Football Queensland’s Q-League Schools competition recently wrapped up as Meakin Park played host to the final round of competition featuring local students from a diverse range of backgrounds. 

Built on the successful Q-League model, Q-League Schools is a structured inter-school football competition delivered by Football Queensland in a gala day format from Terms 1 to 3.  

Since its inception last year, the program has removed barriers to participation for 900 students in the Logan area through matches hosted at FQ’s Meakin Park headquarters. 

“This year’s Q-League Schools competition has been transformational for our students, many of whom come from refugee and migrant backgrounds and are living in low socio-economic situations,” said Morgan Roberts, Mabel Park State High School Head of Football. 

“The opportunity to represent their school in this competition is their first real pathway into football, as socio-economic barriers mean they cannot easily access club sport outside of school.  

“The competition gives them a purpose for training, for committing to their studies, and for holding themselves to higher standards of character and behaviour.” 

The 2025 edition featured seven junior and senior boys schools and five local schools in both the junior and senior girls competitions, providing a valuable chance for students to access regular playing opportunities by testing their skills against their peers. 

“The Q-League Schools competition focuses on multiculturalism, inclusion and access, bringing together highly diverse schools from across South East Queensland,” said FQ Manager – Inclusion Football Sam Escobar. 

“Many of these schools have strong football programs but miss out on other ‘elite’ inter-school leagues due to high costs and strict eligibility requirements. Q-League Schools removes these barriers, creating a level playing field where talent and community spirit can shine. 

“Football Queensland’s Meakin Park headquarters serve as a critical enabler of this program, allowing us to maximise the utilisation of the venue to deliver benefits to the broader community through the running of diverse and inclusive programs and competitions like Q-League Schools.”  

The final match day for the Q-League Schools Girls competition saw Mabel Park State High School claim the title in the senior competition and Islamic College of Brisbane in the junior competition. 

In the Q-League Schools Boys meanwhile, Marsden State High School were crowned Senior Boys Champions and Mabel Park State High School secured the Junior Boys title. 

“Our junior boys’ team winning the league was a proud achievement, but the real growth has been in the way they’ve learned to channel football as motivation for respect, responsibility, and resilience in school life,” Roberts said.  

“Equally, our senior girls’ success in claiming the title this year is a powerful reflection of how much they’ve developed since the impact of the Q-League Schools competition last year – in teamwork, confidence, and skill – and a reminder of what happens when young women are given consistent, structured opportunities to play. 

“Perhaps most rewarding has been the rapid growth of our junior girls program, which doubled in size this year as the Q-League competition and the active promotion of girls in football inspired many of our students – most of them beginners – to take up the game for the first time.  

“Q-League gave them their first real taste of football, and for many, it’s been life-changing. Watching them find pride in representing their school and joy in being part of a team is exactly why competitions like this are so important.” 

Players from Brisbane Roar were in attendance to celebrate the conclusion of the Q-League Schools competition alongside students from participating schools in the Logan area, including Isuzu UTE A-League players Hosine Bility and Marcus Ferkranus, and Amali Kinsella and Daisy Brown from the club’s Ninja A-League side. 

Meakin Park also played host to the Q-League Men’s catch-up round on Sunday, 7 September, with six matches played across two fields. 

“The rich mix of cultures and stories our students bring to the game has made this competition even more special,” Roberts said. 

“Q-League Schools doesn’t just provide matches – it provides purpose, identity, and belonging for young people from diverse backgrounds who may otherwise miss out, and it creates memories and life skills that last far beyond their school years.”