SAM Soccer Academy

Presented by Tully Moore

From 7 March 2026

Did you know soccer is the most popular sport in the world, with around 3.5 billion fans across the globe? This is why soccer, or football, is called the world game!

Soccer has been part of life here in Greater Shepparton for over 100 years, with early local soccer clubs started by people who had moved to Australia from Italy, Macedonia, and the Netherlands. Playing a sport they all loved helped them to make friends in their new community. Now, we have the Shepparton Nations Cup, which includes teams representing countries from all around the world, including Afghanistan, Türkiye, the Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Albania, and Pakistan.

In SAM Soccer Academy, lifelong soccer-lover and artist Tully Moore has created a wall painting, props, and art activities that share his passion for the world game, using his favourite team colours as well as tributes to local teams and histories of soccer in the 'food bowl' of Australia.

Tully invites you to join the Academy and show your love for the sport by making your own
soccer-inspired artworks - will you create your own team mascot to add to Tully's wall painting, or write a postcard to your favourite player to post in TuIly's letterbox?

Location: The Ryan Family Children's Gallery, Level 2, SAM

Free

About the artist:

Tully Moore (b. 1981 Orange, NSW) creates playful and earnest paintings that combine realisitic and graphic styles. SAM Soccer Academy follows related projects focusing on art, design, and soccer culture, including World Cup Breakfast Bar at Melbourne's West Space in 2014, and a public art project titled One Hundred Number Tens, created in collaboration with Gertrude Contemporary and Fitzroy Primary School in 2016.