Football Queensland (FQ) is pleased to announce the four nominees for the 2019 National Premier Leagues Women’s (NPLW) Queensland Coach of the Year Award.
Karyn Longbottom, Dan Baker, Gary Ward and Rob Askew have been nominated for the NPLW Queensland Coach of the Year Award, which will be presented at the 2019 Football in Queensland Awards Night next month.
Despite recording mixed results early in the season, Karyn Longbottom turned her side’s performance around when it mattered most leading Eastern Suburbs to the NPLW Queensland Semi Finals. Sitting in 8th spot, 12 points outside of the top six after 16 rounds, Easts went on a remarkable run at the end of the regular season, recording nine straight wins to book their place in the 2019 NPLW Finals Series, including four clean sheets in their last four games. Longbottom’s success with Easts this year saw her selected as the NPLW Coach of the Month for two straight months in 2019.
Capalaba FC got off to the perfect start for the 2019 NPLW Queensland season with Dan Baker at the helm. Undefeated in their first eight matches, Capalaba won seven of their first eight games to start the season on a high, with five of these wins coming in a row. After some mixed results later in the season, Baker’s side continued their strong form to book their spot in the Finals Series, where an Elimination Final loss ended their 2019 run.
Gary Ward’s Gap FC started the 2019 season on fire, winning their first five games and only conceding two goals. After a string mixed results in the middle of the season, the Gap came home flying ending the season with nine wins in their last 11 matches., including a victory against would-be Premiers Lions FC. One of the most consistent sides in 2019, The Gap recorded 15 wins in the regular season, scoring 83 goals and conceding just 28 (the second best record after Premiers Lions) to secure third spot on the ladder.
Rob Askew led his Lions FC side to the NPLW Queensland Premiership-Championship double in his first season in charge at the club. The Premiers lost only one match all year, finishing the season with the best attacking and defensive record of all teams in the league. An incredible run of form saw Askew’s Lions go undefeated in their first 21 matches this year before losing their only game in Round 23. Nine straight wins towards the end of the season set Lions up for a strong Finals Series appearance, where they went on to claim Grand Final glory. Askew was named NPLW Coach of the Month on two occasions in 2019.
READ: NPLW Player of the Year nominees
READ: NPLW Young Player of the Year nominees
How coaches are nominated
The Coach of the Year is awarded to the best First Team coach during the regular season. As per the 2019 Competition Regulations, votes are cast on a 3-2-1 basis by the Head Coach of each club following the conclusion of the regular season.
A Head Coach is ineligible to win the Coach of the Year if the Head Coach has been suspended as a result of being sent from the Field of Play during a match or as the result of a Disciplinary Committee Hearing.
The eligible Head Coach who receives the most votes for the regular season will be awarded the Coach of the Year Award.
The 2019 Football in Queensland Awards Night will be held on Saturday, 2 November in the Grand Windsor Ballroom at the Pullman Hotel in Brisbane.
A variety of awards will be presented on the night, recognising the outstanding achievements of individuals and clubs at both community level and from FQ’s Premier competitions.
Buy tickets to the 2019 Football in Queensland Awards Night here.
Find out more about the 2019 Football in Queensland Awards Night.
