It’s been a long wait since the suspension of football earlier this year due to COVID-19, but the National Premier Leagues (NPL) Queensland Men’s, NPL Women’s and FQPL are finally back in action this weekend.
With the three competitions kicking off on Saturday, there’s some massive clashes set across the the leagues including a headliner NPL Men’s encounter featuring legendary commentator Simon Hill.
All NPL Men’s, NPL Women’s and FQPL matches will be available to view LIVE on NPL.TV – accounts are free for Australian residents so sign up now to make sure you don’t miss a thing!
NPL MEN’S
Feature Match 1: Lions FC v Gold Coast Knights
First versus second. Premiers versus Champions. Simon Hill on commentary.
The NPL Men’s season resumes in style this Saturday and they don’t come any bigger than a blockbuster clash between ladder-leading Lions FC and second-placed Gold Coast Knights.
The heavyweights head into this mouth-watering match locked at the top on 13 points apiece and knowing a good performance will set the standard for the season ahead.
2019 Premiers Lions were outstanding before the hiatus, hitting 23 goals in five games and only dropping points in a thrilling 4-4 draw against Gold Coast United.
Knights, last season’s Grand Final winners, were equally impressive, with victories over Brisbane Strikers, Olympic FC and Peninsula Power among their notable early-season scalps.
The game will see experienced striker Jean Carlos Solorzano return to Richlands after he joined Grae Piddick’s Knights following a spell with Brisbane City, while Lions will be without influential midfielder Danny Kim after departed to join Warren Moon at Brisbane Roar.
Match Details
Lions FC v Gold Coast Knights
Saturday, 25 July, 7:00pm
Lions Stadium
Live stream link
Feature Match 2: Gold Coast United v Brisbane City
With rivals Knights on the road, Gold Coast United will be looking to rule the region this weekend when they entertain Brisbane City.
The 4:30pm kick-off time makes this the first fixture of the NPL Men’s season resumption and some old sparring partners seem set to command the headlines.
United favourites Shane Smeltz and Michael Thwaite will be seeking to ruin Roar great Matt Smith’s first match as Brisbane City’s player-coach, the decorated defender having replaced Nick Green in charge during the break.
City hold a two-point advantage over United after recording two wins and a loss from their opening three games and could hand a second debut to goalkeeper Bon Scott, who has rejoined the club from Brisbane Strikers for the remainder of the season.
Match Details
Gold Coast United v Brisbane City
Saturday, 25 July, 4:30pm
Coplick Family Sports Park 1
Live stream link
Other Matches:
Capalaba FC v Olympic FC
An inconsistent first six rounds leaves Olympic FC looking for momentum upon the season restart, but a trip to face a Capalaba side who have added Michael Weier and regained Stuart Edgar shapes as a tough test.
Match Details
Capalaba FC v Olympic FC
Saturday, 25 July, 5:00pm
John Fredericks Park
Live stream link
Redlands United v Moreton Bay United
The Redlands United revolution under 22-year-old Head Coach Jordan Manning begins this weekend against Moreton Bay United, a team that displayed real promise in a 4-1 triumph over Strikers back in February.
Match Details
Redlands United v Moreton Bay United
Saturday, 25 July, 5:00pm
Compass Grounds 1
Live stream link
Brisbane Strikers v Sunshine Coast Wanderers
There is plenty to prove for both Brisbane Strikers and Sunshine Coast Wanderers at Perry Park as two sides with a solitary point between them battle to avoid being stuck at the bottom.
Match Details
Brisbane Strikers v Sunshine Coast Wanderers
Saturday, 25 July, 6:30pm
Perry Park
Live stream link
Eastern Suburbs v Peninsula Power
Two huge recruits are set to go head-to-head at Heath Park as new Eastern Suburbs signing Jade North lines up against Peninsula Power marksman Andy Pengelly, the reigning Golden Boot winner who is fresh from a spell in Singapore.
Match Details
Eastern Suburbs v Peninsula Power
Saturday, 25 July, 7:00pm
Heath Park
Live stream link
NPL WOMEN’S
Feature Match: Logan Lightning v Gap FC
After finishing eighth last season, Logan Lightning well and truly looked like a team on the rise in 2020 before COVID-19 struck.
Three wins and a single loss have them poised to challenge for a Finals Series place as the season rolls on and Anna Margraf’s arrival after breaking into Roar’s Westfield W-League setup only strengthens those ambitions.
But going to the next level will be far from easy and a high-profile game against Gap FC comes as a timely test.
Gap FC sit second as it stands and will be motivated for success after falling a game short of their customary Grand Final berth in 2019.
Logan will need to keep a close eye on Laini Freier come this weekend, the clear Golden Boot leader and a handful for any defence.
Match Details
Logan Lightning v The Gap
Sunday, 26 July, 5:00pm
Cornubia Park
Live stream link
Other Matches:
Eastern Suburbs v Souths United
Eastern Suburbs – with new arrivals Allira Toby and Rosie Sutton on song – fired a warning shot to the competition with their 6-1 humbling of Moreton Bay United in a midweek catch-up match and will want to maintain that form against the visiting Souths United, who struggled to three defeats and a draw at the outset of the season.
Match Details
Eastern Suburbs v Souths United
Saturday, 25 July, 4:45pm
Heath Park
Live stream link
Lions FC v SWQ Thunder
Last season’s Premiership-Championship winning Lions FC will be looking to overcome any rustiness in their first match back against visitors SWQ Thunder.
Match Details
Lions FC v SWQ Thunder
Saturday, 25 July, 4:45pm
Lions Stadium
Live stream link
QAS v Mitchelton FC
It’s eighth against seven at Meakin Park but three points separate QAS and Mitchelton FC, the latter having roared to a confidence-boosting 7-2 victory over Thunder in mid-March thanks in part to Jamie Ayala’s hat-trick.
Match Details
QAS v Mitchelton FC
Saturday, 25 July, 6:00pm
Meakin Park
Live stream link
Capalaba FC v Moreton Bay United
Capalaba have spent the shutdown period recruiting three players with Westfield W-League experience in Natalie Tathem, Kaitlyn Torpey and Whitney Knight, making this a daunting trip for bottom-placed Moreton Bay United.
Match Details
Capalaba FC v Moreton Bay United
Sunday, 26 July, 5:00pm
John Fredericks Park
Live stream link
FQPL
Rochedale Rovers v Mitchelton FC
The FQPL serves up a cracking first fixture as Mitchelton FC head back to Underwood Park for a replay of last season’s second Elimination Final, which Rochedale Rovers memorably won 3-2 en route to their Grand Final triumph.
Match Details
Rochedale Rovers v Mitchelton FC
Saturday, 25 July, 5:00pm
Underwood Park
Live stream link
SWQ Thunder v Souths United
Flying high in first with nine points from four games, SWQ Thunder will want to underscore their status as title contenders in a date with ninth-placed Souths United.
Match Details
SWQ Thunder v Souths United
Saturday, 25 July, 6:00pm
Clive Berghofer Stadium
Live stream link
Logan Lightning v Southside Eagles
Cornubia Park will be the setting for one of Saturday’s standout matches when Logan Lightning, who are yet to drop a point, meet a Southside Eagles side buoyed by the recent signings of midfielder Joshua Anderson and left-back Kosuke Mizuno.
Match Details
Logan Lightning v Southside Eagles
Saturday, 25 July, 6:15pm
Cornubia Park
Live stream link
Holland Park Hawks v Western Pride
Western Pride’s plan to bounce straight back following relegation from the NPL Men’s has yet to completely take shape, with two wins and two heavy losses making this away game against Holland Park Hawks an important juncture in their campaign.
Match Details
Holland Park Hawks v Western Pride
Saturday, 25 July, 6:30pm
Whites Hill Reserve
Live stream link
Sunshine Coast FC v Ipswich Knights
Sunshine Coast FC will hope home ground advantage fully works in their favour when Ipswich Knights, who have already collected five extra points, make the tricky trip north.
Match Details
Holland Park Hawks v Western Pride
Sunday, 26 July, 4:00pm
Kawana Western Precinct
Live stream link