Football Queensland prepares to honour its top performers of year

Football season may be over but there is still plenty to celebrate in Queensland. Find out who from your region is line for Football Queensland’s top awards here.

Football season may be over but there’s still plenty of things to celebrate across the Sunshine State.

A number of academy wrapped up their season with grand final wins and the Football Queensland awards night is just around the corner.

Here’s the latest look at all things football from the Football Queensland Media Team.

Cairns

Cairns match official Jessica Jensen has claimed the top honour for referees at the National Youth Championships for Girls, being named as the U14 Referee of the Tournament for her outstanding officiating across the tournament. Congratulations on an outstanding achievement, Jessica.

Jessica Jensen receiving the Under 14 Referee of the Tournament from Lead Referee Coach, Danielle Anderson.

Far North & Gulf Representatives at FQ State Awards

Congratulations to Far North & Gulf club Atherton Eagles on being nominated for state honours at the Football in Queensland Awards Night to be held in Brisbane at City Hall.

Award: Community Junior Team of the Year

Nominee: Atherton Eagles U13 Division 1

The Community Junior Team of the Year is a team under 18 years of age that has attained a level of excellence greater than that achieved by other teams and whose performance has been so exceptional that their achievements have identified them as being clearly outstanding from their peers.

Gold Coast

Congratulations to the Robina City Under 15’s, who were crowned the FQ Academy 4 Champions for 2023.

The Robina outfit completed the League and Grand Final double thanks to a 1-0 win over Logan Lightning. It was Harry Hensby who was the hero for Robina, tucking home from close range to seal the win for City. Congratulations to Robina on a fantastic season.

Harry Hensby of Robina City.

Gold Coast’s Football Dominance in 2023

The 2023 season will be long remembered for players, coaches, and fans on the Gold Coast, with Gold Coast teams dominating across Football Queensland competitions.

Gold Coast Knights men completed a famous treble, winning the NPL Men’s Premiership, Grand Final and Kappa Pro Series, as well as making an impressive run in the Australia Cup. Surfers Paradise Apollo and Broadbeach United were crowned the Macca’s FQPL 1 and FQPL 2 Men’s Premiers respectively, while the Gold Coast United Women went down narrowly in the NPL Women’s Grand Final at Suncorp Stadium.

Gold Coast Knights dominated the South Coast Women’s competition, going undefeated to claim the Premiership, Grand Final Championship and Promotion to FQPL 2 for 2024.

Magic United’s Josh Squires claimed the Golden Boot in FQPL 2 Men with 21 goals, while Joel Russell of Surfers Paradise won the FQPL 1 Men Golden boot with 15 goals.

21 individual South Coast players have been nominated for awards at the Football in Queensland Awards Night, with 27 players earning places in their respective league’s team of the seasons.

The award winners will be crowned at the Football in Queensland Awards Night at Brisbane City Hall on Saturday the 28th of October. Ticket sales close on Friday the 20th October, head to the Football Queensland website to find out more.

Josh Squires of Magic United – FQPL 2 Golden Boot Winner

Crusaders women's players celebrate a goal.

Gold Coast’s Crusaders flying in the F-League

The Crusaders Futsal Club have gotten off to a terrific start in the F-League, sitting in second place in both the Men’s and Women’s competitions heading into the second half of the season.

Both sides have won 6 of their 9 games this season and sit only a handful of points behind the league leaders.

Both the Men’s and Women’s Crusaders sides will be in action against River City Futsal this Saturday at Ripley Valley Secondary College, head to the Football Queensland website for further information.

Gold Coast Girls Star at the National Youth Championships for Girls

The stars of tomorrow were on show for the Queensland U16 girls’ team, who competed last week at the National Youth Championships (NYC) for Girls at WIN Stadium in Woollongong.

Despite failing to reach the finals, Gold Coast Stars Shelby McMahon, Layla Adams, Phoenix Rogers and Greta Howard all impressed at the tournament, putting their best foot forward Infront of a host of A-League's and Matildas coaching staff.

Gold Coast United youth team players celebrate.

Award contenders

Gold Coast Knights in Contention for Advanced Club of the Year an Academy of the Year

It has been a season to remember both on and off the pitch for the Gold Coast Knights, who have been nominated alongside Moreton Bay United and Rochedale Rovers for Advanced Club of the Year, and alongside Brisbane City and Lions FC for Academy of the Year.

The Advanced Club of the Year is assessed on the improvement in FQ assessment, their FQ assessment ranking and the fair play of U13 to U18 teams. The Academy of the Year award nomination is decided based around the club developing players who have entered State or National Team programs.

The winners will be announced at the Football in Queensland Awards night on the 28th of October. Head to the FQ website to find out more.

Mackay Whitsunday

A number of Whitsunday Coast football community members have been nominated for state honours at the Football in Queensland Awards Night to be held in Brisbane at City Hall. The full list of nominees are:

Award: Community Senior Team of the Year Nominee: Mackay Lions Whitsunday Coast Reserve League Men Comment: A team over 18 years of age that has attained a level of excellence greater than that achieved by other teams and whose performance has been so exceptional that their achievements have identified them as being clearly outstanding from their peers.

Award: Protect our Game Service Award (Club) Nominee: Magpies FC Comment: A club who has embraced, implemented, and demonstrates a commitment to protecting our game and ensuring all members provide and promote a positive footballing environment.

Dolphins FC players prepare for a match.

Whitsunday Coast Stars at the 2023 National Youth Championships for Girls

The National Youth Championships for Girls tournament wrapped up recently with the Whitsunday Coast represented by two up and coming stars.

FQ Academy Whitsunday Coast and Dolphins FC players Olivia Garnett and Lilliana Knight made their mark at the tournament which A-League and National team coaches attended. Olivia was part of the U14 Queensland Silver side who finished second in their group and lost the U14B Grand Final. Lilliana competed and captained the Northern Territory U14 Girls side who had a difficult run at the tournament but provided her with valuable match minutes on the national stage.

Sunshine Coast

Congratulations to Sunshine Coast match official Craig Goodall who has been nominated for state honours at the Football in Queensland Awards Night to be held in Brisbane at City Hall.

Award: Dieter Klose Award – Community Referee of the Year Nominee: Craig Goodall Comment: A referee who has attained a level of excellence in the field of refereeing in competitions below FQPL 3 (or equivalent) and whose performance sets them apart from their peers.

Craig Goodall with Jordie Gerbes (Acting General Manager – Central Conference), Scott Grimshaw (Club Development Ambassador – Sunshine Coast) and Sean Kelly (Officer – Referee Support).

FQ Academy Grand Final Champions Congratulations to the following Sunshine Coast Wanderers teams who were crowned FQ Academy League 2 Champions over the weekend:

Sunshine Coast Wanderers U13 Boys

Sunshine Coast Wanderers U14 Boys

Sunshine Coast Wanderers U18 Boys

Well done to all players, coaches and staff on fantastic seasons.

Toowoomba

Some of the Darling Downs’ finest footballers, coaches and volunteers are up for the state’s biggest Football Awards ahead of the Football in Queensland Awards Night.

SWQ Thunder’s Abbey Lloyd is nominated for Macca’s FQPL 1 Women Player of the Year, with teammate Lucy Major nominated for FQPL 1 Women Young Player of the Year.

Thunder women’s coach Tim Taylor is nominated for FQPL 1 Women’s Coach of the Year, as is men’s coach Sam Gahan, who is nominated for FQPL 1 Men’s Coach of the Year.

Karla Hadzic has been nominated for Volunteer of the Year for her outstanding work with Rockville Rovers and Doug Spinks of West Wanderers is nominated for the Service to Football Platinum award. Brendan Stibbard of Rockville Rovers and Apat Arok of USQ FC are nominated for Community Coaches of the Year, and Highfields FC is nominated for Community Club of the Year.

Best of luck to all the nominees. The winners will be announced at the Football in Queensland Awards Night at Brisbane City Hall on Saturday the 28th of October. Tickets are available on the Football Queensland website.

South West Queensland Thunder women's coach Tim Taylor has been nominated for the FQPL 1 Women's Coach of the Year award. Picture: Annette'€™s Action Shots

The South West Queensland Thunder under-15 girls celebrate their grand final win.

FQ Academy Grand Final Winners

Congratulations to SWQ Thunder, who have had three of their FQ Academy teams crowned Grand Final Champions over the weekend.

The SWQ Thunder Under 15 FQ Academy 2 Girls team defeated Capalaba FC 2-1.

Elsewhere the SWQ Thunder U13 FQ Academy 3 side defeated Souths United 2-0, and SWQ Thunder U18 FQ Academy 3 side defeated North Star 3-0.

Well done to all the Grand Final winners on a fantastic 2023 season.

Townsville

A number of Townsville football community members have been nominated for state honours at the Football in Queensland Awards Night to be held in Brisbane at City Hall. The full list of nominees are:

Award: Community Junior Team of the Year Nominee: MA Olympic FQPL Under 13 Comment: The Community Junior Team of the Year is a team under 18 years of age that has attained a level of excellence greater than that achieved by other teams and whose performance has been so exceptional that their achievements have identified them as being clearly outstanding from their peers.

Award: Protect our Game Service Award (Club) Nominee: Saints Eagles Souths Comment: A club who has embraced, implemented, and demonstrates a commitment to protecting our game and ensuring all members provide and promote a positive footballing environment.

Award: Dieter Klose Award – Community Referee of the Year Nominee: Jarod Roughley Comment: A referee who has attained a level of excellence in the field of refereeing in competitions below FQPL 3 (or equivalent) and whose performance sets them apart from their peers.