Dear Central Coast Members,
The 2023 season has been one of success, transformation, challenge, and growth for the region, with our football community remaining steadfast in ensuring local football flourishes.
From a 20-penalty shoot-out victory for the CommBank Matildas at Brisbane Stadium, to another successful Finals Football celebration at Clinton FC, the year has been packed with success on every field.
FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Fever
The success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ and the CommBank Matildas, who are continuing to inspire a new generation of players across both social and competitive formats of the game, has already delivered an increase in demand for social programs and events for women and girls ahead of the 2024 season. Based on this, Football Queensland is already reserving space for new leagues and products.
It was amazing to see the excitement the World Cup drummed up, not only in our football circles but amongst the broader community who got around the Tillies and supported their campaign. Thank you to the local sports clubs and football clubs for collaborating with Football Queensland to host public viewing sessions and turn the region green and gold.
With the continuation of Girls United Social Leagues and Carnivals, an additional Community Women’s Division and the implementation of Girls-Only MiniRoos Leagues in Rockhampton in 2024, we are continuing to work towards our statewide target of 50/50 gender parity in participation by 2027.
Regional & State Award Winners
It is always our privilege to honour local volunteers, clubs and teams with Regional Awards on Grand Final night, or at their clubs in front of a home crowd. Central Coast had another great year at the 2023 Football in Queensland Awards Night. Congratulations again to all those who were recipients of Regional Awards on their outstanding achievements, and a special acknowledgment to our State Finalists Andrew Pelling – Protect Our Game (Individual), Bluebirds United FC – Protect Out Game (Club), Gary Larsen – Service to Football Platinum, and Matthew Wust – Service to Football Gold.
Central Coast Events
This year we saw the implementation of the Inter-Regional MiniRoos Carnival, a new event for Under 8 to Under 12 players hosted at Norbridge Park and open to teams from the entire Central Coast. Our teams got the experience of playing new teams at this event, while parents were able to bring a picnic and their families along to enjoy back-to-back matches across the day.
Norbridge Park was again host to our next generation of talent, with the FQ Academy Regional Carnival starring Central Coast, Wide Bay and Mackay teams who played one another across a Sunday afternoon in August with the opportunity to be identified by FQ Technical staff.
The Girls United Social Carnival saw record numbers in its third annual installment at Boyne Island, with visitors from Rockhampton and Wide Bay enjoying two days of social and competitive fun, from ages Under 9 to Open Women’s.
We look forward to bringing the Intercity Cup to Marley Brown Oval on March 2nd, 2024, where the FQPL Teams of the Season will play off against Wide Bay to kick off the season.
Central Coast’s Presence Expanding Across the State
Our FQ Academy teams performed exceptionally at their respective carnivals and tournaments throughout 2023, held in Mackay, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.
We saw a record number of players selected for state teams, including Cohen Beach, Sam Spearing, Bobby Page, Tighe Butt-McGuire, Jackson Booth and Xavier Blomfield in the Boys teams, and Maya Allsop and Charlotte Poyser in the Girls teams.
Central Coast’s Club Development Ambassador and B Diploma Coach Mark Delaney was selected to coach the Queensland Pararoos squad for this year’s Nationals, and captaining the state team was Australian Pararoos captain David Barber who became the most capped Australian male footballer in history – a monumental achievement.
We wished the Clinton team luck as they played off in the Mitre FQPL Champions League against Across the Waves in a home-and-away two-legged round. With plenty of goals to keep the crowds entertained at both matches, the guys in green bowed out at 5-3. We look forward to seeing the rivalry continue into 2024, as both Waves and Clinton won their respective leagues again in 2023, securing their spots in the 2024 competition. Congratulations also to our Women’s Premiers, Fraser Flames and Bluebirds United.
Central Coast Referee Success
This year we recorded an increase in junior referees thanks to the mentorship from our Coaching Development Officers and Support Officers Darren McLeod, David Perna and Tori Bartlett.
The Mitre FQPL Champions League provides opportunity for our referees who are seeking an avenue for challenge and development, as taken up by Cordell Phillips and Lucy Johnson in the Clinton vs Waves fixture in Gladstone this year.
Further, we acknowledge and congratulate our officials appointed to the big dance, the FQPL Finals in Gladstone: Benjamin Cummings, Heather Richards, Juane Saayman, Lucy Johnson, Jemma James, Bailey Love, and fourth officials Darren McLeod and Tori Bartlett.
Implementing Improved Operating Systems
Following the launch of Squadi, over 150,000 users have been onboarded within the platform. The team at both World Sport Action and Football Queensland have been actively updating the platform in real time, thanks to feedback from users internally and externally, to ensure the platform is as convenient, effective, and user-friendly as possible.
With 2024 registrations live and available for those clubs who wish to open them, we are pleased to be tracking months ahead of the usual schedule to allow clubs to be as prepared for the new season as possible.
Club administrators will be able to attend an in-person workshop in early 2024 in addition to our already occurring online webinars to continue to familiarise themselves with the new features of the platform and use it to its full potential, including canteen functionality, ticket sales and shop features.
On behalf of the Football Queensland Central Coast team we’d like to thank you for your passion, patience, support and collaboration through the season, in both the busier, more testing times and during the fun and exciting times.
We’ve been able to celebrate so much in 2023, and with a successful ‘off-season’ used to enhance and update process and systems, we look forward to improving year on year to deliver football in more formats to engage more participants.
Wishing you a safe and joyful holiday period, and looking forward to seeing you again in 2024 as we return for an even bigger year of football.