Cairns Stratford Dolphins U18s secure historic FNQ four-trophy season

Stratford Dolphins U18s juggernaut season enabled them to make history with four trophy wins including the prestigious 2022 Crad Evans Shield: What the coach and players said

The Stratford Dolphinspool room is getting mighty crowded with silverware after the U18s finished a sensational season where they made soccer history to score four trophies and remain undefeated.

Coach John Thomas said the team rose up to play at another level and their hard work rewarded with a robust 2-1 victory over MA Olympic to win the Crad Evans Shield.

“The U18s won the 2022 League Cup, the 2022 Premiership and the 2022 Grand Final and now they have the Crad Evans,” Thomas said.

“The whole club is so proud of them.”

Thomas said some of the players were part of the successful 2020 Stratford Colts team which also brought home the FNQ Football treble.

Stratford's unbeaten U18 team powered through to win four trophies in their sensational 2022 season. L-R Coach John Thomas, Lewis Rowell, Kai Chamarenko, Jeremy Ward (capt), Bailey Schwarz, Daniel O'Bern, Evan Meaden, Lincoln Moore, Billy Bakx, Jean Luc Cunsamy, Steve Moore. Front – Matthew Benn, Daniel Leibinger, Luca Govorko, Gareth Thomas, Cooper Wilesmith, Ben Collins, Nathan Munn, Ronan Freeman and Andrew Harris.

Thomas said the Stratford Dolphins U18s lived up to their unofficial motto of “a champion team not a team of champions.”

The sentiment was echoed by players who were revelling in their success at the club’s end of season presentation on Friday night.

Helping the Stratford Dolphins Football Club U18s to finish a stunning season with four trophies was player Ronan Freeman, 16. Picture: Ashleigh Layne Photography

Centreback Daniel Leibinger, 17, said he was stoked with their success.

“To win four trophies is an astonishing feeling,” he said.

“Will it ever be done again?”

Leibinger said he hoped to be back on the field in 2023.

“I have my senior year at school next year,” he said.

“But I would definitely love to play for Stratford again.”

Teammate Gareth Thomas, 16, agreed.

“It was pretty special, very good to get the wins,” the midfielder said.

Stratford U18s presentation night – Rear L-R Steve Moore (coach) Lincoln Moore, Gareth Thomas, Lewis Rowell, Evan Meaden, Nathan Munn, Luka Govorko, Daniel Leibinger, John Thomas (coach). Front L-R – Ronan Freeman, Jean Luc Cunsamy, Jackson Warnest, Cooper Wilesmith, Bailey Schwarz, Matthew Benn and Ben Collins.

Coach Thomas said the team, which comprised players aged between 15 and 18 with the majority around 16 years, had really punched above their weight.

“For the players and the club as whole, this U18s result is really important,” he said.

“The team is at an important stage, it’s the transition from junior to senior football and we encourage them to return to continue with senior football and dip their toes in how exciting this can be.”

Originally published as Cairns Stratford Dolphins U18s secure historic FNQ four-trophy season