Many players will be looking for a new home after the collapse of GUFC. Photo: GUFC
In its prime, Gungahlin United was flying with over 2000 registered players, along with success at the National Premier League level.
But with a debt burden in excess of $200,000, including $180,000 owed to ACT Sportsgrounds, and the subsequent loss of an NPL licence for the 2026 season, the club’s executive committee has opted to start winding up Gungahlin United’s operations.
Both Gungahlin United and Capital Football issued statements over the weekend.
Gungahlin United was first out of the blocks.
“Earlier this month, GUFC received a final notice from Capital Football, requiring the club to comply with the conditions outlined in that correspondence by 10 October 2025 or risk not being issued with an NPL Licence for the 2026 season.
“Upon receiving this notice, it became evident that the former president had exercised poor financial oversight and that the executive committee under his leadership failed to implement adequate governance controls.
“The club had significantly overspent within the NPL Men’s program and operated without the necessary checks and balances to ensure financial and operational accountability.
“This mismanagement directly contributed to the club’s deteriorating financial position and its inability to meet key obligations.”
An interim executive was put in place in an effort to save the club, but in the end, Capital Football’s decision not to issue NPL licences to Gungahlin United appeared to be the death knell, impacting not only the high-performance aspect of the club, but thousands of players at the grassroots level.
Capital Football then issued a statement on the weekend confirming the worst for the Gungahlin United Club.
“Recognising the strength of GUFC’s community football base, Capital Football invited the club to submit revised financial forecasts that excluded NPL teams, in the hope that its approximately 2000 community league participants could provide a solid foundation for future recovery and long-term stability,” Capital Football said.
“The club declined the opportunity to submit these financial documents.
“Capital Football regrets that financial mismanagement has led to a situation in which a club believes it can no longer continue operations.
“The immediate priority for Capital Football is to ensure that all players affiliated with GUFC, particularly the participants in community competitions, are provided with opportunities to continue playing football within the ACT region.”
The winding up of Gungahlin United is a savage blow for the many thousands of players, coaches and volunteers who spent years building the club into a powerhouse.
The big question is where to now for the thousands of players searching for new teams.
There are several options, one being to find a new club to play for, or somehow establish a new club in Gungahlin without the burden of the United debt.
Both options are problematic.
Finding a new club on the northside won’t be easy. Most are close to capacity. Clubs have reached out to help, but they can only do so much.
Establishing a new club will require a strong commitment from a volunteer base willing to put their heart and soul into the cause, many of whom would today be feeling incredibly let down by a course of events completely out of their control.
