Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Paul Smith/SWQ Thunder FC

For the second straight round SWQ Thunder will shift a Westfield FFA Cup tie due the unsuitability of the surface at Clive Berghofer Stadium.

Thunder were scheduled to host Palm Beach SC in the Southern Zone Round 6 Qualifying match at the Toowoomba venue, however, with repair works still underway, the match has now been moved across town to Middle Ridge Park.

Clive Berghofer Stadium’s pitch was damaged earlier this year following a combined motocross-rodeo event and, despite hosting local rugby league matches since, remains unsafe for elite football.

Thunder have been forced to move several of their PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland matches in recent weeks - making use of community club facilities at West Wanderers and Commonwealth Oval.

They also ceded home ground advantage in their previous Westfield FFA Cup match against West Wanderers, winning that match 1-0 in extra time.

Middle Ridge Park is home to community club St Albans, who compete in the local Football Toowoomba Premier League competition.

In a silver lining for Thunder, a raft of scheduled matches at the venue prior to their Westfield FFA Cup match is expected to offer a high level of parochial support.

Football South West Queensland Zone Administrator Janelle Sothman found a silver lining in the forced relocation.

“With earlier junior games and the South West Men’s Zone Championships, which includes teams from South Burnett, Chinchilla-Dalby and Stanthorpe, we are hopeful a big crowd will stay on,” she said.

“We look forward to plenty of support from the region’s football community for South West Queensland Thunder as a result,” she concluded.

Clive Berghofer Stadium management declined an invitation to comment.

Fixture details:

Westfield FFA Cup Southern Zone Round 6 Qualifying

SWQ Thunder FC v Palm Beach SC
Middle Ridge Park, Toowoomba
Saturday, June 6
Kick-off - 5:00PM