Mudgeeraba committed to female NPL program, despite struggles on and off the field

MUDGEERABA remain committed to their female NPL program in 2019 and beyond, despite a season of struggle on and off the field.

MUDGEERABA president John White says the club remains committed to its female NPL program in 2019 and beyond, despite a season of struggle on and off the field.

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Competing in the NPL for the first time this year, the four Wallabies female teams — under-13, 15, 17 and women — have just 10 wins in 83 games to sit last, seventh, last and second-last respectively.

After some positive signs earlier in the season, the David Thompson-coached senior side has lost its past 12 games and will drop to the bottom of the ladder with another defeat away to SWQ Thunder today.

The club has also dipped into its own pocket to help fund the venture, but White says it is only the start of a long-term plan for the club.

“(The results) mean nothing to Dave and us. This is a plan to make women’s football on the Gold Coast better,” he said.

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Mudgeeraba's Lily Lowe in action in the NPL Women's against Brisbane Roar in May. Picture: Jerad Williams

“It’s to give the Gold Coast girls a pathway. All our girls are from the Coast and that’s the idea of it.

“Whatever we can put in place to make it better for girls’ football on the Gold Coast, we’ll be doing it. That’s why we got (the NPL license), that’s what we’re striving to do and that’s what will happen in the off-season and next year.

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“It’s been hard (but) the girls have done really well in a lot of games. They’ve struggled in some but we’re extremely happy with the girls at our club and what they’ve done.

“Some weeks are harder than others (but) the girls bounce up every week. If we had just a couple more players and a bit more depth we would be a lot more competitive.”

White said the club was only too willing to help fund the push into Football Queensland’s elite pathways.

“It wasn’t cost-neutral this year. The club was happy to put money in because that’s what we’re meant to do. It’s part of our duty as sporting bodies.

“It’s not cheap and the whole idea is to try and get it cheaper for the girls too.”

EMOTIONAL DRAIN KNIGHTS’ NEXT DANGER

Coming off a 17-0 loss to Moreton Bay United, the Wallabies’ NPL Women’s side has a golden opportunity to snap its 12-game losing streak against SWQ Thunder in Toowoomba at 3.30pm.

Mudgeeraba have conceded a whopping 159 goals in their 23 games to date, but their last win was a 5-0 thrashing of last-placed SWQ at Sid Bigg Park on April 22.