Twelve NPL Queensland clubs will test themselves against community club sides from across the state when they take to the field in the Football Queensland Cup this April, Football Queensland has confirmed.

The Football Queensland Cup marks the return of state-wide knockout football to the Sunshine State and will feature 136 club sides from across Queensland.

It is the first time such a competition has been held since 2001, with the competition to be run and administered by Football Queensland.

Last year’s NPL Queensland runners up Brisbane City were the last team to take out a Queensland Cup title, defeating the then named Brisbane Lions 2-0 in the final.

The return of a state-wide knockout cup competition continues a rich history of cup football in Queensland with the first state-wide cup held in 1976, which was also won by City.

Clubs from Ipswich, Gold Coast, Townsville and Brisbane have also previously taken out state cup titles during its previous incarnations.

The early stages of the Football Queensland Cup will commence this month but the 12 NPL Queensland clubs will enter in the latter rounds of the competition, reflecting their standing as designated elite player pathway clubs in the state structure.

NPL Queensland’s two newest additions, Brisbane Roar NYL and Harimau Muda ‘A’, will not contest the Football Queensland Cup as per the terms of their National Premier Leagues Queensland memoranda of understanding.

Each competing NPL Queensland club will line-up against the qualifiers from their respective local member zones before progressing to meet clubs from the eight other member zones in a series of playoffs covering the length of the state.

All Football Queensland Cup matches will be played as a single leg, with drawn matches going to extra time and penalties to ensure a result.

View the Football Queensland Cup competition structure here: http://bit.ly/1cT3hJ9