Stage Two works on Western Australia’s premier football facility have kicked off with the first sod turned on the $4 million expansion of the Sam Kerr Football Centre.

The Stage Two expansion (proposal pictured right), which will see two new natural turf pitches installed alongside lighting, shade structures, fencing and landscaping upgrades, is expected to see significant growth across all demographics, most notably in female participation. 

Since its opening in October 2023, the Perth-based facility has established itself as a premier sporting venue, having hosted A-League Women’s matches, national championships, and served as a training base for international teams during the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

With works to be completed in early 2026, the two new turf pitches will ensure the centre can support community programs, development pathways, and elite competition.

The 16-hectare centre is aptly named after Australian soccer great and local Perth product Sam Kerr and already boasts two competition outdoor football pitches (pictured bottom right), three smaller sized fields designed to host five-a-side matches, as well as meeting and function room spaces.

Stage Two works at the facility come as the WA Labor Government confirmed a $332 million investment in the state budget for sports infrastructure across the state.

Sport and recreation minister Rita Saffioti said the turf pitch upgrades were essential as WA sees an increase in football participation.

"The Stage Two upgrades will make the Sam Kerr Football Centre even bigger and better, providing extra capacity to encourage more grassroots community use of the facility while still supporting high-performance training and competition,” she said. The centre is a valuable asset for WA sport and the community, and Sam Kerr's connection to the centre will continue to inspire a new generation of young players eager to follow in her footsteps and realise their dreams.”

Cannington MLA Ron Sao said the new turf pitches were essential as the game grows in the west. 

"The addition of these new pitches will ensure our local infrastructure keeps pace with growing demand for the game,” he said.

"It's fantastic to have this important, high-performance training facility right here in our local community."
 

Story by Nick Creely

Images provided by VenuesWest and Dep. of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and Football West