For the sixth year in succession, New Zealand Football has delivered a positive financial return, again highlighting the success of the Whole of Football Plan, now entering its fourth year, and the continued growth in the game allowing continued investment into both community and international football.
New Zealand Football chairman Bill Moran says while the surplus was boosted by television revenue from the FIFA World Cup Intercontinental play-off with Mexico, the day-to-day operations produced another strong result.
“While our surplus was boosted by the significantly higher than expected broadcasting revenue received from the November 2013 FIFA World Cup qualifier, I am pleased to confirm our underlying business was once again positive,” Moran said.
“Due to the strength of our position, we remain totally committed to investing in both the community and international game whilst retaining our focus on robust financial management.”
The strong financial results for 2013 has seen $3.1 million transferred into the International Teams Activity Reserve, set up in 2010, to fund the next four year cycle and beyond for New Zealand’s elite representative sides.
At grassroots level the code continued to expand and strengthen as the number of registered players grew by 13 percent across all age groups – the third year since 2010 in which player numbers have grown from the previous year.
Underpinning that increase in players, $3 million was invested in grassroots programmes, of which $1.5 million was delivered to the seven regional football federations who continue to deliver the award-winning Whole of Football plan.
A further $500,000 was transferred to a newly created Whole of Football Reserve set up to ensure additional funding will be available to support the coaching, development and infrastructure costs of the award-winning plan in future years.
Meanwhile, the Football Foundation – established in 2011 – passed the $500,000 mark in grants made to the grassroots game.
After a successful 2013 result, Moran identified the key milestones for the organisation in the next 12 month period as the build up continues towards the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.
“For 2014 the focus is very much on aligning ourselves to new FIFA standards for the game as a whole, resetting our ambitions as a country for the elite game and continuing to drive the Whole of Football programme into the youth bracket.”
The full financial results will be presented later in the year at New Zealand Football’s Annual Congress scheduled for September.
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football
For more on New Zealand football go to www.nzfootball.co.nz

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