Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Nick Milton/Sunshine Coast FC

Western Pride have confirmed key players Lincoln Rule and Peter Drager will return in the green-and-white hoops for the 2015 PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland season.

Both players proved to be standouts for Pride through an inconsistent 2014 - combining for 55 appearances and 22 goals as Pride ended the campaign in twelfth position in the standings.

At Pride’s annual presentation evening, 25-year-old striker Drager was recognised as the club’s Best and Fairest for the second straight season; while 23-year-old midfielder Rule received the Senior Men’s Player of the Year honour as well as Players’ Player of the Year.

Both players are Ipswich born and bred, continuing Pride’s strong emphasis on offering a pathway to local talent in Queensland’s premier club football competition.

Recently appointed Pride coach Karl Dodd said securing the services of the pair was important as he embarks on his first season in charge of the club.

“We’re looking to play a more intelligent and attractive style of football next year and both Pete and Lincoln will be a big part of that,” Dodd explained.

“They’re two of the more senior players in the squad, so they will have not only have to perform well personally but they will also have to help the younger players along as well.”

After finishing the first two PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland seasons in the bottom half of the ladder, Rule believes there is renewed optimism about the side’s prospects in 2015.

“There’s a really positive vibe already. We’re all looking forward to going back to training and improving on last year,” Rule said.

“I think we’ll surprise a fair few people because we’ve got a lot of younger players that not many people will know much about.”

“We’re going to play a completely different style of football next year and we’ll definitely surprise people in that regard. It will be a completely different Western Pride next season.”

Rule said that personally he was also hoping to build on his stand-out 2014 performances that saw him earn a trial with Hyundai A-League club Brisbane Roar.

“I want to continue on from last year and get even better and that’s the reason I stayed on at Pride.”

“Karl is bringing a lot of professionalism in terms of training and what we do off-the-field. I don’t think there will be many clubs as professional as us next season,” he concluded.