They are friends off the pitch but Olympic FC’s Danny Byrne and Brisbane City’s Matt Biggins will set aside personal feelings this Sunday when they lead their teams on to Goodwin Park in the NPL Queensland Grand Final.

Speaking ahead of the decider, Premiership-winning captain Byrne said there was no place for friendships once the match gets underway on Sunday evening.

“In and around the traps you get to know certain players and I’ve known Matt for a good couple of years now,” Byrne explained.

“Matt is a personal friend as well, but for the ninety minutes on Sunday he won’t be. But after that he’ll be my friend again,” Byrne jibed good-naturedly at his opposite skipper.

Neither Byrne nor Biggins, who both originally hail from the north of England, have played in a Grand Final before, but both understand the importance of the occasion to Queensland football supporters.

“I played semi-pro in England, but there’s no such thing as a Grand Final (in the UK),” said the burly Biggins, who was born and raised in the industrial city of Leeds.

“There are Cup Finals but I’ve never experienced a Grand Final, so it should be interesting. The club has a very strong football community so obviously winning the Grand Final would be huge for them.”

Byrne, himself a youth product of English powerhouse Liverpool FC, said his team wouldn’t let their impending national play-off against the winners of Canberra FC and Sydney United 58 in October distract them from the task at hand.

“First and foremost we have Brisbane City in front of us this week. Anything after that, well we’re not thinking about that yet.”

Byrne admitted his side’s loss 3-1 to City at the same venue earlier this year would help to motivate the team, but wasn’t the focus of their preparations.

“They’re the only top four side to take points away from us this year. But it’s not about revenge, it’s about going out there and beating what’s in front of you. This week it’s Brisbane City, last week it was the Strikers.”

Byrne further explained the experience of his side’s former professionals – including ex Brisbane Roar players Tim Smits and Matt Mundy, as well ex Serbian Superliga defender Matt Byrne and former Colo Colo (Chile) and NSL player Mario Aparicio – was invaluable in big games.

“We were talking in the dressing room at the weekend when we played Strikers and there were a couple of nerves,” Byrne explained.

“But you look around the room and you see the guys who’ve played professional football. It holds you in good stead when those players can calm some of the other players down.”

While also blessed with experienced of their own in former Scottish Premier League player Antonio Murray and Atalanta (Italy) youth player Luca Perico, Biggins said his side’s depth had been a strength this season and would hold them in good stead for the decider.

“I was new to the club, and the majority of the squad were new players too, so we weren’t sure how we would gel this year. But as the season’s gone on I think we’ve gotten stronger and stronger.”

“It was a big loss to lose Eric (Frazier) and Tom (Shannon) because they were two good players but we’ve shown the depth in the squad by covering for them.”

“I think our Under 20’s, when they’ve stepped up to seniors, have done really well this year as well. There’s a lot of players coming through and a lot of talent.”

Biggins also pointed to City’s Under 18’s, who, like the seniors and Under 20’s, will also be involved in the Grand Final festivities.

“The Under 18’s have done real well. That’s the way Brisbane City are trying to go, starting as young as possible and the results are definitely showing.”

While Grand Finals are traditionally low-scoring affairs, Byrne, the competition’s third highest goal scorer with 19 goals for the campaign, said he expected Sunday’s game to offer plenty of attacking football.

“Nobody wants to concede the first goal and we’d like to think we can contribute a keep a clean sheet again,” he said.

“But when they are packing the likes of Antonio Murray, and vice versa us with Tim Smits, it is going to be tricky for both teams to maintain that clean sheet.”

“Personally, I would like to see a couple of goals in the game because it makes for good value for the fans. And, obviously, if Smits gets one well I want one too – so there’s at least two goals there.”

Biggins also pointed to each side’s goal scoring threats, “Murray's got the golden boot already, so he’s played well all season. He’s been banging the goals in but, then again, so has Smits.”

“It will come down to one or two players and it will be a tight game.”

NPL QUEENSLAND GRAND FINAL
Sunday, 8^th September 2013 – Goodwin Park, Yeronga

Seniors: Olympic FC v Brisbane City – 6:00PM

Under 20: Brisbane City v SWQ Thunder – 3:15PM

Under 18: Queensland Academy of Sport v Brisbane City – 1:00PM

 

 

Words: Michael Flynn (Football Queensland)
Image: Ian Judd