There was a milestone moment in German football this week that will have positive ramifications for female football around the world, and here at Alamein we couldn’t be happier about it. But it shouldn’t have been a milestone. Marie-Louise Eta stepped into a top-flight head coaching role at Union Berlin and, in doing so became the first woman to hold a Head Coach position across all of Europe’s major leagues. This has been celebrated as an important “first,” and rightly so. But the more interesting question is not how long it took to get here, but what happens next.

Across Australia and around the world, more girls are stepping onto football pitches than ever before. But beneath the headlines and tournament buzz, something deeper is happening.

At community level, the culture of the game itself is shifting. And for many girls, playing sport is becoming not just an activity, but an important part of how they see themselves.

Culture isn’t built through slogans or statements, but through small, intentional decisions that shape how people learn, lead and belong. This reflection looks at how a simple mentoring initiative is helping make pathways visible at Alamein FC.

Girls flourish in environments where they feel seen, supported and able to take up space. Mixed play has its benefits, but there’s something uniquely powerful about a club built entirely for girls and women. This is what we see at Alamein every day, and why these environments matter.

To support the next generation (and to create opportunities that are still all-too rare in women’s sport), Alamein FC has introduced a structured internship program offering real experience, real access and real development inside an elite female football pathway.

We were thrilled to see Alamein FC’s president Kathy Stamatopoulos and our Alamein Angels fundraising campaign featured on 9 News Melbourne last month, alongside the CEO of the Australian Sports Foundation.

Thanks to our kit supplier Macron, we’ve been given until 24 October to finalise our 2026 kit, and add a few more names to the stripe that represents something bigger than football.

We’re excited to announce the dates, times, and locations for Alamein FC trials for the 2026 season. Times are shared in this post for NPLW, VYPLG (formerly JGNPL), and Alamein Academy (formerly Development).