Football Queensland has today confirmed the 2022 regional competition structures for Men’s and Women’s competitions as part of the Future of Football 2020+ reforms. 

From 2022, the existing Men’s and Women’s CQ Premier League and Wide Bay Premier League competitions will transition to FQPL Central Coast and FQPL Wide Bay within the Central Conference.   

Likewise, the existing Men’s and Women’s Mackay Premier League, NQ Premier League, and FNQ Premier League competitions will transition to FQPL Whitsunday Coast, FQPL North and FQPL Far North & Gulf within the Northern Conference.  

Further plans include the introduction of initial stages of a Champions League-style competition which could see the top teams from each Men’s FQPL competition within the Central and Northern Conferences play each other during the season.  

The winners of the Men’s Central and Northern Conferences would then play off in an end of season blockbuster series against the FQPL 1 Premiers in SEQ to decide the FQPL Champions of Queensland.  

FQ CEO Robert Cavallucci said the introduction of the FQPL framework for Central and North Queensland would strengthen the pathway for players and clubs at all levels. 

“The new FQPL framework will give aspirational players the opportunity to access higher standards and performance within their region and reduce the need for travel,” said Cavallucci. 

“In the initial phase, Football Queensland will work with clubs to implement the FQPL framework throughout the Premier leagues, which will incrementally raise standards and get regional clubs aligning with best practice. 

“This is not an intrusive or cumbersome process, however as regional clubs become more aligned with the new framework, FQ will assess and work with them over the next five years to progressively raise standards across five key areas in the club licensing system. 

“The ultimate objective is to commercialise the FQPL competitions around the state to a point where we can hold Champions League-style matches in the Central and Northern Conferences in a sustainable and affordable manner whilst delivering a quality football product.” 

FQ President Ben Richardson said the new structures were the outcome of close consultation between FQ and clubs throughout regional Queensland over the past 18 months. 

“We are excited to provide regional clubs the opportunity to be part of high-quality, connected competitions at no extra cost to clubs or participants,” said Richardson. 

“These structures connect clubs in a technical and administrative way and provide a powerful incentive for clubs to strategically allocate their resources across players, coaches and other staff through a five-year plan of progression towards the FQPL 1 tier.” 

The 2022 regional Women’s competition structure will be complemented by the Kappa Women’s Super Cup which will continue to serve as the state-wide knockout competition running alongside the regional FQPL competitions. 

Senior Men’s and Women’s community league competitions will sit below the FQPL framework and continue with the existing structure with team fees either reduced or remaining the same in 2022.