Over 500 members of the Queensland football community gathered at Brisbane City Hall on Saturday, 28 October to celebrate the outstanding achievements of individuals and clubs from across the state at the 2023 Football in Queensland Awards Night.
Hosted by former Matilda and leading football voice Amy Chapman and sports journalist Adam Peacock, the Football in Queensland Awards Night acknowledged the contributions of players, coaches, referees, volunteers and clubs in what was a momentous year for football not only in Queensland but across the country.
Following the introduction of an integrated statewide format last year, award winners were again recognised at regional level before state award winners were presented across six categories; Community, Service to Football, Referees, Futsal, Advanced Club and Competitions.
Congratulations to each of the winners who were presented with awards at the 2023 Football in Queensland Awards Night.
View the full list of award winners below.
Service to Football
We recognise the incredible service of dedicated individuals and clubs from across the state. Congratulations to our Service to Football Award winners.
Protect our Game Service Award (Individual)
Winner – Brett Muller – United Park Eagles (Wide Bay)
Protect our Game Service Award (Club)
Winner – Saints Eagles Souths (Northern)
Service to Football Gold Award
Winner – Silvia Marquez – Tallebudgera Valley (South Coast)
Community Awards
Celebrating the achievements of some of our most outstanding individuals, teams and clubs at the community level across Queensland.
Community Coach of the Year – Male
Winner – Allan Phillips & Jim Watson – North Shore FC (Sunshine Coast)
Community Coach of the Year – Female
Winner – Kirsty Stafford – Buderim Wanderers (Sunshine Coast)
Community Junior Team of the Year
Winner – Atherton Eagles Under 13 Division 1 (Far North & Gulf)
Community Senior Team of the Year
Winner – Mackay Lions Whitsunday Coast Reserve League Men (Whitsunday Coast)
Community Athlete with a Disability Award
Winner – Molly Carter – Samford Rangers (Metro)
Community Club of the Year
Winner – Highfields FC (Darling Downs)
Futsal Awards
It was another fantastic year for Futsal in Queensland; the third edition of the #FLeague competition is underway alongside the newly established FQ Futsal Premier League and #FQAcademy Futsal Leagues. Queensland also recorded its most successful National Futsal Championships campaign ever this year, with all 12 teams reaching Semi Finals and five Queensland sides crowned Champions.
Futsal Coach of the Year – Men
Winner – Justin Morrison – Sunshine Coast Wave
Futsal Coach of the Year – Women
Winner – Yoel Jogiono – Sunshine Coast Wave
Futsal Player of the Year – Men
Winner – Scott Fenn – Ipwsich Futsal
Futsal Player of the Year – Women
Winner – Anabelle Gibson – Crusaders FC
Futsal Club of the Year
Winner – Sunshine Coast Wave
Referee Awards
It’s time to acknowledge the achievements of another integral group of individuals within our game. Well done to our amazing referees on being recognised for their efforts this season.
Futsal Referee of the Year
Winner – Zac Keenan – Sunshine Coast
Jacqueline Leleu Medal – Assistant Referee of the Year
Winner – Vicky Clark – Metro
Dieter Klose Award – Community Referee of the Year
Winner – Jarod Roughley – Northern
Des Miles Medal – Junior Referee of the Year
Winner – Lilly Capra – South Coast
Mick Novakovic Medal – Emerging Elite Referee
Winner – Page Malau-Aduli – Northern
Mick Novakovic Medal – In Support of Young Refeees
Winner – Martyn Tilley – Far North & Gulf
Mark Shield Medal – Senior Referee of the Year
Winner – Zac Keenan – Sunshine Coast
Advanced Club Awards – Players
They’ve represented Queensland on the national and international stage, shining the light for aspiring young footballers across the state. Congratulations to our Male and Female Player of the Year winners.
Junior Female Player of the Year (Advanced Pyramid)
Winner – Grace Kuilamu – FQ Academy QAS
Junior Male Player of the Year (Advanced Pyramid)
Winner – Charlie Parkin – Moreton Bay United
Advanced Club Awards – Clubs
Building the next generation of stars. The following clubs and individuals are being recognised for delivering high-quality participation experiences and development opportunities to the next generation of footballers in Queensland.
Academy of the Year
Winner – Lions FC
Technical Director of the Year
Winner – Matt Poole – Moreton Bay United
Development Coach of the Year (Advanced Pyramid)
Winner – Noel Blake – MBU U15
Club of the Year (Advanced Pyramid)
Winner – Rochedale Rovers
Tom Dickson Athlete with a Disability
This athlete is truly remarkable at what he does.
Attaining a level of excellence significantly above his peers as he led his side to Grand Final victory in the Queensland Powerchair Football Association League, as well as being named vice captain of Australia’s Poweroos squad for the 2023 FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup
Tom Dickson Athlete with a Disability
Winner – Josh Merkas – Brisbane Strikers
Competition Awards – Macca’s FQPL 2 Women
It was another brilliant year in the Macca’s #FQPL 2 Women’s Competition, with North Lakes United dominating the league to win the double.
Golden Boot
Winner – Natasha Ridley – Mt Gravatt Hawks
Goalkeeper of the Year
Winner – Freya Crocker – UQFC
Young Player of the Year
Winner – Tegan Van Vegchel – North Lakes United
Coach of the Year
Winner – Anthony Costa – North Lakes United
Player of the Year
Winner – Annie Evans – North Lakes United
Competition Awards – Macca’s FQPL 2 Men
It was an all South Coast affair in the Macca’s #FQPL 2 Men as Broadbeach United claimed the Premiership title and Magic United claimed the Grand Final Championship.
Golden Boot
Winner – Josh Squires – Magic United
Goalkeeper of the Year
Winner – Shane Viitakangas – Broadbeach United
Young Player of the Year
Winner – Will Gullo – North Star
Coach of the Year
Winner – Leighton Speechley-Price – Broadbeach United
Player of the Year
Winner – Josh Squires – Magic United
Competition Awards – Macca’s FQPL 1 Women
Brisbane City’s invincible season see’s them continue their dominance into the Macca’s #FQPL 1 Women’s Awards.
Golden Boot
Winner – Stephanie Latham – Brisbane City
Goalkeeper of the Year
Winner – Keeley Richards – Logan Lightning
Young Player of the Year
Winner – Jorja Thomson – Brisbane City
Coach of the Year
Winner – David Da Silva – Brisbane City
Player of the Year
Winner – Stephanie Latham – Brisbane City
Competition Awards – Macca’s FQPL 1 Men
It was yet another memorable season of Macca’s #FQPL 1 Men’s Football which saw Surfers Paradise Apollo claim the Premiership and Wynnum Wolves the Grand Final Champions.
Golden Boot
Winner – Joel Russell – Surfers Paradise Apollo
Goalkeeper of the Year
Winner – Harvey Rivers – Surfers Paradise Apollo
Young Player of the Year
Winner – Luke Broderick – Brisbane Strikers
Coach of the Year
Winner – Alex Morrison – Surfers Paradise Apollo
Player of the Year
Winner – Morgan Saunders – Surfers Paradise Apollo
Competition Awards – NPL Women
2023 will live long in the memory for Eastern Suburbs who won their first ever #NPLQLD Women’s Grand Final Championship at Suncorp Stadium, while Lions continued their dominance to claim the Premiership!
Players Player
Winner – Momo Hayashi – Gold Coast United
Golden Boot
Winner – Tegan Riding – Lions FC
Goalkeeper of the Year
Winner – Anneka Lewerenz – Sunshine Coast Wanderers
Young Player of the Year
Winner – Tish Woods – Peninsula Power
Coach of the Year
Winner – Lachlan Leong – Eastern Suburbs
Player of the Year
Winner – Momo Hayashi – Gold Coast United
Competition Awards – NPL Men
It was a golden year for the Gold Coast Knights, who claimed the first ever treble thanks to their #NPLQLD Premiership-Championship double in addition to their #KappaProSeries honours.
Players Player
Winner – Austin Ludwik – Gold Coast Knights
Golden Boot
Winner – Marquez Walters – Moreton Bay United
Goalkeeper of the Year
Winner – Carlos Saliadarre – Gold Coast United
Young Player of the Year
Winner – Ben Holliday – Moreton Bay United
Coach of the Year
Winner – Scott McDonald – Gold Coast Knights
Player of the Year
Winner – Austin Ludwik – Gold Coast Knights
Volunteer of the Year
Thousands of volunteers are involved in the game every week, dedicating their time to ensure the many participants who enjoy our game can continue to do so.
Over the last 12 months this individual has shown exemplary leadership and commitment to help his club transition into Football Queensland competitions.
Volunteer of the Year
Winner – Sergio Giavon – Northside Christian
Service to Football Platinum Award
This Award recognises an individual who has made significant contributions to the sport for a minimum of 20 years and whose contributions and standard of excellence achieved in an area surpasses others and distinguishes the nominee from their peers.
An absolute stalwart of the game, we’re celebrating this individual on the significant achievement with the Service to Football Platinum Award ❤️
Service to Football Platinum Award
Winner – Doug Spinks – West Wanderers
