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If there is one woman who stands as perhaps the most appreciated, loved, and admired contributor to women’s football in this State, it is Franca Di Bartolo.
Her commendation for her induction into the Football SA Hall of Fame in 2018 gave her high praise for her achievements as a player: SA State player at senior level and at the Australian Masters games, the Asian Pacific Masters Games and the World Masters, She was also a Gold Medallist at the Asian Pacific Masters Games in 1996, 1998 & 2000 and the Australian Masters Games in 2007.
Di Bartolo played with the legendary Moya Dodd for South Australia in State teams in the 1980s.
However, as news of her induction to the Hall of Champions spread, she was inundated with expressions of congratulations and appreciation – mostly for her influence in helping, inspiring and leading women’s football in South Australia – always with an infectious enthusiasm and passion for the game.
The football community applauded her passionate, committed, enduring work in developing opportunities for girls and women to play at the grassroots and elite levels.
Her involvement and influence, particularly with the Adelaide City Football Club, has been immense in terms of stabilising and growing the management of girls’ football.
It has been a role that required advocacy, negotiation, passion, energy and leadership. Franca’s guiding philosophy has been the expansion of the game for females in all areas of the sport – refereeing, administration, playing, coaching, and management.
In 2009, she received one of the highest commendations that can be received in any sport, the Volunteer of the Year award, bestowed by the Football Federation South Australia. It acknowledged the countless hours dedicated to a sport she loved. Awarded an FFSA Player Life Membership in 2006, since 2018 Franca has taken her rightful place amongst other members of the Football SA Hall of Fame.
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