Words: Steve Pitman
Image: Brisbane Strikers FC

Brisbane Strikers' strong working relationships with local community clubs is continuing to reap rewards for junior footballers.

Rochedale Rovers youngster Albert Cate became the latest to benefit in recent weeks when he was called into Strikers’ PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland U13 Boys squad following an injury to the team’s regular starting goalkeeper.

Rovers technical director Scott MacNicol answered an SOS from Strikers counterpart David Large and gave his blessing for Cate, who kept a clean sheet, to be involved.

“Scottie’s been absolutely fantastic. He’ll push every kid he can from Rochedale to us to help,” Large said of MacNicol’s assistance.

“It’s not just about the 16 boys that get selected for our teams each year. At the moment, for example, we’ve got three or four boys in the U12s that are periodically coming in and training.  

“These boys are from Logan Lightning, from Souths United, from Rochedale Rovers. If I am being fair to our catchment-area clubs, they’ve all been really supportive and helpful in giving kids an opportunity.”

Cate's chance to impress owed much to the close working relationship Strikers have with Rovers, one of the bigger outfits in the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland club’s catchment area, and with MacNicol.

Himself a former Strikers player, MacNicol used the situation as an example of the functioning relationship.

“It doesn’t really matter what level you play at, it’s always good to get recognised by another club,” MacNicol said.

“It shows that you’re doing well and shows that you are progressing in the right way.

“It’s good as a coach, as well, to see that our players are being recognised, not just from the individual basis but from the club basis. It shows that we must be doing the right things from our level and that we’re working together with the Strikers.”

Cate, better known to family and friends as ‘Bertie’, spoke of his delight at doing well and securing three points on debut.

The shot-stopper now has the opportunity to study his performance via video footage.

“I am really looking forward to (watching) it,” he said.

“I felt like I had a good game, so it’s always good to see yourself if you have played well. But I will also be able to pick up where I made mistakes and hopefully improve on that.”

This article originally appeared on the official Brisbane Strikers website.