FQPL 3 Whitsunday Coast: The inside story of Whitsunday United’s groundbreaking double

Whitsunday United is the toast of the town following its historic double. Hear from the coaches and president to discover how they achieved the remarkable feat.

Whitsunday United men celebrate the championship. Picture: Supplied.

If Whitsunday United’s maiden men’s championship last season proved to be the infant steps in their quest for dominance, then this year’s men’s and women’s championship double in FQPL 3 Whitsunday Coast was a giant leap.

“It’s just a huge step forward,” said club president and women’s coach Peter Farrell.

“The club a few years ago struggled a bit, they didn’t really have a women’s team in the Premier competition.

“The men were occasionally competitive but not really up there. It’s a huge feat.”

So what changed?

“We’ve got a new group of people who are really committed to creating a really nice atmosphere in the club and people want to come and play for us,” said Farrell, who’s in his third year as club President.

With the Whitsundays being a somewhat nomadic region, both Farrell and men’s coach Scott Boldy revealed their respective sides had been buoyed by a number of high quality players travelling through the area.

Whitsunday United men and women celebrate together having secured the double. Picture: Supplied.

Maiden Whitsunday women’s title takes shine off Lions dynasty

The Whitsunday United women’s surge to the top culminated in a thrilling 4-2 penalty shootout victory to take some shine off the extraordinary Mackay Lions dynasty.

The Lions have claimed 12 of a possible 14 trophies over the past seven years, falling short of a sixth championship from seven consecutive premierships on Saturday.

“I was quietly confident that our girls would get up for the task,” said Farrell on the tall task of taking down the Lions, who had defeated Whitsunday 3-1 just two weeks prior.

“They’ve been very successful. I was very pleased that a lot of our girls, especially our young girls, were able to get up and take on the mental challenge and be confident and positive.

“That was a great sign.”

The sides couldn’t be split after 120 minutes of gruelling football, locked at 2-2 apiece heading into the shootout.

At one point Whitsunday led 2-0 early in the second half, but coughing up the lead didn’t phase Farrell.

Whitsunday United women celebrate championship glory. Picture: Supplied

“Sometimes the momentum changes in football ... our girls managed to hold their composure and pull it back together, it was good,” he said.

Midfielder Eva Foran played a starring role in the victory.

“(She) was absolutely superb, everyone was good, but… she was fantastic,” Farrell said.

He was also pleased with his side’s resolute and committed defence.

While the transient nature of the Whitsundays has been one of the many puzzle pieces that played into the club’s present success, it can also act as a hindrance to long-term continuity.

So will this history-making group of ladies gun for back-to-back titles next season?

“I have no idea to be honest, but I certainly hope so,” said Farrell.

Double delight secures swan song for Whitsunday men

Buoyed by the earlier success of their women’s side, the United men rallied to secure the club its historic double.

“To see them win it on penalties was exciting, they were buzzing, it definitely added something for us as well because we didn’t want to be the ones to let the club down,” revealed coach Scott Boldy.

The 2-1 victory over Mackay Magpies secured a run of four consecutive trophies for Whitsunday, who have now claimed the last two premierships and championships.

But United started on the back foot, caught off-guard by the Magpies high press, they conceded an early penalty to trail 1-0 inside ten minutes.

Whitsunday United players Helrado Santiago Gauna (left) and Scott Boldy after their premiership win. Picture: Supplied

That scoreline would stand until the 76th minute, from where a “smash and grab” of two goals in quick succession to Harry Hodgen and Ollie Mitchell would swing the pendulum back in Whitsunday’s favour.

“(Magpies) definitely deserved the lead at halftime,” Boldy said.

“In the second half we knew we had the wind and they’d get tired from pressing so hard.

“It was a different tactic, it was very smart by them. Our style is to keep the ball, we don’t go long… we got into a little bit of trouble.

“I was always confident we would get a chance at some stage because we scored so many goals all year.”

Traditionally a left back, Mitchell was deployed in the foreign position of right wing when he subbed on. And the move proved to be a masterstroke given he scored the winner.

“We looked at the bench and that was who we had left and it was like ‘go have a go’... and he was unreal,” revealed Boldy.

Whitsunday United men celebrate the championship. Picture: Supplied.

“Harry Hodgen on the other wing… he’s pretty good in those games and gets on with it.

“The backline was solid, put up with a lot of pressure early on.”

Player-coach Boldy, who’s unsure himself whether he’ll play again next season, revealed the victory was somewhat of a swan song for a group that’s set to undergo a significant changing of the guard.

“There’s a lot of guys leaving now,” he said.

“We have to rely on a lot of backpackers coming to Airlie next year to see if the team’s as strong.”