FNQ FC Heat’s hard work on and off the field has been recognised by Football Federation Australia, with the Cairns based NPL Queensland club nominated for Team of the Year at next week’s Australian Football Awards.

Representatives from Heat will be joined by some of the biggest names in the sport at the fifth annual awards ceremony in Sydney next Wednesday, including Socceroos and Matildas international stars as well as the players from the A-League and W-League.

Heat are one of the five teams shortlisted for the award that seeks to acknowledge sides that have a passion and flair for the game, foster equal opportunity for all, show on and off field excellence and uphold and display fair play values.

The nomination caps off an outstanding year for the NPL Queensland club in only its first season and FNQ FC Heat Chairman Adam Garnett said he was elated with the club’s nomination.

"To be recognised nationally is a huge honour and has frankly taken us by surprise,” Garnett said.

“The credit however goes to our volunteers, sponsors and players who've really bought into the culture of football ambassadorship and community participation we've tried to create."

"When we put the club together we wanted to be more than a football team, but an organisation that was passionate about promoting football by being at the forefront of the technical and organisational changes our sport's currently undergoing to be major force in the 21st Century sporting landscape."

Since the club’s inception in 2012, Heat has been committed to contributing to the local community and supporting local charities including Guide Dogs Australia, FNQ Cerebral Palsy Support Group and the Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Appeal.

All Heat players, from seniors to Under 12’s, are expected to participate in community service and outreach programmes in line with the club ethos of service and participation.

The club said it was particularly proud of the efforts of the under 14 Academy team which raised more than $5000 for teammate Rhian Docherty and his family after Rhian was diagnosed with cancer.

"From the outset we've had a focus on off-field personal development of our players and the importance of creating altruistic men and women. We are about developing high quality citizens not just footballers," Garnett explained.

"In terms of our on-field results, we've always been working to a three year plan which would see us challenging for a premiership in 2015.”

“Although we finished down the ladder in our inaugural year, that's not unusual for a start-up club. We have learnt a lot and I'm enormously proud of what our young squad achieved in 2013 and am looking forward to a very competitive 2014."

FNQ FC's online video channel HeatTV captured highlights from the club's first year both on and off the field. View the videos below and visit HeatTV (http://www.fnqfc.com.au/fnqfc-media/video.html) for more videos from the club's first season.

 

 

 

 

Words: FNQ FC Heat
Image: FNQ FC Heat
Video: FNQFC Heat