Words: Emily Wilson

Sunshine Coast FC have called upon two players from their ultra successful Queensland State League years as their latest signings.

The confirmed today that goalkeeper Dale Hill, 24, and winger Tim Hollingworth will suit up for Fire in 2015 for the first time in PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland competition.

Hill played for Fire during in the final season of the Queensland State League in 2012 as part of Fire’s Premiership-Championship double winning squad.

Hollingworth was a member of the Gympie Fire Under 19’s side during the 2011 and 2012 seasons in the former state competition’s youth division.

Fire Coach Paul Arnison said both players had returned fit and hungry to prove themselves in the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Queensland 2015 season.

“From what we’ve seen of Tim in training he’s very fit and very keen to give his all this season,” Arnison said of Hollingworth, who played for community club Noosa Lions in last year’s Sunshine Coast Premier League.

“He is one of those players who has benefitted from playing in local league for a few years and now he’s keen to come back to push his football career on and put in the hard work week-in, week-out,” Arnison added.

Arnison explained he also expects Hill to be an important contributor in the upcoming season.

“We got Dale in to have a look at him during pre-season, and he’s come back fit, positive and wanting to work hard,” Arnison explained.

“He’s a great lad to have around training pitch but he’s also been working really hard in training and has a point to prove in the NPL this season - I think he will really be pushing hard for that number 1 spot.”

Hill, who played the past two seasons with Caloundra FC in the Sunshine Coast Premier League, will also take a coaching role with Fire mentoring the club’s next generation of goalkeeping talent.

The goalkeeper, who’s previous stint at Fire ended on a sour note after breaking his leg prior to 2012 QSL Grand Final against Whitsunday Miners, said he was eager to make his mark in 2015.

“Things didn’t work out the way I wanted in the 2012 season with a broken leg and dips in form, so this season I’m hoping to establish myself in the side and have a chance for redemption at this level,” Hill said.

“Being former QSL heavyweights, we as a team definitely want to gain a finals spot this year,” he concluded.

Fire will start their pre-season campaign this weekend against Peninsula Power in the Macron Cup pre-season tournament in Redcliffe.