A Footballers Guide to Playing Semi-Pro Football in Australia

For a variety of reasons, Australia is an ideal destination for footballers.

To begin with, the country is well-known for its high standard of living and high quality of life.

Second, Australia has a thriving football culture, complete with a devoted fan base and top-tier professional clubs.

These factors combine to make it an excellent destination for high-level football players.

If you are a footballer looking to play semi-pro football in Australia, there are several ways to find teams looking for players

The first way is to contact clubs directly. Reach out to clubs, introduce yourself and supply them with your Football CV and highlight reel.

You could use a recruitment agency and leverage their experience and connections to help find you a club looking for players.

Reach out to your network. What players, coaches or contacts do you have that may be able to put you in touch with a team in Australia?

Instead of spending hours scrolling aimlessly through social media, put that time to work and use it as a tool. Find the club’s decision makers and send them a message.

You could even use a platform like the Play Away Global scouting network to build your online football profile and connect with coaches and agents that are actively looking for players. Profiles are free to create too.

The NPL is Australia's second tier of football (for the time being, as a second professional league is set to begin in March 2024), and it provides an excellent opportunity for talented footballers to showcase their skills and earn money.

NPL players are compensated, making it a great option for those looking to make a living from their sport.

The league is made up of eight state-based competitions, with the winners of each competing in a national finals series. The season lasts from February to August / September.

The difficulty you may face joining an NPL team are the tight restrictions clubs the competition puts on clubs when it comes to building their squads.

Coaches are given 200 points (which may vary) to assemble a squad of 23 players.

In addition, they have a cap on the number of visa players they can sign.

Each player begins by deducting 10 points from the coach's total.

Points then get added or subtracted from these ten points based on a variety of factors.

A young player, for example, can deduct one point for each year they are under the age of 23.

As a visa player, you must add 10 points to your total, which means you will take up 20 of the coaches allotted 200 points.

Pretty pricey stuff.

NPL players are paid, and the average salary ranges from $15,000 to $25,000 per season.

But wages can vary for a variety of reasons.

The club, their ambitions for the season, the sponsors and the level of experience of the player etc.

Although this may not appear to be much, it can be a decent income for a semi-pro footballer, especially when you consider the format of the Australian semi-pro competition allows players to work at the same time.

There are several things you should do to prepare for a move to Australia to play semi-pro football.

These include obtaining a visa.

Depending on their nationality, most players will utilise the Working Holiday visa option.

You will also need to sort yourself accommodation so that you have a roof over your head for when you land.

It would be worth researching the culture of where you’re going to spend the next season so that you know what to expect.

Melbourne for example is regarded by many as the sporting capital of Australia, whilst life in Queensland can be more suited for those who enjoy things like surfing and beach life.

The most important preparation you can do though is to continue your training.

You want to arrive in Australia in peak condition, so that you are ready to hit the ground running.

Remember, as a visa player there is a level of expectation on you greater than that of a local player.

If you’re a footballer who feels unfulfilled with your current situation or you’re just looking for a change and want some life experience, Australia might just be the answer to move your football career along.

It’s a country with a passionate football culture with a thriving semi-professional scene which provides ample opportunities for talented players to showcase their abilities and earn some pretty decent cash.

And not just because of football.

The Australian lifestyle is second to none, they’ve pretty much perfected the work / life balance.

So whether you enjoy early morning surfs, brunches down the graffiti decorated laneways, music festivals or hikes over picturesque landscapes, Australian has it all.

Use the info provided to you in this guide and you’ll be well on your way to finding the football clubs in search of players.

If you want the full step-by-step guide on how to build your network and create connections you can leverage to find your next paying playing opportunity, then check out The Blueprint.