FQ Academy Northern Conference Junior Carnival
The first FQ Academy Carnival of the year is here for our Junior Northern Conference teams, with players from across all three regions descending on Paradise Park in Townsville this April.
fq welcome
Welcome to Gurrumbilbarra. Football Queensland wishes to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which we meet during the carnival to play our game, the Wulgurukaba and Bindal People. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging and we extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
This year’s FQ Academy Junior Regional Carnival has been expanded to include extra days and new Hub players and teams.
We welcome players from the Far North & Gulf, Mareeba, Innisfail, Northern, Burdekin and Whitsunday Coast FQ Academy Tier 1 and Tier 2 programs and trust that you and your coaches have an enjoyable time at the event.
The carnival is a development event and will include matches where players will play with their regular groups in order to display their individual and collective technical development as well as matches, for some age groups, where players are mixed with players from other areas to challenge the players’ abilities to work with others in unfamiliar conditions and to broaden the social relationships with players in their same age groups, but who live in different areas.
The carnival is very much about letting the players play, with coaches providing tasks and challenges to them, but letting the players enjoy the game. We ask that our spectators do the same. Sideline support is wonderful, needed and provides atmosphere. Sideline coaching, directing, calling out positional or technical instructions is distracting, limits player creativity and focus, and may cause doubt and uncertainty in the players.
For many of the games, the coaches will be acting as game officials as well. We will also have appointed match officials for some of the older age groups and these will be our developing referees. Please respect all match officials, their decisions and the efforts they are making to support the players.
There will be time during the week for some sightseeing in Townsville and we hope you enjoy Castle Hill, The Strand and many of the other attractions of the city.
Mike Edwards
Senior Manager – Club Development, Talent & Coaching - Northern
FA Spectator Code of Conduct
Hospitals
General Hospital
10 Angus Smith Drive, Douglas QLD 4814
(07) 4433 1111
Mater Private Hospital
21-37 Fullham Road, Pimlico QLD 4812
(07) 4727 4444
Chemists
Priceline Pharmacy
28 Lakeside DriveIdalia QLD 4811
(07) 4778 2095
Annandale Chemmart
1/91 MacArthur DriveAnnandale QLD 4814
(07) 4725 1112
First Aid
Located in the Game Day Office next to the Canteen & Bar
DRESSING ROOMS
Keys available through office.
FOOD & DRINK
Food and drinks are available at the canteen
Queensland’s #FQAcademy QAS talent pathway continues to deliver ✨
We’re incredibly proud to see four recent FQ Academy QAS graduates progress into professional football, earning contracts with A-League Women clubs across the country.
Their achievements reflect the commitment each player has shown to their development and further demonstrates the strength of the FQ Academy QAS pathway in preparing Queensland’s emerging talent for the professional game.
Congratulations Tully, Chloe, Lily and Aleisha! 👏
Players, coaches and families from across the FQ Academy QAS program came together to celebrate the 2026 season at the end-of-year awards celebration held on Sunday 🏆⚽
Lily Punch was presented with the Sue Monteath Award for 2026 FQ Academy QAS Player of Year after a standout season, while individual achievements across all age groups were honoured alongside national team call-ups and milestone and graduating players.
View full list of award winners on the FQ website.
#FQAcademy
Football Queensland’s Club Assessment Rank Score continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the #FQAcademy Leagues ⚽
Each club has received a quality assured academy rating of Gold, Silver, Bronze or Development Committed through the culmination of the evaluation process, which included assessment across 1,500 data points covering 75 weighted criteria.
FQ`s annual Club Development Assessment process is aligned with global best practice and ensures the delivery of quality assured club programs and defined pathways for young players.
The Club Assessment Rank Score provides access to the FQ Academy Leagues, with the Declaration of Leagues to be confirmed next week.
#FootballinQueenslandUnited
A huge congratulations to the three Queenslanders selected to represent Australia at the FIFA U-15 Youth World Cup 🌏🇦🇺
Following outstanding performances throughout their #FQAcademy pathway, Codey Huston, Nathan Kirby and Harlan Strugnell have earned selection in the Australian squad set to compete at the FIFA U-15 Youth World Cup this October.
Their call-up continues a remarkable year for Queensland football, with 10 Queensland State Team players now selected for national team duties in 2026, highlighting the strength of the #FQAcademy pathway and the bright future of the game in our state.
The #FQAcademy League Grand Finals are here 🙌
Some of Queensland`s brightest young footballers are set to take centre stage this weekend as teams battle for Championship glory across Luxury Paints Stadium, AJ Kelly Park, Carmichael Park and Moreton Bay Sports Complex.
With silverware on the line and a season`s worth of hard work culminating in one final challenge, expect plenty of quality football as the state`s premier youth talent goes head-to-head in pursuit of Grand Final success!
📲 Head to Squadi to see the full fixture details
