Eighteen sets of siblings drive Gold Coast United to new heights in 2019 NPL season

GOLD Coast United’s pursuit of NPL success has become a family affair, with an incredible 18 sets of siblings driving the club’s 2019 campaign.

GOLD Coast United’s pursuit of NPL success has become a family affair, with an incredible 18 sets of siblings driving the club’s 2019 campaign.

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Among them was brother-and-sister duo Travis and Paige Taylor, who capped breakout seasons with gongs at the club’s second annual awards night earlier this month.

A member of the under-18 girls’ side that sealed the title double with a 3-1 grand final win over Lions FC, Paige received the Coach’s Player Award and also scored three goals in seven appearances for the senior women’s team.

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Travis, the under-20 Players’ Player after scoring nine goals in 21 games, was one of 13 members of John Murphy’s side to earn senior game time, making four appearances.

Gold Coast United’s Paige Taylor (left).

Sisters Elly (under-13) and Tayla McMurtie (under-10 SAP) were also standouts this season, with the former claiming the junior female NPL Golden Boot with 16 goals in 21 games, and Tayla winning the Player of the Year award for her side.

Paige Taylor’s under-18 and women’s teammates, Reese Donnelly and Anabelle Gibson, continued their rise with appearances for Queensland at the national schools competition earlier this month.

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Donnelly, from Mullumbimby, played four times for United’s women this year after shifting her schooling to Palm Beach Currumbin State High, while Gibson was a revelation in 12 appearances after making her debut mid-season.

Gold Coast United's double-winning under-18 female team.

Having helped United’s senior women reach the preliminary final, star pair Ellie Fryer and Momo Hayashi were named in Football Queensland’s NPLW Team of the Year.

Returning from a serious knee injury that cruelled her 2018 season, Fryer was chosen in the Team of the Week eight times, with centre-defensive partner Hayashi selected on six occasions.

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Fryer also won United’s Female Player of the Year, while Hayashi claimed the Technical Director’s Award.

Ellie Fryer.

UNITED’S 2019 SIBLINGS

Ben and Tim Lahiff

Lachie and Dylan Remmers

Tayla and Elly McMurtrie

Mila and Milan Bundalo

Paige and Travis Taylor

Ethan and Callista Sardellis

Marko and Stefan Miljkovic

Isiah and Christian Deans

Emanuel, Alima and Akwor Ojulu

Daniel, Diego and Cian Cuba

Hani and Zahi Addis

Hibiki and Akira Tomioka

Xavier and Savannah Sproule

Greta and Oscar Howard

Georgie and Ruby Zerbst

Hunter and Solomon Hill

Ewan and Trent Casey

Lucas and Jackson Vernon