Words: Steve Pitman, Brisbane Strikers
Image: Brisbane Strikers

Despite an impending FFA Cup date with destiny, Brisbane Strikers midfielder Dan Partridge says his priority remains winning the NPL Queensland title.

Strikers booked their place in the FFA Cup Round of 32 – and a Canale Cup Final showdown with fellow NPL Queensland side Olympic FC – following a hard fought 3-2 win over local Brisbane powerhouse Lions FC last Wednesday.

However, the 22-year-old Englishman, who previously spent time with Walsall's youth team and in the Derby County academy system, is adamant winning the league would be an outstanding achievement in his first season with the club.

“Obviously the FFA Cup is a great opportunity – it could be a showcase game if we get an A-League club, and there’s no better way to put yourself in the window than to play against who you want to be playing for,” he explained.

“But I think the biggest achievement would be winning the league or the grand final. That’s definitely the big one for me”.

Despite an up-and-down start to the campaign, a recent run of good form has seen Strikers reassert their league title credentials – including an impressive 4-2 showing against the high-flying Moreton Bay United on Sunday at Perry Park that saw Partridge score his second goal of the season.

Partridge said he was enjoying the attacking nature of NPL Queensland football and that it was a weclome change from his experiences in England.

“In England a lot of games can be decided on tactics. If I was playing for a team in England and we were playing an away game we’d go ultra-defensive just because we were away,” he explained.

“I’ll never really understand that, when it’s the same pitch and there’s still two goals at either end of the pitch. Why can’t we go and play attacking as we would at home? But that’s how it is in England.”

“So to come here and the away team and the home team will both be at it, both going, it was quite refreshing and it’s quite good to play in because there’s always exciting games.”

The imposing Englishman was enticed to Strikers by club legend Stuart McLaren, who coached Partidge at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom and maintains close ties with his former club.

“I didn’t know anything about the Strikers but I knew Stu and, if he was involved in it, I knew what I was going to get from the Strikers and it was always going to be good,” Partridge said.

While predominantly a centre-half in his homeland, Partridge has fitted into Strikers in a midfield role and is yet to miss a game this season.

“I enjoy midfield because there is more licence to get on the ball and to do a little bit extra than what you can do at centre half”, he said. “But you can still defend and shut down danger as you would at centre half”.

However, Partridge admits he is still coming to terms with the differences in refereeing between Australia and England, with his penchant for sliding tackles resulting in three yellow cards in successive games.

“That’s one of the things I’ve been struggling with. I can honestly say that every tackle that I’ve been yellow-carded for I’ve won the ball.”

“So basically, without going too far into it, the referees are a lot softer out here compared to where I was playing in England.”

“Obviously a bad tackle is a bad tackle and it needs punishment. I’m a hundred percent for that, but I feel as though (referees have been) a little bit harsh on me.”

Despite enjoying his turn at Strikers, Partridge added that his aim continues to be forging a professional playing career. And he is confident NPL offers him the best opportunity to do that.

“If you didn’t have ambitions to play professionally then I don’t see the point of playing at a club like this - it’s the sort of standard where it can be a stepping stone up to the bigger time,” Partridge said.

“And if you don’t have ambitions for something like that I don’t think this is the sort of league for you to play in, because it’s full of players that are capable of going to the next level and want to,” he added.