Socceroo and Brisbane Roar captain Matt Smith has given the thumbs up to the National Premier Leagues after watching his former club Brisbane Strikers play against Redlands United on Saturday night.

The two time A-League Grand Final winner braved the wet conditions at Cleveland Showgrounds alongside hundreds of fellow Queensland NPL fans as the Devils defeated Strikers 3-0.

Despite the constraints that international and professional football places on his time, Smith explained that he was “very impressed” by what he had seen and been told about the new competition.

“This is my first NPL game due to family commitments and obviously (commitments) with the Roar,” Smith explained.

“But I’ve heard through the grapevine that both Strikers and Redlands play a good brand of football and that’s certainly in evidence. There’s some good strategies, some good tactics and there’s some boys that can play,” Smith enthused.

Smith admitted he was not an impartial observer though and was unashamedly lending his support to his former club.

“Before I played professionally, I played at the Strikers. I made quite a lot of good friends in that particular team and there’s a couple playing tonight – I came to support them,” Smith said.

“I’m always in contact with Largey (Striker head coach and technical director David Large) and obviously the captain Chay Hews is one of my best friends here and Jonti Richter as well.

“So it’s nice to come down to support them because they come down and support us during the A-League season.”

Smith’s rise to the top ranks of Australian professional football serves to inspire many young players, their coaches and parents, right across Queensland.

The English-born central defender rose through the grades with now NPL clubs Palm Beach Sharks and Brisbane Strikers before drawing the attention of A-League club North Queensland Fury –reborn in the NPL as Northern Fury FC.

Smith said his time in Townsville had demonstrated the importance of the regional teams to Queensland football.

“What happened with the North Queensland Fury (in the A-League) was a bit of a shame,” Smith explained, “There’s a good community base up there.”

Smith however acknowledged the work of his former Fury teammate and now Fury player-coach Gareth Edds, saying he is “doing a great job”.

“It’s good that regional teams can build competitive teams and it’s important for the league that the regional teams are competitive, particularly in Townsville.”

Smith explained that he wasn’t the only member of the Roar squad to keep tabs on the NPL.

“Although the A-League boys don’t come out and watch every single week, they certainly know what’s going on.”

“I know Shane Stefanutto is a keen follower of what’s happening within Brisbane and south-east Queensland. We’re often discussing in training who’s doing well and who’s not.”

“We’ve got Luke Brattan down tonight too, his brother Zak plays for Redlands; I know that he goes and watches all the Redlands games which is great.”

Smith also said he was looking forward to the Roar’s preseason fixtures that include matches against his former clubs Strikers and Sharks as well as fellow NPL clubs Western Pride and Brisbane City.

“We’re playing a number of preseason games, both against Brisbane clubs and NPL clubs, so that will give a good opportunity for players to play and certainly show us what they can do.”

“At the end of the day, as with myself, all you need is a club or a coach to give you a chance.”

“If they can do that in the preseason matches and play well in their competitions then they can be recognised through our scouting networks.”

Details for Brisbane Roar’s pre-season matches against NPL clubs are:

Brisbane City v Brisbane Roar
Wednesday, 31 July at 7pm
Spencer Park, Newmarket

Brisbane Strikers v Brisbane Roar
Wednesday, 7 August at 7pm
Perry Park, Albion

Palm Beach Sharks v Brisbane Roar
Tuesday, 20 August at 7pm
Mallawa Drive Park, Palm Beach

Western Pride v Brisbane Roar
Wednesday, 18 September at 3.15pm
Toowoomba Grammar School, Toowoomba

 

Words & Image: Michael Flynn (Football Queensland)