‘Pain in the arse’: Theft blackens MA Olympic side’s state title grand final

Burglars have blighted the build-up to a major soccer match in Townsville with a brazen and dangerous copper theft.

Burglars have blighted the build-up to a major soccer match in Townsville with a brazen and dangerous copper theft.

At some stage between Wednesday September 20 and Friday September 22 the grounds of MA Olympic FC in Annandale were targeted by thieves who cut the back fence, drove on to the grounds and went into the electrical ground wells to cut and steal piping.

MA Olympic FC are scheduled to play Brisbane City FC at 6pm on October 7, in the grand final of the FQPL Women’s Champions League.

But now the club is facing a repair of $10,000-$20,000, and the main pitch will bear the brunt of the women’s training ahead of the premier showdown.

MA Olympic FQPL Women won the 2023 premiership earlier this month, their fourth-successive title. Picture: Sharon Woodward.

Coach Michael Brooks said “it’s a bit of a pain in the arse”, on the eve of “essentially the biggest game that’s been played here”.

Mr Brooks, an electrician by trade, said by the time the thief stripped the pipe, they would probably only have about $1000 of copper – a far cry from the $10,000-$20,000 damage bill faced by the club.

“There actually were live cables, and they have stripped ones that weren’t (live). If they picked the wrong ones they could have cooked themselves.

“(So) they’re not a complete moron,” Mr Brooks said of the culprit’s electrical knowledge.

Monique Sullivan pulls on the repaired fence that was cut. Picture: Blair Jackson

The lights are now out on the second pitch at the ground. The women will now have to train on and put wear on to the main pitch ahead of the premier league final.

“Clubs in Townsville don’t have a pitch just for training, but now the (regular) season is over, we could have given it a rest,” Mr Brooks said.

MA Olympic player Monique Sullivan said they wanted the main pitch in its best condition possible for the championship game.

The repairs were a big cost to bear for a small club, she said.

MA Olympic won its fourth-straight Townsville title earlier this month, earning them the right

to host the Champions League final against Brisbane City.

Police say no one has been charged and investigations are ongoing.

Originally published as ‘Pain in the arse’: Theft blackens MA Olympic side’s state title grand final