As the year draws to a close, let’s recap some of the highlights in what has been a significant year for football in Queensland!
FQ UNVEILS NEW VISUAL IDENTITY
Kick starting 2019, Football Queensland (FQ) unveiled a new logo and brand in line with Football Federation Australia (FFA)’s new visual identity, signalling the start of a new era for football in Queensland.
Throughout the course of the year, FQ has worked collaboratively with our zones to roll out the new brand state-wide, further demonstrating the unity of our game and by working as one can we take the game forward.
INCREASED COMPETITION COVERAGE
In a major boost for football fans across the state, FQ announced in January that all National Premier Leagues (NPL) Queensland matches would be live streamed, in addition to other increased video content.
ALDI MINIROOS ROAD TRIP
In February, FQ embarked on a state-wide road trip visiting 17 regional locations across Queensland to deliver football clinics and coaching courses on the ALDI MiniRoos Road Trip.
QUEENSLAND’S BEST COMPETE AT FQ FUTSAL STATE TITLES
In April, Queensland’s best young futsal players competed across two days at the FQ Futsal State Titles at the Sunshine Coast.
IFCCA
In May 2019, FQ hosted the International Football Coaching Conference Australia (IFCCA) in Gold Coast, the country’s first national football-only coaching conference in nine years.
QUEENSLAND REFEREES REPRESENT STATE ON WORLD STAGE
Queensland referees Kate Jacewicz, Casey Reibelt and Chris Beath were appointed to the FIFA Women’s World Cup held in June/July, while Chris Beath, Ashley Beecham and Anton Shchetinin were selected to officiate at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil in October and November.
YEH THE GIRLS GALAS
Coinciding with the FIFA Women’s World Cup, FQ delivered nine Yeh The Girls Gala events across the state in June and July 2019 to provide women and girls with the opportunity to give football a go.
FQ COMMUNITY CUP
55 teams from across Queensland competed in the 2019 FQ Community Cup in Cairns, held in July.
UNDER 14 GIRLS CROWNED NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Queensland’s Under 14 Girls side was crowned National Champions in July at the National Youth Championships for Girls in Coffs Harbour. Yeh The Girls!
Queensland match official Laura Krause was also named Referee of the Tournament for the 15 years age group.
WALKING FOOTBALL LAUNCH
In September 2019, FQ launched the Walking Football program across the state, a small-sided, low-impact, modified version of the game suitable for all levels of ability and fitness.
PREMIERS AND CHAMPIONS CROWNED
The NPL Queensland season kicked off in February as Peninsula Power claimed the inaugural Football Foundation Cup.
Lions FC secured the Premiership-double taking out both the NPL and NPLW titles in 2019, while Sunshine Coast Wanderers claimed the FQPL Premiership, and were joined by Capalaba FC in securing promotion from the FQPL to the NPL for the 2020 season.
In the 2019 Finals Series, Gold Coast Knights triumphed in the NPL Grand Final in their maiden season in the competition, while Lions FC took out the NPLW Grand Final claiming the Premiership-Championship double in a historic year for the club. In the FQPL, Rochedale Rovers were crowned Grand Final Champions defeating Premiers Sunshine Coast Wanderers.
Brisbane Strikers talisman Andy Pengelly broke the NPL Queensland goal scoring record in 2019, finishing the season with 41 league goals.
Watch highlights and other video content from the 2019 NPL, NPLW and FQPL seasons.
STRIKERS’ FFA CUP RUN
NPL Queensland side Brisbane Strikers made history in September of 2019, becoming the first Queensland club to ever qualify for the FFA Cup Semi Finals. A highlight of the Strikers cup run included knocking out Hyundai A-League side Wellington Phoenix on penalties in the Round of 32.
Strikers midfielder Fraser Hills was awarded the Michael Cockerill Medal for the most outstanding player in the 2019 FFA Cup from a non A-League team.
QUEENSLANDERS MAKE THE STEP UP
A number of Queensland players and coaches made the step up from FQ’s competitions towards the back-end of 2019. Lions FC’s NPL Queensland Head Coach Warren Moon was appointed Brisbane Roar Academy General Manager.
NPLW players Rylee Baisden from Moreton Bay United and Logan Lightning’s Claire Farrington signed for the Brisbane Roar, while Lions FC’s Rebekah Horsey signed for Canberra United in the W-League.
2019 NPL Golden Boot winner Andy Pengelly recently announced a move to the Singapore Premier League, signing with Home United.
SEQ FUTSAL PREMIER LEAGUE REVAMPED
In October, FQ announced the rebrand of the South East Queensland Futsal Premier League (SEQ FPL), with the logo updated in line with FQ and FFA’s new visual identity. FQ also welcomed new clubs Ipswich Futsal, Elitefoot and Lions FC for the 2019 competition.
In a broadcast coup for futsal in Queensland, FQ also announced that all SEQ FPL Senior matches in 2019 would be live streamed.
AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Players travelled from around the state and country to compete in the 2019 Australian Indigenous Football Championships (AIFC) held in Burpengary in early November.
INAUGURAL FOOTBALL IN QUEENSLAND AWARDS NIGHT
A host of community and competition awards were presented at the inaugural Football in Queensland Awards Night, hosted by Nine News Queensland’s Andrew Lofthouse in November 2019.
FQ ANNOUNCES NEW CEO
FQ announced the appointment of Robert Cavallucci as Chief Executive Officer in November 2019.
2020-2022 STRATEGIC PLAN RELEASED
FQ released the 2020-2022 Strategic Plan for football in Queensland in November, the result of multiple state-wide facilitated strategy sessions undertaken to understand the opportunities for football throughout the state.
SERIES OF REFEREE INITIATIVES ANNOUNCED
Following the release of the 2020-2022 Strategic Plan, FQ announced a series of new referee initiatives, including the teal shirt initiative for first year referees, the appointment of a State Referee Manager, a number of new staff appointments in the referee department and the recent announcement of a free registration pack for first year referees.
NEW NPL QUEENSLAND JUNIOR COMPETITION STRUCTURE
FQ confirmed a new structure for the 2020 NPL Queensland junior competition in November following the decoupling of the NPL Queensland and the Football Queensland Premier League (FQPL) junior competitions.
NEW COMMUNITY COMPETITIONS ANNOUNCED
In December 2019, FQ launched Football Queensland Masters Leagues, partnering with Lions FC’s Queensland Masters Football (QMF) to deliver professional, consistent and unified competitions across Brisbane for male and female players across various age divisions; Women’s Over 30’s, Men’s Over 35’s and Men’s Over 45’s.
FQ also announced the launch of the Q-League for the 2020 season, a structured league competition with a focus on multiculturalism and inclusion, designed to celebrate Queensland’s cultural diversity.
Check out our 2019 Year in Review montage graphic and follow us on Instagram.
BRING ON 2020!
#FootballinQueenslandUnited
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Images: Ian Judd/Lions FC, Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images, Football Queensland – South West, Louise Cooper Photography, MMM Sport Photography