A Year of Firsts, Milestones & Triumphs
2024 has been nothing short of transformative for football in Queensland. It was a year that saw new ground broken, records made, and community engagement strengthened. From historic events to groundbreaking initiatives, here’s how Football Queensland has set the stage for an even bigger and brighter future.
The Big Moments: Uniting the Football Community
Inaugural Queensland Football Convention
Over two days, hundreds of attendees gathered for the first-ever Queensland Football Convention, which focused on Technology, Sustainability, and Growth and offered insights from industry leaders from around the world, sparking conversations about the future of the sport for our clubs and our state.
Football in Queensland Awards Night
The inaugural Queensland Football Convention also included a cocktail event at Suncorp Stadium and the Football in Queensland Awards Night at Brisbane City Hall. In a night that honoured Queensland’s finest, more than 500 football community members came together to recognise the achievements of individuals and clubs at the event hosted by former Matilda Amy Chapman and sports journalist Daniel Garb.
New Competitions and New Engagement Opportunities
Fresh Formats for All Ages
The football landscape in Queensland was enriched in 2024 with new and updated competitions designed for players of all ages and skill levels, delivering more participation opportunities right across the state:
- Metro League Cup, a new competition for senior men’s and women’s clubs, offering high-quality competition within the Metro leagues.
- Interconference Junior & Youth Carnivals, bringing together Under 9–16 boys and girls from FQ Academy regional programs for talent identification and development in competitive, game-based settings.
- Q-League Schools Competition, a competitive league for high school students from diverse backgrounds in South East Queensland, giving them the chance to represent their schools in a structured football league.
- The Kappa Queensland Cup unified the men’s and women’s statewide knockout tournaments under one banner in 2024.
Driving the Development of Our Game
Road to 50/50: Growth & Equity
2024 was a defining year for female football in Queensland. The 44% growth in female players across Queensland announced during Female Football Week was complemented by significant off-the-pitch progress, including the election of five new female FQ Members in May, as well as the re-election of Board Director Amy Chapman.
#EQUALISER Campaign
Football Queensland’s #EQUALISER campaign launched in the lead-up to the 2024 State Election to advocate for increased investment in football infrastructure and community facilities, with over $28 million in funding commitments secured for community clubs across the state thanks to the unified voice of Queensland’s football community.
Football Queensland & Brisbane Roar: Stronger Together
In 2024, Football Queensland and Brisbane Roar FC continued to demonstrate a commitment to uniting football in Queensland with the launch of the Football Queensland and Roar Football in the Community program, bringing new football experiences to thousands across Queensland, from holiday clinics to school sessions, expanding the game’s reach and engaging local communities in the beautiful game.
Strategic Growth: Shaping the Future of Queensland Football
Operational Strategies for Growth
In 2024, Football Queensland unveiled several key operational strategies, all aimed at driving the game forward:
These plans are setting the foundation for growth in player development, refereeing, gender equality, and the necessary infrastructure to support the ever-growing demand for football.
Queensland Talent: National and International Glory
Queensland Players Shine
The strengths the FQ Academy talent and development pathways were on full display this year as young footballers from across Queensland showcased their skills as part of Queensland state team squads at the National Youth Championships, including 45 players from our FQ Academy regional development centres.
International Breakthroughs
Queensland was well represented on the international stage in 2024, with Queenslanders playing pivotal roles at major global events. Trinity McPhie made her international debut for the ParaMatildas during the IFCPF Women’s World Cup 2024 opening victory against Japan, where she and the team went on to win Australia’s first ever World Championship title.
The U-17 Australian Subway Joeys also celebrated a championship win at the ASEAN U-16 tournament in Surakarta, Indonesia, with FQ Academy graduate and Brisbane Roar’s Quinn MacNicol lighting up the scoreboard as joint top scorer, while FQ Academy QAS graduates Sharn Freier, Winonah Heatley, Leah Davidson and Kaitlyn Torpey all made their international debuts with the CommBank Matildas.
The Road Ahead: Regional Referee Development and Coach Education Growth
Referee Development: A Growing Pipeline
Football Queensland’s Referee Academy saw great outcomes for progression through the referee pathway in 2024, with several academy graduates joining the A-Leagues Match Official Panel for the 2024/25 season. The introduction of the Club Referee Program in 2025 following its pilot program in 2024 sets the stage for more sustainable refereeing development across Queensland as it delivers significant benefits by boosting community involvement in refereeing, strengthening participation and the quality of referee education within our local clubs.
Regional Club Development
In 2024, regional football reached new heights with four clubs—Brothers Townsville, Southside Comets, Riverway JCU, and MA Olympic—completing the Tier 2 Club Assessment. These achievements signal a bright future for regional football, as these clubs demonstrated their investment in the game to strengthen their technical and operational capabilities.
Expanding Coaching Excellence
The Coach Education Tutor initiative and corresponding application screening process established by Football Australia led to the expansion of FQ’s Coach Education Tutor network in Queensland in 2024, with eight new C Diploma tutors and four new B Diploma tutors set to enhance FQ’s capacity to deliver a diverse range of coaching courses effectively across the state.
Queensland’s Competitive Edge
Queensland Shines at the National Futsal Championships
For the first time in 18 years, FQ played host to the National Futsal Championships which kicked off in January and saw teams from across Australia travel the Gold Coast. Over 251 matches were played, with Queensland state teams claiming five championships, marking a major accomplishment for FQ’s futsal program in the state.
Pacific Paradise on the Sunshine Coast
In 2024, Sunshine Coast hosted the inaugural nine-day Pacific Championships carnival, featuring the Pacific Club Championships, Academy Championships, and State of Origin Cup. Teams from Queensland, interstate, and New Zealand competed, providing valuable match experience for our state’s most promising junior and youth players.
Mitre Festival of Football: 2024’s Grand Finale
Capping off the 2024 season, the Mitre Festival of Football brought three weeks of thrilling action, including the NPL and FQPL 1 Grand Finals at the iconic Suncorp Stadium, and the return of the Battle of the States which saw Queensland secure a double victory over Football Victoria and two exciting match-ups against Brisbane Roar FC.
A Look Ahead to 2025
Player Registration: Keeping It Affordable
Football Queensland confirmed that player registration fees would remain unchanged in 2025, leaving Queensland with Australia’s lowest football registration fees and ensuring our game remains accessible to all.
