A massive summer of football ahead: Gallop

FFA CEO David Gallop says Australian fans can look forward to a golden summer of football as the game's profile and breadth grows.

Gallop used his speech on the State of the Game on Thursday to not only outline the National Plan for the Whole of Football but also highlight a huge few months for the game in Australia this summer. 

In an exciting lead up before Christmas the Westfield FFA Cup, Westfield W-League and PS4 National Premier Leagues tournament will all be decided, while the New Year will see the Asian Cup in January and the continuing Hyundai A-League from February onwards. 

“We'll have record-numbers of Australian fans in stadiums watching the Socceroos at the Asian Cup, the Hyundai-A-League's momentous Season 10, the Westfield W-League, which is underway right now, and the final stages of the Westfield FFA Cup and PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues finals,” Gallop said.

“Australian football will be on the TV screens in homes, pubs and clubs, in digital channels and social media - and we expect bigger audiences than ever before.

“Because of the game's booming profile, the mainstream media will generate more attention than ever before.

“There'll be all sorts of drama, great football and magical moments before the silverware you see here is held aloft by the winners - but that's just part of the story.”        

While the 10th edition of the Hyundai A-League promises to be the biggest yet, Gallop says having the AFC Asian Cup on home soil will be something like never before.

“The AFC Asian Cup is bigger than anything we've seen since the 2000 Olympic Games,” Gallop said.

“16 nations, 32 matches in 23 days in five cities. That's big enough from a sporting point of view, but beyond the tournament and the matches, football is bringing the Asian Century to life in our own backyard.

“Australians will see Asian football and culture on show.

“And from the outside looking at us, Asian audiences up to 1.3 billion will see Australia on show.”

Click here to read FFA CEO David Gallop's State of the Game address in full.