Words: Michael Flynn

Sunshine Coast FC striker Jacob Fulluck says he and his teammates just want to get their Westfield FFA Cup campaign underway following a week of delays.

Fire were originally due to start their cup campaign last week against Kawana FC in Sunshine Coast Zone Qualifying Round 5, however that match was postponed after it was discovered Kawana fielded a player without international transfer clearance in the previous round.

A Football Queensland Disciplinary Committee hearing subsequently expelled Kawana from the competition, resulting in Noosa Lions taking their place in the knock-out tie against Fire.

However, Fulluck said regardless of the opposition Fire, who are the last PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland team to enter qualifying, are just eager to finally take to the park this Tuesday night.

“There was a bit of hype about the Kawana game and we were a bit annoyed when it got postponed and then pushed back because we didn’t know (the outcome) for a few days,” he explained.

“But Noosa are going to come out firing just like Kawana were going to. They want to beat the Fire because we are in the NPL and they are in the local league and they want to beat the bigger opposition.”

“So we’re not taking it lightly. We’re going to go out there, do our stuff and hopefully come away with a result that will take us forward.”

The 17-year-old former Buderim Wanderers player has been a revelation for Fire in 2015 and leads Fire’s scorers in PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland with six goals so far this season despite playing predominantly as a substitute.

Fulluck acknowledged his growing reputation as one of the most lethal strikers the state’s elite club competition was something he was still coming to terms with after progressing from Fire's Under 18 squad last year.

“It hasn’t really quite hit me yet but it probably will do soon. It’s a pretty big step-up from the local league.”

He explained while his first priority is to help Fire advance as far as possible in all competitions, the Westfield FFA Cup’s broadcast agreement with Fox Sports offers a unique opportunity for exposure further afield in the tournament’s later stages.

“It’s a massive incentive. If you talk to any young footballer they will tell you they want to play live on TV with people watching.”

“Even if it’s not playing against an A-League team that would still be amazing. Just playing your best so other people can watch you and to see how far it can get you.”

He added, “With myself, I want to use Fire as a stepping stone to get elsewhere - the A-League, overseas, wherever.”

Fulluck also said he and his teammates were aware that Fire will be representing the whole Sunshine Coast region from here-on should they win tomorrow night as the region last remaining club in the competition.

“We have to keep up a reputation for the people on the Sunshine Coast who follow football and that want to see the club go further.”

“We need to go out there tomorrow night and show we are not the push-overs we were last season. We’re here to win and we’re here to get into the national stage of the FFA Cup,” he concluded.

Fixture details:

Westfield FFA Cup Sunshine Coast Zone Qualifying Round 5
Noosa Lions FC v Sunshine Coast FC
Noosa Lions Field 1
Tuesday, 9 June
Kick-off - 7:30PM