Football Queensland is delighted to welcome respected Nine News presenter and passionate football fan Andrew Lofthouse to the role of FQ Media Ambassador.

Lofthouse joined Channel Nine Queensland from ABC TV in 2009 after beginning his career in community radio on the Gold Coast.

The experienced media personality will help promote football to the wider community and offer advice to Football Queensland’s media department.

Lofthouse is excited to be helping the sport realise its potential.

“For as long as I can remember it’s been talked about as the sleeping giant of Australian sport. I think it’s fair to say if it hasn’t woken up, it is waking up,” he said.

“In terms of the game I think it’s been doing what it’s needed to do for a long time, which is put on the most entertaining football that it can.

“I think we just need to take people with us as best we can as a sport and the wave will continue to grow.”

Football has remained a “lifelong love” of the Liverpool and Brisbane Roar supporter since relocating from England to Australia as a teenager.

Though work prohibits his playing opportunities, ‘Lofty’ is an active member of Queensland’s football and futsal communities – travelling to the FFA National Futsal Championships in January to support youngest son Jez.

“When I went to play sport football was what I played and I fell in love with it straight away,” he said.

“In the UK, in the ’70s, Liverpool was enjoying one if its heydays and that’s who I started supporting.

“I’ve been involved as a player when I was younger and then as a football parent when my kids got involved. I’m always on the sideline either watching my boys play or watching other games.”

And as for the potential of his indie Brisbane band, Let’s Go Naked, potentially performing half-time entertainment around the grounds?

“The hardest thing would be getting us all together, even for a rehearsel, but we’re still in touch and it never really goes away so you never know!”