Over 500 members of Queensland’s football community gathered at Brisbane City Hall on Saturday, 25 October, to celebrate the state’s most outstanding individuals and teams at the 2025 Queensland Football Gala.
The annual event recognised excellence across all levels of the game, shining a spotlight on players, coaches, referees, volunteers and administrators for their contributions throughout the 2025 season.
The evening celebrated the collective achievements of the football community across Queensland, marking another year of growth, progress and success within the state’s connected football pyramid.
This year’s Gala also introduced new award categories, including the inaugural Content Creator of the Year Award, recognising the creativity and innovation shaping Queensland football’s digital landscape, and celebrated the state’s top footballers with the NPL Players of the Year honours awarded to Seita Murai and Rie Kitano.
The 2025 Queensland Football Gala was a fitting finale to another exciting football and futsal season, honouring the individuals and teams whose passion, dedication and excellence continue to drive the game forward.
Congratulations to all of the 2025 Queensland Football Gala award winners.
View the full list of winners below.
SERVICE TO FOOTBALL
Protect Our Game Service Award (Individual)
James Wallace – MA Olympic FC
Protect Our Game Service Award (Club)
Highfields FC – Darling Downs
Ben Richardson Service to Football – Gold Award
Jeff Wells – Boyne Tannum Sands FC
Service to Football – Platinum Award
Bec Whisker – Noosa Lions FC
Volunteer of the Year
Miranda Wilson – Leichhardt Lions FC
Tom Dickson Athlete with a Disability
Chrispine Wilondja – Robina FC
COMMUNITY
Community Coaches of the Year
Danny Ciampa – Runaway Bay FC
Sarah Sheridan – Rockville Rovers
Community Junior Team of the Year
Maroochydore FC Black U12/13 Girls Div 1
Community Senior Team of the Year
Whitsunday United Div 1 Men
Community Club of the Year
Western Spirit FC
Content Creator of the Year
Brad Mills
FUTSAL
Futsal Coach of the Year
Vinicius Leite – Gold Coast Galaxy
Futsal Players of the Year
Ben Bordin – Sunshine Coast Wave
Jessica Taylor – Gold Coast Galaxy
Futsal Club of the Year
Crusaders FC
REFEREES
Futsal Referee of the Year
Jamie Ewin
Jacqueline Leleu Medal – Assistant Referee of the Year
Bailey Jacobsen
Dieter Klose Award – Community Referee of the Year
Dylan Atkinson
Des Miles Medal – Junior Referee of the Year
Axel Vella
Mick Novakovic Medal – In Support of Young Referees
Isaac Woodrow
Mick Novakovic Medal – Emerging Elite Referee
Brenton Liaropoulos
Mark Shield Medal – Senior Referee of the Year
Mackenzie Janes
ADVANCED CLUB
Junior Players of the Year
Arabella Ryan (FQ Academy QAS)
Emmett Shaw (Lions FC)
Academy of the Year
Moreton City Excelsior
Technical Director of the Year
Scott Guyett (Olympic FC)
Development Coach of the Year
John Ogden (U14s FQA1 Lions FC)
Club of the Year
Grange Thistle
COMPETITIONS
FQPL 2 MEN’S & WOMEN’S
Golden Boots
Tomas Valverde (Robina City) – 26 Goals in 20 Games
Emma Woods (Samford Rangers) – 32 Goals in 16 Games
Young Players of the Year
Tristan Auffret (Robina City)
Florence Yock (Ipswich Knights)
Goalkeepers of the Year
Tim Lahiff (Robina City)
Freya Crocker (UQFC)
Coaches of the Year
Lee Vernon (Robina City)
Alex Pinchin (Palm Beach)
Players of the Year
Tomas Valverde (Robina City)
Emma Woods (Samford Rangers)
Men’s FQPL 2 Team of the Season
Goalkeeper: Tim Lahiff (Robina City)
Defence: Tristan Auffret (Robina City), Samuel Field (Robina City), Joshua Mussell (Robina City), Ryan Patch (North Star)
Midfielders: Henry Adams (Robina City), Matthew Gordon (Taringa Rovers Men), Oohyun Park (North Star)
Forwards: Thomas Stephens (North Star), Frederick Yinka-kehinde (Brisbane Knights), Tomas Valverde (Robina City)
Bench: Caleb Patterson (Samford Rangers), Juan Carabajal (Robina City), Sean Lewis (Moreton City Excelsior), Caleb Murphy (Robina City), Brayden O’Regan (Moreton City Excelsior)
Women’s FQPL 2 Team of the Season
Goalkeeper: Freya Crocker (UQFC)
Defence: Brydie Chandler (Palm Beach), Georgina Leahy (Southside Eagles), Ella McHugh (UQFC), Rio Darlaston (Palm Beach)
Midfielders: Marcela Marques (The Gap FC), Gabby Procter (The Gap FC), Pam Bignold (Samford Rangers)
Forwards: Daphne Boyd-Tibbotts (Palm Beach), Emma Woods (Samford Rangers), Georgia Harle (The Gap FC)
Bench: Jessica Casey (Pine Hills), Jasmine Harvy (Palm Beach), Jacqueline Plunkett (Palm Beach), Tia Venter (Palm Beach), Florence Yock (Ipswich Knights)
FQPL 1 MEN’S & WOMEN’S
Golden Boots
Mason Cross (Magic United) – 27 Goals in 21 Games
Stephanie Latham (Caboolture) – 18 Goals in 17 Games
Young Players of the Year
Will Cass (Magic United)
Hyunsun Lim (Peninsula Power)
Goalkeepers of the Year
Will Cass (Magic United)
Cassandra Zaffina (Capalaba FC)
Coaches of the Year
Brett Budwee (Magic United)
Cameron Foulkes (Olympic FC)
Players of the Year
Mason Cross (Magic United)
Rio Oya (Olympic FC)
Men’s FQPL 1 Team of the Season
Goalkeeper: Will Cass (Magic United)
Defence: Scot Coulson (Brisbane Strikers), Renzo Bozo Zamora (Rochedale Rovers), Marcus Worthington (Brisbane Strikers), Tim Jackson (Magic United)
Midfielders: Nathan Lowe (Broadbeach United), Joshua Moreland (Rochedale Rovers), Harry Talbot (Rochedale Rovers)
Forwards: Mitchel Roberts (Rochedale Rovers), Connor McAuley (Holland Park Hawks), Mason Cross (Magic United)
Bench: Patrick Millard (Ipswich FC), Osman Fofanah (Caboolture Sports FC), Felipe D’Agostini (Rochedale Rovers), Connor Smith (Broadbeach United), Matthew Thurtell (Brisbane Strikers)
Women’s FQPL 1 Team of the Season
Goalkeeper: Cassandra Zaffina (Capalaba FC)
Defence: Victoria Franklin (Olympic FC), Kirrily Phillips (Olympic FC), Lauren Spreadborough (Olympic FC), Demi Robins (Capalaba FC)
Midfielders: Georgia Muir (Olympic FC), Stephanie Latham (Caboolture Sports FC), Rio Oya (Olympic FC)
Forwards: Tabea Schutt (Logan Lightning), Brittney Lacek (Capalaba FC), Cally Togiai (Caboolture Sports FC)
Bench: Monica Vancea (Caboolture Sports FC), Jacquelyn Kosegarten (Caboolture Sports FC), Aoi Shishikura (Capalaba FC), Emma Stanbury (Peninsula Power), Rebecca Sweeney (Caboolture Sports FC)
NPL MEN’S & WOMEN’S
Golden Boots
Andy Pengelly (Lions FC) – 16 Goals in 20 Games
Kyla Hanson (Eastern Suburbs) – 26 Goals in 25 Games
Young Players of the Year
Bailey Ferguson (Eastern Suburbs FC)
Kyla Hanson (Eastern Suburbs FC)
Goalkeepers of the Year
Jordan Thurtell (Peninsula Power)
Anneka Lewerenz (Sunshine Coast Wanderers)
Coaches of the Year
Cameron Millar (Moreton City Excelsior)
Gary French (Gold Coast Knights)
Players of the Year
Seita Murai (Moreton City Excelsior)
Rie Kitano (Gold Coast Knights)
Men’s NPL Team of the Season
Goalkeeper: Jordan Thurtell (Peninsula Power)
Defence: Rhys Gray (Peninsula Power), Declan Smith (Moreton City Excelsior), Joshua Phelps (Peninsula Power), Oskar Dillon (Lions FC)
Midfielders: Kenshin Takagishi (Moreton City Excelsior), Matthew Ridenton (Eastern Suburbs), Seita Murai (Moreton City Excelsior)
Forwards: Jack Skinner (Lions FC), Andy Pengelly (Lions FC), Niyah Joseph (Peninsula Power)
Bench: Nathan Foster (Moreton City Excelsior), Tommy Jarrard (Lions FC), Michael McGowan (Peninsula Power), Jakob Mudnic (Brisbane City), Laurence Cant (Eastern Suburbs)
Women’s NPL Team of the Season
Goalkeeper: Anneka Lewerenz (Sunshine Coast Wanderers)
Defence: Kate Muscat (Eastern Suburbs), Claire Farrington (Gold Coast Knights), Mia Green (Brisbane City), Rosie Malone (Gold Coast Knights)
Midfielders: Meaghan McElligott (Lions FC), Momo Hayashi (Gold Coast United), Rie Kitano (Gold Coast Knights)
Forwards: Harriet Withers (Gold Coast Knights), Eri Takamura (Gold Coast Knights), Kyla Hanson (Eastern Suburbs)
Bench: Atsuko Watanabe (Gold Coast Knights), Talitha Kramer (Brisbane City), Hollie Palmer (Gold Coast Knights), Tegan Riding (Eastern Suburbs), Bronte Rose (Gold Coast Knights)
