New team to enter FNQ Women’s Premier League

The FNQ Women’s Premier League will be the biggest in years after confirmation a new team will contest the region’s highest football competition.

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The FNQ Women’s Premier League will be the biggest in years after confirmation at least seven teams will contest the region’s highest football competition.

The Cairns Post can reveal the women’s competition will expand by at least one Premier League team when it kicks off on July 11.

Southside Comets have returned to the Premier League after several years in the wilderness, as powerhouses Leichhardt and Edge Hill United, last year’s league and grand final winners, work to not only retain their crown but add more silverware to their respective clubs’ cabinets.

Mareeba United, JCU Strikers, Innisfail and Stratford are all returning, while Marlin Coast, which had originally planned to enter a Premier League team, is now expected to field two second tier sides.

The competition, formerly known as Fillies, will be referred to as Premier Reserves.

FNQ Football administrator Alex Srhoj said the expanded competition was all about ensuring women had the opportunity to play and succeed in football regardless of their on or off-field role.

“That’s what we strive to do every year,” Srhoj said.

“It’s offering opportunities to female players, coaches, referees and officials.

“We just need to keep creating an environment where women want to play our sport. We are inclusive, and if we can continue to provide that we will keep growing as a sport.”

It comes days after the Australia-New Zealand were confirmed as the hosts for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium is the only Queensland venue set to host World Cup fixtures, but Cairns has been put forward as a training hub for visiting teams.

Srhoj’s focus is on building the women’s game at a local level with the right investment into coaches.

“Coach education is the key,” Srhoj said. “Whether they’re female coaches, or coaches involved with girls or women’s teams, we need to develop them to ensure we give our players every opportunity to develop.”

Draws for senior premier competitions are expected to be finalised in the near future.

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The FNQ Women’s Premier League and reserve grade competitions are expected to each feature seven teams, with room for an eighth to be added to either league.

FNQ Women’s Premier League teams: Leichhardt, Edge Hill United, JCU Strikers, Mareeba United, Stratford, Innisfail, Southside Comets.

The reserve grade structure and draws are expected to be finalised in coming days.

The men’s Premier League will also feature seven teams, with FNQ Football’s top competitions set to kick off on the weekend of July 11.

Originally published as New team to enter FNQ Women’s Premier League