The MWFA Select Series delivered three high-quality fixtures showcasing the very best of our Association’s Premier League talent – and it was our Men’s squad who capped off the campaign in style, claiming both the Select Plate and Select Cup.

Men Take the Select Plate in Dramatic Fashion

The series opened with a thriller, as the MWFA Men went toe-to-toe in an incredibly tight contest that couldn’t be separated at full time. Locked at one goal apiece after 90 minutes, the match was decided in a penalty shootout.

Holding their composure when it mattered most, MWFA emerged victorious to lift the Select Plate.

Josh Thomas (St Augustine’s College FC) was named Player of the Match for his standout performance in a game that had quality and intensity from start to end.

Women Push NSFA All the Way

The MWFA Select Women also delivered a strong performance against the Northern Suburbs Football Association at Cromer Park, narrowly falling 2–1 in a competitive and entertaining encounter.

In a match that could easily have gone either way, our side showed resilience and attacking intent throughout. Somerset Littleboy (Manly Vale FC) was deservedly named MWFA Player of the Match for her performance throughout.

Men Seal the Series in Style

Travelling to Charles Bean Oval for their return clash with Northern Suburbs FA, MWFA produced a commanding 4–0 victory to wrap up the series emphatically and secure the Select Cup.

Darragh Reynor (Forest Killarney FC) and William Hodge (Mosman FC) gave MWFA a strong first-half platform, before Hodge completed his brace in the second half. Dean O’Donnell (Forest Killarney FC) added the fourth to cap off a clinical team display. A special mention goes to goalkeepers Joshua Dijkstra (Pittwater RSL FC) and Declan Annear (Narrabeen FC) for combining to keep a well-earned clean sheet.

Finally, a sincere thank you to the support staff – Ryan Gibbs and Ludo Ledieu (Curl Curl FC) who coached the Women’s team, and Luke Tinker (Mosman FC) and Mark Femia (MWFA Manager) who guided the men.

With silverware secured and strong performances across both teams, the future continues to look bright for football across the MWFA!

Images credit: Facet Photography

In recent weeks, the MWFA has hosted two coaching courses, the Foundation of Football and the C-Diploma, and we’re proud to say that both courses were completely sold out!

It’s fantastic to see such a strong commitment to coach education and development within our football community – a big thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to making these courses such a success. We would also like to highlight the five female participants who committed to continuing their coaching journey. Increasing female representation in coaching is vital for the growth of our game, and their dedication, passion, and drive to prepare for the upcoming season are commendable.

A special mention goes to the Association’s Development and Emerging Talent players who took part in the C-Diploma course as ‘coachees’, providing the course delegates with a more comprehensive experience by having real players on whom to practise their coaching.

Do you want to book a coaching course? 

If you are new to coaching or already a coach and looking for a refresher course before the season starts in April, the MWFA is running two more Foundation of Football courses in March:

Mar 2/9: Monday evenings x2, 6-9.30pm

Mar 29: Sunday, 9am-5pm

For information and to book, visit our Coaching Courses page.

The latest football registration numbers are in – and they’re worth shouting about!

As of early February, the MWFA has recorded close to 10,000 registrations on Play Football. It’s an incredible milestone that reflects the strength of our football community and the excitement building ahead of the winter season. 

Players, coaches, managers, referees and volunteers all play a vital role in football – and everyone involved must be registered before taking to the field. In other words, “No rego, no game”! 

With registrations already rolling in at pace, clubs across the Association are well underway with planning for the season ahead. From pre-season gala days and grading sessions to allocating teams, coaches and volunteers, there’s a huge amount of work happening behind the scenes before Round 1 kicks off on the weekend of April 10-12. That’s why registering early makes such a difference. It helps clubs plan more effectively, rally their volunteers, and ensure teams are ready to go when the season begins. 

If you’re already associated with a club, you can register now via Play Football and secure your place for the upcoming season.

If you’re new to the game, there’s never been a better time to get involved. MWFA is home to 16 incredible grassroots clubs, offering opportunities for players of all ages and abilities. You can find a local club and take the first step into football today. 

 April will come around quickly – so if you haven’t already, why not tick that box and get your rego done today!

It’s a new year, and that means it’s time for all our football community to get excited about the incoming season!

On January 2nd, Football NSW opened registrations for the 2026 winter competition for all players.

Registration is through the Play Football application for a second year.  Returning players are encouraged to contact their local club for details about how and when to register, and to learn about any key pre-season dates – such as community events, gala days and grading sessions.

Round 1 is scheduled for the weekend of April 10th. Put it in your diaries now!

For any new players who want to play football this winter and don’t know where to start, head to our Clubs page, find your closest club and follow the link to their website for information on how to sign up.

The MWFA wishes all clubs a successful and competitive season. It’s everyone’s game – let’s make the most of it!

Expression of Interest’s (EOI) for the 2026 Manly United FC Foundation Squad U6 – U8 are now available!

Please submit your EOI form to secure your place in the 2026 Foundation Squad. You must complete this EOI to be eligible for the program, click below!

Manly United Foundation Squad 2026 – Fill in form

*IMPORTANT* – This form closes midnight, Monday 12th January 2026. If you have not submitted the above EOI by the closing date, you will not be able to participate in the Program. 

For more information, please click here – U6-U8 Foundation Squad 

*Please note: You can only participate in the program if you are registered with one (1) of the sixteen (16) Clubs in the Manly Warringah Football Association. 

Expressions of Interest’s (EOI) for the 2026 Manly United FC Goalkeeper Development Squad U10 – U16 are now available! 

Please submit your EOI form to secure your place in the 2026 MUFC Goalkeeper Dev Squad. You must complete this EOI to be eligible for the program, click below:

Manly United Goalkeeper Development Squad 2026  – Fill in form

*IMPORTANT* – This form closes midnight, Monday 12th January 2026. If you have not submitted the above EOI by the closing date, you will not be able to participate in the Program. 

For more information on the program, please click here – Goalkeeper Development Squad

*Please note: You can only participate in the program if you are registered with one (1) of the sixteen (16) Clubs in the Manly Warringah Football Association. 

MWFA Life Member Awards

Dave Anglicas

Dave’s involvement in football spans more than 30 years across coaching, club administration and MWFA governance. At Association level, he served as Vice President (Seniors), contributed nearly a decade on the Appeals Committee, and later became a Director on the MWFA Board, earning multiple MWFA and Football NSW awards. Dave was also the Treasurer of the MWFA for more than 20 years.

Dave’s long-term coaching record, extensive administrative service, and meaningful governance contributions clearly meet the criteria for MWFA Life Membership.

Dave Wilson

Dave has been a dedicated contributor to football on the Northern Beaches since arriving in Australia in 1977. Over nearly five decades, he has served as a player, coach, committee member and administrator, leaving a lasting impact across all levels of the game. Dave’s many involvments in football include coaching roles with the Manly Warringah Dolphins and later Manly United, joining the MWFA Disciplinary Committee in 2008 and in 2020 elected as Charman of the MWFA.

Across all his roles, Dave has embodied service, collaboration, and passion for the game. His contribution, spanning almost 50 years, represents a lifetime of commitment to football on the Northern Beaches.

MWFA Meritorious Service Awards

David Bonney

David has a distinguished history with Manly Allambie United FC as both a player and coach, leading the AL1 squad to an undefeated 2007 season, promotion to Premier League, and earning consecutive MWFA Premier League Coach of the Year awards in 2008 and 2009.

Since 2006, he has also made significant contributions in key administrative roles across Manly Allambie United FC and Allambie Beacon Hill United FC. Including Club Secretary, Youth and Senior Men’s Vice President, Public Officer, Competition Secretary, MWFA Delegate and Training/Field Coordinator. David has consistently demonstrated strong dedication to the club and the game.

Trish Williamson

Trish began her football journey in 1977 with Taupo AFC in New Zealand, later joining Manly Allambie United FC and becoming a key contributor on and off the field. After an injury in 2008, Trish served nine years in roles including Vice President Women’s, Club Secretary and MWFA Delegate.

She became the Competition Secretary in 2022, earning the Syd Russell Memorial Secretary’s Shield in 2023, and now continues in this role at Allambie Beacon Hill United FC while also managing the WPL team. Trish has also been involved with the Manly Football4All program since 2022, becoming Program Leader in 2024.

Sue Lawson

Sue has volunteered for over a decade, playing a key role in junior development and club operations. She has overseen MiniRoos and junior programs involving around 50 teams each season, created coaching resources that have supported up to 1,000 coaches, and significantly lifted coaching standards.

As an executive committee member, Sue managed grading and ground allocation for more than 100 teams, overcoming scheduling challenges and supporting age coordinators at Curl Curl FC. She also contribute to community events and have coached and managed teams. Sue’s leadership and long-term commitment have positively impacted thousands of players and hundreds of coaches across the MWFA.

Ian Smith

Ian Smith began his football journey in the Eastern Suburbs before joining Forest FC in 1971 and winning the 1988 Premier League Grand Final. He became a key player at Brookvale FC from 1993, later contributing in O35s and O45s, and coaching multiple championship teams. Additionally, he was a key contributor to helping grow women’s football at Broovkale FC.

A long-serving volunteer and committee member since 2012 and now Vice President of Senior Football at Brookvale FC, he has strengthened junior pathways and supported club operations, making a lasting impact.

Deborah Frack 

Deborah has been involved in local football since the late 1990s and with Brookvale FC since 2006, volunteering across nearly all club operations. She supported the transition to the new amenities block and have held important administrative roles on the club committee.

Deborah has managed the canteen, held key administrative roles, and supported safety and welfare initiatives, including CPR training and serving as the club’s WWCC Contact and MPIO. Deborah’s contributions to events and fundraising have greatly strengthened the club community.

We are currently taking Expression of Interest’s (EOI) for this program. Please click the link below to fill out the form. The form closes at midnight on Wednesday, 26 November. Successful applicants will be notified by 5 pm on Friday, 28 November with details about trialling for the program. If you do not receive an email with trial information, it means your EOI was unsuccessful.

Emerging Talent Program – Fill in form

Trials will be held at Cromer Park, please refer to dates below:

• Wednesday 3 December 2025
  • U13 – 5pm
  • U14 – 6pm
• Friday 5 December 2025
  • U15 – 5pm
  • U16 – 6pm

For all information regarding the Pathway Program, please read below.

1. What is the Emerging Talent Pathway Program? 

The Emerging Talent Pathway Program is a specialised development program designed to support and improve identified players within the Manly Warringah Football Association (MWFA). While not a competition league, the program provides a high-performance training environment aligned with the philosophy, facilities, and coaching standards of Manly United FC.

Players selected for the program will benefit from advanced coaching, structured development sessions, access to facilities at Cromer Park, and opportunities to participate in friendly games that challenge and accelerate their growth.

2. Who is eligibility for the Emerging Talent Pathway Program? 

The program is open to players eligible to compete in the Under 13 to Under 16 age groups.
To be considered for selection, players must:

• Be registered and actively playing for one of our 16 Manly Warringah Football Association clubs.
• Be identified by our technical staff or club coaches as having strong potential for development.

Selected teams in the U13 and U14 age groups will also have the opportunity to represent MWFA in the Football NSW Association Championships in July.

3. Who coaches in the Emerging Talent Pathway Program?

Training and development within the Emerging Talent Pathway Program are delivered by experienced coaches who follow the high-performance philosophy of Manly United FC. In addition to leading Monday night sessions at Cromer Park, our coaching team will visit MWFA community clubs on a rotating basis one night per week to support local coaches and assist with player development across the entire association.

4. What is the training schedule for the Emerging Talent Pathway Program?

All squads train once per week at Cromer Park.
Training details:

• Day: Monday
• Time: 5:30pm – 7:00pm
• Location: Cromer Park
• Additional Opportunities: Friendly games scheduled throughout the program to encourage player growth and competition experience.

5. What is the cost of the program?

The cost of the Emerging Talent Pathway Program is $400 per term (GST included) and it will be run over 3 terms.

Gear will also be supplied for all new players at the time they join the program including.

• Training shorts
• Jersey
• Tracksuit
• Socks
• Backpack