About Us
A Brief History
Football Federation Victoria (FFV) commenced operation in 1884 under the name Anglo Australian Football Association of Victoria and is one of the oldest sporting associations in Victoria. It has had several name changes over the years, but has survived as the governing body of soccer in Victoria since this time. The Football Association (Australia), the predecessor of Football Federation Australia (FFA) was formed in 1923. The early years of football in Australia were heavily influenced by the English and Scottish immigrants. The British were complemented by migrants from all over Europe in the post-war period as the flood of "new Australians" during the 1950's and 1960's transformed football across the country and the game boomed.
The Federation conducted its first competition in 1909 with Carlton United being declared the inaugural First Division Champions. The name of the competition was changed to the State League in 1958, and later became the Premier League in 1990, a name it retains until today.
In 1992/93 Wheelchair soccer was conceived when a “Come’n’try“ was conducted with the support of Leisure Action (LA) a division of the Spastic Society. A pilot season resulted in the North-West region, the success of which lead LA to source funding and development partners. Early in 1995 the FFV agreed to become the auspicing body for the future development of Wheelchair Soccer and in 2000 signed an agreed to that effect.
In 1996 the then Board of Management of the FFV initiated a major organisational review and obtained independent advice on the current management structure and the organisational arrangements required to make the administration of soccer more effective. The review resulted in the formation of an Independent Commission, replacing the Board, and was duly elected in December, 1996.
In order to provide for the future development of women's soccer, in 1999 the FFV and Women's Soccer Victoria amalgamated and established an integrated structure to provide professional administrative services and infrastructure to all female participants in soccer. This resulted in a women's soccer competition for junior and senior teams commencing in 1999 and other initiatives aimed at grass roots and elite player development.
The FFV became an Active Australia provider in 2001 and in 2005 it officially shed the name Victorian Soccer Federation (VSF) and joined the "new football" family by taking the name Football Federation Victoria.
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