Flying Bats News

Bats Feature In Sydney Star Observer

KICKING THE BALLS AROUND by Cara Davis

The Flying Bats ... 21 years of success.

About 60 lesbian football players descended upon the Hunter Valley vineyards last weekend for a holiday of pure football love.

As if playing competitive football (a.k.a. soccer) and training together one night a week wasn’t sufficient team bonding, the women organised a trip away for the whole club.

And therein lies the success of The Flying Bats football club, which for 21 years has provided a safe and professional environment for lesbians to socialise and play football in.

And you don’t have to be a lesbian to join, according to one of the few heterosexual members of The Flying Bats, vice-president Tina King.

"I was attracted to the club because it was so inclusive," she said.

"I have always had a real sense of pride being here because it is such a caring group of women whose main focus is to simply play sport.

"But it’s a great social network as well."

The Flying Bats club currently has four women’s teams playing within the North West Sydney Women’s Football Association league.

The women range in age from 18 to about 50, and are graded from beginners to advanced.

The club originated in Adelaide more than two decades ago and became The Flying Bats when some of the founding members relocated to Sydney.

The women, according to spokeswoman Anna Flynn, did experience some hostility at first, but over the years the success and popularity of the club have grown.

"In the beginning it was very hard - they really came up against a lot of stick," she said.

"These days we might get the odd comment from someone’s boyfriend on the side of the pitch, but it is very rare."

The soccer philosophy, according to the Flying Bats, is to play football, have fun, support your team-mates and display good sportswomanship.

The season runs from April through to August and teams play every Sunday for five months.

The Global Game Interview

Press Release: Mardi Gras 2007

Flying Bats womens soccer team boosts lesbian participation in Mardi Gras 2007 parade

Sydney, 8th March - The Flying Bats womens soccer team took part in the Mardi Gras 2007 parade on Saturday 3rd March marching as one of the only entirely lesbian community group entries.

The parade entry called I LOVE SOCCER saw 50 lesbians ‘flying’ up Oxford Street to Banarama and Ricky Martin. The addition of two giant soccer balls funded by a new Mardi Gras grant helped its parade entry to stand out from the crowd.

Anna Flynn, Flying Bats parade organiser said, "The day for us was about bonding as a soccer club as well demonstrating our pride to be part of lesbian and gay community. Being one of the only all lesbian floats that took part in the parade added to our sense of achievement. After David Beckham declined to endorse our float we thought of pulling out, but in the end we decided to carry on for our love of soccer!"

The Flying Bats is currently taking registrations for the 2007 season and will be conducting grading matches on 11th and 18th March.

Recent Press Coverage

Rainbow Socks!

The rainbow socks are here! For a measly $18 a pair you can now all be the sexiest, coolest and gayest soccer players around. Not that you aren't already!

To get a pair, get in touch with Dan at communityliaison@theflyingbats.com.

Just so you know, these are not actually the socks we'll be playing in next year; more of a fun novelty thing and fundraiser for the Club. Sales are also not restricted to the Club so tell all your friends!