Football Queensland (FQ) can today announce it has received nine complete applications for National Premier Leagues Queensland (NPL) Women’s licences ahead of the competition’s expanded 2021 season.

With initial interest for NPL Women’s licences peaking at 14 Expressions of Interest (EOIs), nine have now ultimately submitted formal applications addressing the relevant criteria.

“This reiterates the desire, appetite and extremely strong interest of our clubs to be part of the NPL Women’s competition and, eventually, the two leagues (NPL Women/FQPL Women) that will comprise a promotion/relegation aspect in 2021 and beyond,” FQ CEO Robert Cavallucci said.

The clubs who have submitted applications are:

• Brisbane City FC
• Coomera FC
• Grange Thistle FC
• Ipswich City FC
• Olympic FC
• Peninsula Power FC
• Samford Rangers FC
• Sunshine Coast FC
• Virginia United FC

Ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, to be held in Australia and New Zealand, this further strengthens FQ’s commitment to providing improved technical outcomes and cohesive competition structures, and will lay the platform for a greater cohort of female players in Queensland to play at a high level of competition.

FQ will now assess the nine applications, with clubs and the footballing community to be notified of the outcome according to the following timeline:

6 November 2020: FQ to begin assessing the applications
11 November 2020: FQ to notify successful applicants (clubs)
16 November 2020: FQ to announce successful clubs