Position: Defender

Date of Birth: April 24, 1992

Hometown: Wamuran (Queensland)

Junior Clubs: Capalaba FC, Maroochydore FC

Senior Clubs:

Description: Tall, strong central defender who is good in the air and comfortable on the ball

Andy Callaghan

Nickname: 
”Cally”

Playing number: 2

Club Name: Brisbane Strikers

Field Position: Fullback


Date of Birth: 29 December 1989

Home Town: London

Weight: 76 kg

Height: 173 cm



Previous Clubs: Millwall FC, Fisher Athletic, Cray Wanderers (England)

Player Bio:

With a CV boasting a stint at England’s Millwall, right back Andy Callaghan does not lack quality. But what he has lacked is luck with injuries, so the 23-year-old will be keen to put the bad luck behind him at his first club in Australian football and showcase his abilities. Despite not being fully fit, Callaghan did enough in the Strikers’ successful Silver Boot pre-season campaign to encourage Strikers coach David Large to sign him. Callaghan is sharp in the tackle, positions himself well and is calm and technically adept in tight situations. A season without injuries could see him become one of the pick-ups of the year for the Strikers.

Ben Harrison

Nickname: None

Playing number: 5

Club Name: Brisbane Strikers

Field Position: Left fullback


Date of Birth: 
19 November 1990

Home Town: Gold Coast 


Height: 181 cm


Weight: 76 kg


Previous Clubs: Hume City, Dandenong Thunder (VPL), Gold Coast United (Youth).

Player Bio:

The Victorian Premier League’s loss would appear to be the Brisbane Strikers’ gain if Ben Harrison’s pre-season performances in the key left back spot, so often a difficult one for teams to fill, are any guide. The strongly-built defender is technically sound, has pace, and loves to attack – a role in which he has already combined with winger Greg King to very good effect. Harrison will face stiff competition for his spot from Jack Boxell but has impressed so far and shows every sign of becoming a thorn in the side of NPL teams across the state this year.

Position: Defender

Date of Birth: October 4, 1995

Hometown: Gold Coast (Queensland)

Junior Clubs: Southport Warriors, Mulgrave Mustangs, APFA Chelsea Academy (NZL)

Senior Clubs:

Description: Dashing young fullback who tackles above his weight and knows no fear

Chay Hews

Nickname: “Hewsy” or “Chayby”


Playing number: 7

Club Name: Brisbane Strikers

Field Position: Central midfield


Date of Birth 30 September 1976


Home Town: Toowoomba

Weight: 75 kg


Height: 177 cm


Previous Clubs: Vastra Frolunda, IF Sylvia (Sweden), Carlisle United (England), Bellmare Hiratsuka (Japan), Brisbane Strikers (NSL), QAS


Player Bio:

The Brisbane Strikers’ oldest and most experienced player remains one of their best. At 36, midfielder Chay Hews is the player who makes the Strikers tick with his work rate, excellent technique and passing ability from midfield being key ingredients in the team’s performance. These are supplemented by the accuracy of his dead ball delivery from corners and free kicks, and by a shooting ability with both feet. Whether this season turns out to be his last remains to be seen, but NPL fans and aspiring young midfielders could do far worse than to make sure they get out to see what the former NSL player, who will likely chalk up his 200^th game for the Strikers this year, still has to offer.

Nickname: “Fishy”


Playing number: 9

Club Name: Brisbane Strikers

Field Position: Forward


Date of Birth: 23 June 1990

Home Town: Brisbane

Weight: 64 kg

Height: 
176 cm


Previous Clubs: North Pine, Pine Rivers, Logan United

Clark Bradford

Nickname: 
”Bradford”

Playing Number: 4

Club Name: Brisbane Strikers

Field Position: Midfielder


Date of Birth: 21 August 1986

Home Town: Blackburn, England

Weight: 66kg 


Height: 170 cm


Previous Clubs: Whitsunday Miners, Christian Brothers University (Memphis USA), Lancashire FA.


Englishman Clark Bradford joins the Brisbane Strikers after two seasons with the Whitsunday Miners in the QSL where he was one of the handful of English imports who helped turn the Miners from also-rans into genuine title and finals contenders. An attacking midfielder, Bradford is a playmaker type who also has a knack for scoring goals. It might take a while for the Strikers to work out how best to fit him into their playing system, but if he can produce his best form Bradford has the ability to become a crowd favourite at Perry Park.

Known as: “Chambo”


Playing number: 1


Field Position: Goalkeeper


Date of Birth: 9 July 1984


Height: 180 cm


Weight: 89 kg


Home town: Gold Coast


Previous Clubs: Gold Coast Stars, Palm Beach, Port Kembla

Position: Defender

Date of Birth: February 2, 1995

Hometown: Brisbane (Queensland)

Junior Clubs: Capalaba FC, Rochedale Rovers FC, Queensland Academy of Sport

Senior Clubs:

Description: Robust defender or midfielder who is technically adept and comfortable on the ball.

Position: Defender

Date of Birth: March 19, 1992

Hometown: London (England)

Junior Clubs: Merrimac, Queensland Academy of Sport, Brisbane Roar FC Youth

Senior Clubs: 

Description: Committed team player whether at the back or in attack with a knack for scoring very important goals

Nickname: “JJ”

Playing number: 20

Field Position: Goalkeeper


Date of Birth: 19 July 1995

Home Town: Blacktown City (NSW)

Weight: 76 kg

Height: 184 cm

Previous Clubs: Queensland Lions, Rochedale Rovers

Nickname: “JJ”

Playing number: 20

Field Position: Goalkeeper


Date of Birth: 19 July 1995

Home Town: Blacktown City (NSW)

Weight: 76 kg

Height: 184 cm

Previous Clubs: Queensland Lions, Rochedale Rovers

Jesse McDonnell

Nickname: None

Playing number: 21

Club Name: Brisbane Strikers


Field Position: Defender


Date of Birth: 
16 January 1993

Home Town: Lennox Head

Weight: 81 kg


Height: 183 cm
 


Previous Clubs: Mt Gravatt, Southern Cross United, Slacks Creek

Player Bio:

An excellent season in the Brisbane Strikers’ Under-19s team last year, in which he was a commanding presence in the team’s back line, was the launching pad this impressive athlete needed to gain a call up to the senior squad this year. McDonnell’s size, strength, speed and courage will have him physically well-equipped to survive the rigours of his first season of senior football, an observation that was only enhanced by his performance in the Silver Boot pre-season final in which he shone as the Strikers beat NPL rivals Olympic FC 3-2. McDonnell will not be lacking stiff opposition within the squad for his favoured right fullback position, but he will let no-one down.

Nickname: “Jonti”

Playing number: 11

Club Name: Brisbane Strikers

Field Position: Winger

Date of Birth: 12 April, 1983


Home Town: Brisbane (born Johannesburg, South Africa)

Weight: 68 kg


Height: 170 cm

Previous Clubs: New Zealand Knights, Queensland Roar, Tamworth FC (England)


Player Bio:

There would be few footballers in Queensland who could claim to have had a promising career more thoroughly jinxed by injury than the former Queensland Roar and New Zealand Knights A-League man, Jonti Richter. Five injury-cursed seasons since the demise of the Knights have curtailed his involvement in the game and brought him to season 2013 with a point or two to prove. Last year saw the winger hitting peak form before a workplace injury to his right ankle ended his season before the midway point. Nevertheless, when fit and firing Richter has demonstrated he remains a potent and unpredictable attacking weapon, so coach David Large has kept faith in him. Overdue for a change of luck, Richter could yet become a vital weapon in the Strikers’ armoury in their first NPL campaign.

Nickname: 
None

Playing number: 13

Club Name: Brisbane Strikers

Field Position: Winger


Date of Birth: 4 May 1992

Home Town: Cairns

Weight: 63 kg


Height: 
167 cm

Previous Clubs: FNQ Bulls, Marlin Coast

Player Bio:

After a couple of seasons with the FNQ Bulls in the QSL, young winger Josh De Nittis has ventured south this year to continue his development with the Brisbane Strikers. De Nittis is already well-known to Strikers’ players and supporters, having been one of the Bulls’ most dangerous attacking weapons last year, so they will be hoping he can reproduce that form, and then some, in a yellow shirt in 2013. With this in mind the pre-season signs from De Nittis were good, as he contributed both goals and assists as the Strikers won the Silver Boot tournament in February.

Nickname: “Joshie”?

Playing number: 14

Club Name: Brisbane Strikers?

Field Position: Forward

Date of Birth: 9 August 1991?

Home town: Brisbane

Weight: 75 kg

Height: 178 cm?

Previous Clubs: Albany Creek, Olympic FC, Queensland Academy of Sports, Brisbane Roar (Youth)

Nickname: “JT” 


Playing number: 16

Club Name: Brisbane Strikers

Field Position: Striker 


Date of Birth: 25 November 1992

Home Town: Beechworth (Victoria)

Weight: 76 kg


Height: 184 cm


Previous Clubs: Peninsula Power, Sunshine Coast Fire

Matt Thurtell

Nickname: “Turtle”

Playing number: 18

Club Name: Brisbane Strikers


Field Position: Striker


Date of Birth: 
18 September 1992

Home Town: Sunshine Coast

Weight: 72 kg


Height:   178 cm
 


Previous Clubs: Brisbane Roar (Youth), Queensland Academy of Sports, Capalaba

Player Bio:

Despite being only 20 years old, Matt Thurtell has been the Brisbane Strikers’ top scorer for the past three years. And in those three years his influence on his team’s fortunes can be seen from the fact that the Strikers have not dropped a point in any game in which he has scored.   An astonishing strike rate of 79 goals from 60 games says all that needs to be said about his goal scoring prowess but, that aside, his value to the team is increased by his feather-light first touch, quick thinking, and ability to bring team mates into play whilst carving open defences makes him a nightmare for opposing coaches and players.

Nickname: “Nato”

Playing number: 17

Club Name: Brisbane Strikers


Field Position: Central midfielder


Date of Birth: 
30 May 1993

Home Town: Noosa

Weight: 72 kg


Height: 175 cm
 


Previous Clubs: North Star, Pine Rivers United

Player Bio:

Player of the Year for the Brisbane Strikers youth team in 2011, Nathan Ryland had his first taste of senior football for the Strikers last year but had to bide his time for limited opportunities as the Strikers’ midfield unit remained largely injury-free while it dominated oppositions. Ryland is a strongly-built young athlete who is calm and unhurried on the ball and tidy in his distribution. All he lacks at the moment is experience, which means he will be looking to seize any opportunities that come his way this year with both hands.

Nickname: “Robbo”


Playing number: 10

Club Name: Brisbane Strikers

Field position: Centre half


Date of Birth: 15 November 1982


Home Town: Manchester (England)


Weight: 83 kg

Height: 184 cm


Previous Clubs: Green Gully, Richmond Eagles (Vic), Vauxhall Motors, FC United of Manchester (England)


Player Bio:

In his third season with the Brisbane Strikers, Nick Robinson has become an increasingly influential force within the squad, not only because his versatility enables him to fill a variety of roles on the field, but also because of his leadership qualities within the dressing room. These qualities have seen him installed as club captain for the inaugural NPL season. For most of the past two seasons Robinson has played at centre half and has done so effectively and with a commanding presence, despite the fact that it is not his favoured position. Robinson is comfortable on the ball, can spot a defence-splitting passing opportunity, and possesses ferocious shooting power that makes him a threat from set pieces. Now 30, the tall Englishman is at the peak of his abilities and will play an important role for the Strikers this year both on and off the park.

Position: Defender

Date of Birth: -

Hometown: -

Junior Clubs: -

Senior Clubs: -

Description: -