Two NPL Queensland clubs are doing their part to assist with the development pathway in the off-season with their home grounds set to host Brisbane Roar W-League and National Youth League fixtures over the summer.

The Roar youth side kick-off their NYL season this Saturday at Goodwin Park, home of NPL Queensland Premiers and Grand Final winners Olympic FC; while the W-League side will play two home games at the iconic Perry Park, home to Brisbane Strikers.

While the make-up of the Roar youth squad will be officially announced later this week, a number of NPL Queensland talents are expected to take to the field for the team this weekend

The local flavour extends to the W-League squad, which boasts 19 Queenslanders in its 20 player roster this season.

Representatives from both Olympic and Strikers said their clubs' associations with Roar are an opportunity to further strengthen their relationships with the A-League club and, in turn, assist with delivering the best outcomes to their players on the NPL Queensland pathway.

Peter Ioannidis, President of Olympic FC, said, “We’re just helping the Roar out really. They needed a place to play and we’re flattered that they chose Olympic.”

“They don’t have their own fields and they’re our city’s team, so wherever we can help benefit our team then we should help.”

Roar used the Goodwin Park facilities last season and Ionides said as a venue it ticked all the boxes.

“It’s central, it’s a good pitch, everything’s ready and prepared for them, the food’s good and the players like playing here,” he surmised.

“We promote the game to all our members and there’s always a good turnout to support the Roar youth players.”

One of those youth players this season is Olympic’s own right winger Jai Ingham, who was a standout in Olympic double-winning season.

“The kids know Jai quite well and they’ll come out support him. It shows the kids that there’s a pathway, that one of their own has made, and that’s a very important thing,” Ioannidis enthused.

Across town, Brisbane Strikers Chairman Bruce Atterton-Evans was equally enthusiastic about his club’s role in assisting with Roar’s W-League home match days – with Perry Park undergoing significant upgrades in the past 18 months.

“We got a thousand-odd seats there now plus the air-conditioned clubhouse,” Atterton Evans explained. ”The dressing room facilities are second to none in the city and the spectator facilities are up there with any suburban ground.”

Despite the recent improvements, Atterton-Evans admitted the club had further plans for the historic venue still affectionately referred to as ‘the home of Queensland football’.

“The next thing is to improve the television facilities at Perry Park. It’s something we’re looking at and recognised, but it’s something we need to make it an all-inclusive venue.”

Atterton-Evans also said it was encouraging that local clubs were embracing the Roar as part of the football community after some timid first steps in the early years of the A-League.

“We’ve worked with the Roar as well as we can for years,” Atterton-Evans explained.

“They’re our representative in the national league and we should be doing all we can to improve their brand, which obviously will eventually flow down the football chain.”

To that end, Atterton-Evans said the W-League team’s presence was serendipitous for Strikers, who have made their first forays into women’s football as part of the National Premier Leagues.

“We haven’t had girls before, this year was our first involvement and we’ve obviously learned a lot,” Atterton-Evans said.

“Girl’s football has come a long way in a short period of time and hopefully the NPL can get it to the next level.”

Roar previously played matches at several NPL Queensland venues in preseason including North Ipswich Reserve in Ipswich, Barlow Park in Cairns and Mallawa Complex on the Gold Coast.

 

Words: Michael Flynn (Football Queensland)
Image: Keith Eigeland