Member for Orange, Phil Donato MP, on Monday 22 February announced successful funding for the Forbes and District Soccer Club for two projects, both of which he deemed particularly worthy of support.

"The Club will be implementing a pathways program for the development of female players, for which they requested $2,000 and received full funding," Mr Donato explained.

"The larger grant of $11,300 was for a First Aid Injury Recovery Treatment Room, which will be an important asset when it comes to the safety and wellbeing of players.

"The Club has shown great initiative with this project, and rather than building a new Treatment Room they are actually converting an unused storage space at the Botanical Gardens."

The room, part of the original club house, is to be renovated and fitted out for its new purpose, now that the Botanical Gardens boasts a brand new amenities block.

Club Secretary Doug McKenzie said that he was pleased to have received the funding, and was eager to see the project completed in the near future.

He's also thrilled with the $2000 grant to support pathways for talented female players: he says 50 per cent of the club's players are female, "and they're very competitive too".

Forbes already fields representative girls' teams in the under 10s, 12s, and 14s competition.

We also have five playing for Wagga Wagga in the Canberra National Premier League competition - and the next generation of junior stars already making their mark in the seven to nine years Saturday games.

The $2000 grant supports coaching, equipment and uniforms to get the girls prepared for and to competition.

McKenzie says talented young girls are identified either through Saturday soccer or school gala days, and invited to join a training program which starts in January.

Regular tournaments begin in March and the Western Youth League from April to June.

The club has now also arranged to hire the Forbes Baptist Church bus to assist with transport to and from the Sunday contests which can be all over the region.

"It was an absolute pleasure to support this grant, which was submitted by the members of the Forbes Soccer Club," Mr Donato said.

Sign-up for winter soccer is now open.

Registration can be done online, and you can use Active Kids vouchers.

The very successful Under 4 and 5s Miniroos program will continue into 2021. To sign up, go online to myfootballclub.com.au/ type in 2871 to find Forbes then select the Under 4s or Under 5s program.

Players turning six through to seniors, both men's and ladies, need to register online at myfootballclub.com.au and select Forbes District Soccer Club.

Competition starts April 24.