Words: Staff Writers
Image: Ian Judd/Football Brisbane

PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland newcomers Eastern Suburbs and The Gap are eager to prove their mettle in the competition's inaugural Senior Women’s division in 2015.

The two clubs will join ten other South-East Queensland sides in extending female football’s elite player pathway into PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues senior competition in 2015.

The Gap established themselves as a power on the women's community football scene in recent years and won last season's South-East Queensland Women's Premier League Grand Final and the Elaine Watson Cup.

Not a club to rest on its laurels, The Gap Technical Director Rob Askew welcomed the fresh focus the new PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland competition will bring to his side next year.

“I think it’s a godsend for us as it’s a new challenge,” Askew said.

“It’s a big motivator for our mature players – they need something to aim for, something exciting.”

“We’ve been fairly dominant the last few years and this gives us a new spark. We think it’s potentially historic.”

Easts Technical Director Jason Powell believes being awarded a PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland women's licence will likewise provide an attractive goal for players at his club.

“This is going to concentrate the competition for places even more to be a part of the top tier,” Powell said.

“They’re all really keen to get in and show they can perform at the highest level.”

While PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland senior men's teams will not field teams in the Brisbane Premier League men's competition; Easts, The Gap, Souths United and University of Queensland FC will all continue to take part in the Brisbane Women’s Premier League (BWPL) in addition to their new commitments.

Competing on dual fronts will provide more opportunities for players to reach the top level, according to Askew.

“Historically in women’s football if you weren’t at the Queensland Academy of Sport at 15 or 16 you missed the boat,” he said.

“I think there needs to be room for late developers and with the BWPL we can have older players that may become NPL players.”

Despite the added responsibilities that come with the licence, Powell says his club’s infrastructure is well-equipped to be successful.

“One of the things Easts has done is, with our long tradition in female football, we have the luxury of fielding teams in both the NPL and BPL,” he said.

“We’re very well positioned,” he concluded.

The Gap and Easts will be joined by fellow PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland newcomers Peninsula Power, Souths United and University of Queensland FC in girls and womens competition in 2015.

Previous PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland licence-holders Western Pride, Redlands United, Palm Beach SC, South West Queensland Thunder, Moreton Bay United, Sunshine Coast FC and Olympic FC will also field teams across the age divisions.