states:
Tasmania's rising football participation demands better infrastructure. Government funding will create modern, inclusive spaces, helping more Tasmanians enjoy the game while promoting healthier, connected communities.
Football Tasmania recently celebrated its end-of-season awards night. It was great to see that the Devonport City Strikers featured in numerous awards. However, today I will focus on the Devonport Junior Soccer Association (DJSA). I am very proud to say that I am also patron of this association. The DJSA currently has 107 teams, which equates to 980 players, registered for their Saturday morning competition at Meercroft Park in Devonport. I can assure you that Saturday mornings at Meercroft are indeed a sight to behold.
The DJSA also runs an annual Devonport Cup event, which this year was held 6 to 8 June. The event caters for boys and girls aged from under 9 to under 16. It was the first tournament
of the year for the junior associations and club teams. The event is very inclusive, as teams whose players are registered with Football Australia are eligible to participate with their club, association, or school. This prestigious event brings together junior soccer players and their coaches from across the state to showcase their development and highlight emerging talent. The focus of the event is teamwork, fair play, fun, and development.
This year's Devonport Cup featured more than 1800 players from across the state. That is 138 teams, including 30 all-female teams, competing in 308 games across five venues: Meercroft Park, Valley Road, Byard Park, Devonport Oval and Girdlestone Park. It attracted over 6000 visitors to the city of Devonport. What an enormous benefit for the local tourism, hospitality, and small-business sectors. It was also truly wonderful to see such a large number of young players hitting the field and showcasing their sportsmanship and love of the game. As you'll be well aware, the organisation and staging of an event of this magnitude takes considerable planning, coordination, and teamwork. I am delighted to say this event demonstrated outstanding community spirit, with cross-code collaboration from the East Devonport Football Club and the Mersey Colts Cricket Club, as well as the vital support from the Rotary Club of Devonport North and Devonport City Council.
I congratulate the DJSA committee, their volunteers and the subcommittee for their tireless effort and commitment in staging such a significant event. I also acknowledge and thank all the referees, administration staff and the hardworking volunteers who set up the pitches and amenities each morning and who took them down after all others had left.
As we were all aware, without these dedicated volunteers, events such as this would not be possible. Thank you also to the businesses, organisations, groups and individuals who provided sponsorship for this year's cup. Each and every donation plays an integral role in making this a sporting event that all community members can be proud of. Similarly, I recognise the vital and important role that Football Tasmania plays in supporting and engaging our youth, growing participation across all areas of the game and assisting regional clubs to be sustainable into the future.
From the feedback I have received, I would suggest to Football Tasmania that an area of improvement might be the public acknowledgement of those junior and youth associations that work tirelessly to provide statewide tournament opportunities. I am proud to say that the Devonport Cup not only highlighted the strength and growth of junior sport in our region and the rest of the state, but also provides significant economic and social boost for the greater Devonport area. Indeed, I again look forward to supporting our future soccer stars at the 2026 Devonport Cup. Thank you.
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