Football Gold Coast Transfer Centre: United adds favourite son, two Roar stars
Gold Coast United has welcomed back a former club player of the year and added a host of exciting young prospects as Grae Piddick shapes his squad for a massive 2022. STAY IN THE LOOP WITH ALL SIGNING NEWS HERE.
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GOLD Coast United coach Grae Piddick says the club is “one or two” signings away from completing its off-season transfer business.
Having locked up the majority of last season’s playing group through October and November, United began adding new pieces to its midst this month staring with the return of 2018 Player of the Year, Conor Smith.
The talented midfielder rejoins the club after helping Logan Lightning to 10th in the NPL Queensland last season, and will add another veteran presence in the centre of the pitch.
“He’s a good ball playing midfielder with an eye for a pass and is good from set pieces, so he’ll bring a lot to the squad,” Piddick said of Smith.
“He knows a lot of people at the club already so he’ll fit right in straight away for us.”
Joining Smith in jumping ship from Logan Lightning is centre-half Liam Goulding, whose skillset made him a target of many NPL Queensland clubs.
“Liam is a top-level centre-back or holding midfielder, but we’ll most likely use him at the back,” Piddick said.
“He’ll be an important player for us, who a lot of clubs were chasing.
“He’s a ball playing centre-back who’s very comfortable on the ball and will allow us to play out and set up attacks (from the back).”
United has also added two Brisbane Roar Youth Academy products in goalkeeper Jacson Riley and young midfielder Oli Dearn, whose older brother Josh is already at the club.
Riley joins as incumbent goalkeeper Ryan Meskell departs for a sporting future outside of football, while his stand-in last season Aaron Romein has retired.
“He really did us a great service, Aaron. it’s a shame he can’t play again but he has other things he needs to do,” Piddick said.
“Riley comes highly recommended through the Roar coaching staff so we’re looking forward to seeing how he goes next year.
“Oli’s brother Josh is in our squad already. He’s a talented young midfielder who’s just finished school and who we’d like to give an opportunity to.
“He’s shown a fair bit in sessions we’ve done already.”
Piddick, who has been in self-isolation at home since last Friday due to a Covid-19 close contact concern, will rejoin his playing group for its final session of the year on Tuesday.
Surfers loads up on attacking talent
SURFERS Paradise Apollo has strengthened its attacking stocks ahead of a maiden FQPL2 title tilt by adding former Gold Coast United striker Sam King to its ranks.
Having spent time under Alex Morrison at Gold Coast Knights previously King was a known commodity to the Apollo coach, who jumped at the chance to add another attacking threat to his ranks.
“I’ve known Sam for years ... he’s been a good player for a long time,” Morrison said.
“He really enjoyed his time at United and had a lot of respect for (coach) Grae (Piddick) but he knew a few of the boys at Surfers and wanted a new challenge.”
King joins an elite attacking contingent that will make Apollo one of the most exciting teams to watch in the FQPL2.
“You can never have enough goalscorers, mate,” Morrison said.
“Goals win games so you always want to sign players that can score.
“He’s a great one-on-one player who can score goals, has pace and fitness and is a great guy as well.”
King’s addition all but puts a bow on Surfers’ transfer business for next season, Morrison said.
“If we had to play tomorrow we’d be ready to go,” he said.
“Sam was probably the last piece of the puzzle I was looking for (but) if David Beckham comes in, we’ll be happy to have him as well.”
It’s not all good news for Surfers, however, with Morrison confirming 2020 Gold Coast Premier League Player of the Year Dylan Barwick had left the club to join Robina City.
Goalkeeper Lucas Chicco has also departed the club, for Musgrave FC.
Vernon says Robina is destined for greatness
WHEN Lee Vernon moves clubs, people stand up and take notice.
After three decades at Broadbeach United Vernon shocked the established order when he moved to the Nerang Eagles in 2019.
Now the master coach is at the helm of an aspirational Robina City, whose grandiose plans align perfectly with his.
“I think the biggest thing was the formation of the new league,” Vernon said.
“Promotion-relegation … as a coach I questioned where I wanted to be longer term and of all the clubs on the Gold Coast, Robina is one that’s geared to go up the leagues.
“Its women’s program is there, its junior program is strong and that really enticed me.
“(Robina) makes no apologies for being aspirational. It’s run like a business, with a heap of juniors and a well functioning committee.
“I’ve been really impressed with them in the short time I’ve been there.”
After two years in charge at Nerang, Vernon jumped ship to last season’s winless wooden spooners – and he has wasted no time in turning the wheels of change ahead of the new-look FQPL3 competition.
The club has already announced five new signings – three of them former starters for Vernon at Nerang – in an off-season statement of intent by club and coach.
“It’s been pretty hectic,” Vernon said.
“Myself and Russell my assistant coach have been working hard since day one.
“We knew the off-season would be on steroids and with promotion-relegation coming in it’s proven to be that way.”
Robina will start its pre-season next Tuesday, where Vernon will cast an eye over the current crop of players before looking for further reinforcements.
With just one draw from 18 games last season, Robina has a lot of room for improvement.
“If you look at the signings we’ve already made we have the framework of a very good, defensive unit,” Vernon said.
“My plan this year is to have a fast, mobile team and these players fit that mould.”
Vernon poured water on any suggestions he left Nerang on poor terms.
“I’ve only moved (clubs) twice in my life – I was at Broadbeach for 32 years,” he said.
“As far as moving from Nerang, I left on good terms. Obviously they’ve had the AFA move on since I left which isn’t ideal for those guys.
“I suppose time will tell if (Robina is) a good move or not, but I’m pretty confident it will be.”
Why Panetta chose Tallebudgera over FQPL3 rivals
TALLEBUDGERA Tigers have made a statement signing ahead of their entry into the FQPL 3 (formerly Gold Coast Premier League) next season, adding former Gold Coast Knights NPL Queensland midfielder Nicholas Panetta.
The club announced Panetta’s addition on Saturday, bringing to a close a signing saga that saw the Tigers beat out FQPL3 rivals Palm Beach for the star midfielder’s signature.
It’s a major coup for the Tigers, last season’s Coast League 1 champions, ahead of their entry into Gold Coast football’s top flight.
Panetta, 23, who was one of Knights’ best players in a disappointing NPL Queensland campaign last season, chose to step down from his state league commitments.
With the upcoming birth of his second child, Panetta’s focus has shifted more to his family and he needed a less time-intensive football outlet hence, Tallebudgera.
“It was a hard decision but I’ve got to think about my family and what’s best for them at this point in time,” Panetta said.
“I don’t think anyone really knew I wasn’t playing at Knights until they put it up on Facebook last week … since then I’ve had a few coaches get in touch, but I’ve decided on Tally.
“They were one of the first clubs that approached me and I’m happy to have signed with them.”
Panetta wished Knights the best in their quest for a return to finals football under new coach Scott McDonald next season.
“Definitely I think they can make the top four and if so, win it,” Panetta said.
“Scott will get some good players in and he’ll have them fit and raring to go for the season.”
Panetta said his plan was to step away from the NPL for 12 months to focus on family, but his early plan was to return to the state league the following season.
“Scott will make a big difference to the (Knights) squad, but then again you look at Gold Coast United and they’ll be pretty strong as well,” Panetta said.
“I’ll just have to see who offers what and what side (in the NPL Queensland) will suit me the best.”
FOOTBALL GOLD COAST TRANSFER CENTRE
Updated December 20, 2021
NPL
GOLD COAST KNIGHTS
In:
Out: Roman Hofmann (Brisbane), Jheison Macuace (Peninsula Power), Marek Madle (Rochedale Rovers), Dauntae Mariner (Logan Lightning), Junya Yabe (Visa expiry), Nicholas Panetta (Tallebudgera Tigers)
GOLD COAST UNITED
In: Conor Smith (Logan Lightning), Liam Goulding (Logan Lightning), Jacson Riley (Brisbane Roar Academy), Oli Dearn (Brisbane Roar Academy)
Out: Sam King (Surfers Paradise Apollo), Aaron Romein (Retired), Ryan Meskell (Retired)
FQPL2
SURFERS PARADISE APOLLO
In: Jeremy Green (Kingscliff Wolves), Adam Powell (Nerang Eagles), Harvey Rivers (Nerang Eagles), Sam King (Gold Coast United), Harry King (Nerang Eagles)
Out: Dylan Barwick (Robina City FC), Lucas Chicco (Musgrave FC)
MAGIC UNITED
In:
Out: Alex Matsuura (Robina City)
COOMERA
In: Ben Stinton (Souths United), Junji Yasuda (Returning)
Out:
FQPL3
PALM BEACH SHARKS
In:
Out: Byron Skinner (Brisbane), Cooper Taylor (Brisbane), Jake Martin (Tallebudgera Tigers)
SOUTHPORT WARRIORS
In: Johnny Griffin (Coomera)
Out: Ferdinand Anor (Western Pride FQPL1)
NERANG EAGLES
In:
Out: Hayden Steene (Robina City), Michael Roussakis (Robina City), Adam Powell (Surfers Paradise Apollo), Harvey Rivers (Surfers Paradise Apollo), Koki Miyasaka (Nerang Eagles), Harry King (Surfers Paradise Apollo)
MUSGRAVE MUSTANGS
In: Koh Satake (Eastern Suburbs FC), Blake Cearns (America), Ben Litfin (Port Melbourne NPL Victoria), Lucas Chicco (Surfers Paradise Apollo)
Out: Fikret Mehic (Runaway Bay Bayhawks), Bastian Joseph (Newcastle),
KINGSCLIFF WOLVES
In:
Out: Jeremy Green (Surfers Paradise Apollo), Beau Lyle (Darwin)
BROADBEACH UNITED
In: Damien Smith (NPL New South Wales), Greg Giovenali (NPL New South Wales), Koki Miyasaka (Nerang Eagles)
Out:
BURLEIGH HEADS
In:
Out:
RUNAWAY BAY BAYHAWKS
In: Fikret Mehic (Musgrave Mustangs)
Out:
ROBINA CITY
In: Dylan Barwick (Surfers Paradise Apollo), Hayden Steene (Nerang Eagles), Mason Campbell (New South Wales), Michael Roussakis (Nerang Eagles), Ethan Towse (Nerang Eagles), Shaun Robinson (Nerang Eagles), Alex Matsuura (Magic United)
Out:
TALLEBUDGERA VALLEY
In: Nicholas Panetta (Gold Coast Knights NPL), Jake Martin (Palm Beach)
Out:
TWEED UNITED
In:
Out:
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