STATE NODS FOR LOCALS
GOLD COAST PLAYERS SELECTED IN QUEENSLAND SQUAD TO FACE BRISBANE ROAR AND VICTORIA
Eleven footballers from local NPL Queensland sides Gold Coast Knights and Gold Coast United have been named in Queensland’s men’s and women’s training squads ahead of two hugely exciting clashes against Brisbane Roar FC and Victoria as part of Football Queensland’s 2024 Mitre Festival of Football.
In the men’s squad, seven players from NPL Premiers Gold Coast Knights were selected including Josh Langdon, Austin Ludwik, Trent Millard, Sam Klein, Tyson Martin, Godfrey Debele and Joel Russell. Joining them in the squad is Gold Coast United’s Fraser Hills and Chris Lucas.
In the women’s team, Gold Coast United goalkeeper Layla Adams and defender Momo Hayashi will represent Queensland in the squad of 28 players.
Ahead of the men’s first match against Brisbane Roar FC yesterday, September 13, the squad completed its first training session on Monday in preparation to face the Isuzu UTE A-league side at Imperial Corp Stadium in Brisbane.
Football Queensland’s general manager – football & state technical director Gabor Ganczer said the matches would showcase the strength of talent in Queensland’s premier football competitions.
“The team selection process has highlighted the incredible depth of talent within our state’s football community and with only 28 players selected for each of the men’s and women’s final training squads from the initial 42 player shortlisted squads, this is a uniquely exciting opportunity for our top performers to shine on a major stage,” Ganczer said.
“We’re looking forward to showcasing Queensland’s standout players and coaches as we prepare for the highly competitive matches against the best Football Victoria and Brisbane Roar FC have to offer.”
The selection process for the Queensland state team squad, managed by Football Queensland’s Technical Department, was assembled through the evaluation of performance metrics gathered from the 2024 NPL Queensland season with selection based on player statistics, Team of the Week appearances, 3-2-1 votes throughout the season, and Team of the Season votes from NPL Queensland head coaches.
GOLD COAST KNIGHTS CLAIM CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLE WITH WINS IN THE FQPL 1 WOMEN AND NPL MEN U23 GRAND FINALS
Gold Coast Knights have finished their FQPL 1 Women and NPL Men U23 seasons on a high, securing the championship trophy in respective grand finals over the weekend.
Saturday saw Gold Coast Knights’ formidable FQPL 1 Women’s team crowned champions at Suncorp Stadium, securing a 4-0 victory over North Lakes United in a dominant performance.
Laura Sevil was the standout player, scoring two goals to cap off an unbelievable season and helping her side to its fourth trophy for the year after claiming the premiership, Kappa Pro Series Women and Kappa Queensland Cup Women titles.
The club claimed even more silverware on Sunday through its NPL Men U23 side, which battled it out against a strong Brisbane Roar team that was fresh off claiming the premiership.
Following a spectacular second-half display, Knights held on for a 3-2 victory to secure the championship.
FQPL SOUTH COAST RESULTS
FQPL 3 - Men: Robina City FC 5 def Burleigh Heads 1, Kingscliff 3 def Surfers Paradise Apollo 2.
Women: Magic 2 (2) def by Musgrave 2 (4)*, Palm Beach 3 def Coomera 0.
FQPL 4 – Men: Broadbeach United 3 def Murwillumbah 1,
Mudgeeraba 0 (4) def by Surfers Paradise Apollo 0 (5)*
FQPL 3 SOUTH COAST MEN’S AND WOMEN’S GRAND FINAL PREVIEWS
Plenty is on the line in this weekend’s FQPL 3 South Coast grand finals, as teams travel to Carrara’s Croatian Sports Centre to compete for a chance to be crowned champions.
Saturday night’s clash in the FQPL 3 South Coast Men offers an exciting top of the table match-up with premiers Robina City taking on Kingscliff. The stakes are high as both teams are desperate for a win in the biggest game of the season.
Given the high-scoring and thrilling nature of their past encounters, this match-up is set to deliver an enthralling battle between the top contenders.
The FQPL 3 South Coast Women’s grand final on Sunday will feature the premiers Palm Beach, along with a Musgrave team that has remained unbeaten in its last five games.
Despite this impressive streak, the team’s last defeat came at the hands of its grand final opponents in Palm Beach, with the Mustangs suffering a 2-0 defeat in their last meeting against the premiers.
With the championship at stake, it will make for an intense battle in this weekend’s matches. Head out to Carrara’s Croatian Sports Centre on the weekend to catch all the action.
FQPL 4 SOUTH COAST MEN’S GRAND FINAL PREVIEWS
After what’s been a captivating season in South Coast’s FQPL 4 Men’s competition, the grand finalists have now been confirmed and will face off at Croation Sports Centre on Saturday.
The stage is now set, with premiers Broadbeach United matching up against Surfers Paradise Apollo in this weekend’s final and both teams coming off solid performances in their respective semi-finals.
Despite conceding early, Broadbeach was able to overcome this setback and come away with a 3-1 victory against Murwillumbah. Surfers Paradise Apollo meanwhile played out an exciting game against Mudgeeraba that had to be decided by penalties, with Surfers Paradise Apollo eventually securing the win.
Broadbeach head into this game as early frontrunners after defeating Surfers Paradise 4-1 in their last meeting, and with everything on the line, Apollo will need to elevate their game to be in with a chance.
This game will not be one to miss, make sure to get to Carrara’s Croatian Sports Centre at 4.30pm today to catch the game.
FQPL SOUTH COAST GRAND FINAL FIXTURES
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Saturday, September – FQPL 4 U23 Men: Broadbeach United vs Mudgeeraba, 11.30am, Croatian Sports Centre; FQPL 3 U23 Men: Palm Beach vs Robina City FC, 2pm, Croatian Sports Centre; FQPL 4 Men: Broadbeach United vs Surfers Paradise Apollo, 4.30pm, Croatian Sports Centre; FQPL 3 Men: Robina City FC vs Kingscliff, 7pm, Croatian Sports Centre. Sunday, September 15 – FQPL 3 Women: Palm Beach vs Musgrave, 5pm, Croatian Sports Centre.