Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Ray Gardner/Redlands United FC

Gold Coast City have revealed the signing of Lyndon Dykes from Redlands United for the PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland 2016 season.

The 20-year-old striker, who hails from the Gold Coast, is considered one of the rising stars of the competition following a break-out first season with the Red Devils in 2015.

Dykes made his PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland debut in late April following a stint in Scotland and racked up seven goals in 15 appearances for Redlands, helping them record a maiden Semi Final appearance.

He said he is eager to build on those returns with his hometown club next season.

“Hopefully I can do a bit better than last season with a full year. I’m going to try and get a few more goals and improve myself,” Dykes explained

“I think we will have a really good team and hopefully we can push on the same as Palm Beach have done over the past few years.”

He added he was particularly looking forward to helping the newly branded club emulate Palm Beach SC’s successes in the Westfield FFA Cup and hopes to catch the eye of Hyundai A-League scouts.

“Hopefully I can perform on those days and that will help me get name out across Australia.”

Despite parting ways with Redlands after a relatively brief spell, Dykes said he was grateful for his time at the bayside outfit.

“It was nothing to do with Redlands as a club or with the coaches, it was just that the travelling was getting a bit too hard,” he explained.

Prior to his time in Scotland with Queen of the South, Dykes played senior football as a teenager in Gold Coast community competition with Mudgeeraba SC and Merrimac SC.

He said he was encouraged by Gold Coast City’s ambition to unite the region’s football community and push for a place on the national stage in coming seasons.

“It sounds pretty good what they are trying to do with the club and hopefully they can through the years get closer to the A-League.”

“It’s good to be involved and help Gold Coast soccer to get bigger,” he affirmed

Gold Coast City coach Grae Piddick said Dykes was exactly the type of player he was looking to recruit for the club.

“Part of the Gold Coast City culture is that we want the good Gold Coast players playing on the Gold Coast,” he said.

“He shown what he can do at Redlands and we’ve already seen him link up with a couple of the players in training and we’re expecting big things from him,” Piddick concluded.