Words: Simon Smale & Michael Flynn
Image: Simon Smale

Timothy Allen and Daniel Byrne are predicting another exciting capital derby when Brisbane City and Olympic FC clash for the first time in 2016.

The two captains came face to face this week to promote the always highly anticipated fixture – which draws on the cultural heritage of both clubs and only strengthened after Olympic defeated City on penalties to claim the inaugural PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Grand Final in 2013.

With both City and Olympic coming off last start wins, the match provides an opportunity for both clubs to build crucial momentum in the early part of the league campaign.

Allen will lead City onto the pitch for the first time against Olympic and said he was looking forward to the occasion.

“To be involved in a local derby like this, which is probably the biggest in Queensland, means lot to us and a lot to everyone at the club too,” Allen explained.

“You can really get a sense of how important it is to everyone involved in the two communities.”

Allen added the team is eager to get their first home win of the campaign after taking three points on the road against SWQ Thunder last weekend.

“Toowoomba is a difficult place to go and they had a lot of momentum behind them. But we played an extremely professional game and did what we needed to do in order to get the win and arrest their momentum.”

“Now we have some momentum ourselves and we’re trying to carry that with us into this weekend and beyond.”

The fixture traditionally draws one of the largest crowds of the season, and Byrne said his side will be well aware they are in enemy territory on Saturday night.

“The atmosphere at the Corporate Travel Management Stadium is always fantastic. A bit of a cauldron to come into for us at times, but that adds to the occasion,” Byrne said.

With his side dispatching Northern Fury last weekend, Byrne is also wary of not losing early season momentum in the derby.

“It was a bit of an upsetting result for us the first weekend, but after (last) weekend the confidence will be growing.”

“We’re still not hitting the straps as much as we’d like but definitely a bonus with the win and obviously we’ll try and take it on to this weekend.”

In addition to the usual derby bragging rights, the match also serves as the showpiece of the Coffee Cup – a joint initiative of City sponsors Merlo Coffee and Olympic sponsors The Coffee Club.

The Coffee Cup trophy will be presented after the match and is based on combined results across a range of senior and junior fixtures.

Allen said the Coffee Cup initiative was an important part of strengthening club spirit and inclusiveness.

“The whole aim of the NPL in general is to provide player pathways. If you can build the feelings and emotions and connections between all the age groups - and players develop it as they get older - it just leads to a better end product in the Senior Men’s.”

“It brings the whole club together. We have something to talk to the younger guys about – make sure you beat Olympic in the Coffee Cup. We’re all working together for the same goal,” he concluded.

Byrne agreed with his counterpart, “It helps highlight the emphasis that Olympic have placed on promoting junior talent into the first team.”

“This year will mark the first time that we’ve had seven home grown players in our first team in this fixture – that in itself, for us as a club and for the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues, is massive,” Byrne concluded.

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues – Round 3
Brisbane City FC v Olympic FC
Saturday, March 12
Corporate Travel Management Stadium
Kick-off at 6:30PM