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Brisbane Strikers

Full name	Brisbane Strikers Football Club
Nickname(s)	Strikers
Founded	1991 (as Brisbane United)
Ground	Perry Park
Capacity	5,000
Chairman	Paolo Ucchino
Coach	Kevin Aherne-Evans
League	FQPL
2024	3rd of 12
Website	http://www.brisbanestrikers.com.au/
Home colours Away colours

Brisbane Strikers Football Club is an Australian semi-professional football club based in Brisbane, Queensland. Founded in 1991 as Brisbane United, the club competed in the National Soccer League until the 2003–04 season.

Brisbane Strikers currently competes in the Football Queensland Premier League, with home matches played at Perry Park.

History

Background

Brisbane's first representation in the National Soccer League (NSL), then known as the Philips Soccer League (PSL), came in the form of Brisbane City and Brisbane Lions. Brisbane City won the first two national knockout competitions, by defeating Marconi in 1977 and West Adelaide in 1978.

Brisbane Lions won the knockout competition in 1981, also defeating West Adelaide. Brisbane City left the NSL in after the 1986 season and Brisbane Lions after the 1988 season.

National Soccer League 1991–2004

The next Brisbane team in the NSL was Brisbane United, which played from 1991 to 1993 coached by Miron Bleiberg. The team wore predominately white, with a blue and gold trim – the official colours of Brisbane. After a troubled time, with small crowds, confronting relegation and with a "disenchanted team", former Australian Soccer Federation chairman Ian Brusasco headed a trustee management group to restructure the club. The name was changed to the Brisbane Strikers for the 1993/94 season, with the colours, newly installed coach Bruce Stowell and most players retained.

Initially the Brisbane Strikers were owned by the Queensland Soccer Federation (QSF), which handed the running of the club to a Trust Management Group composed of Brusasco (also a former president of the QSF), Clem Jones (former Lord Mayor of Brisbane) and leading football official Frank Speare.

Coached by Stowell for three seasons, the Strikers finished fourth in 1995/96 to qualify for their first NSL finals appearance, in which they lost a semi-final playoff over two legs to Sydney United.

In the 1996/97 season, the Strikers ditched the white to wear a predominately gold kit, with blue trims, and were led by player-coach Frank Farina. The team finished second on the NSL ladder to Sydney United before going on to beat United in their semi-final to set up a home grand final – against the same team.

During this period, future FIFA whistleblower Bonita Mersiades worked for the Strikers as the club's media officer.

At a time when football was struggling for mainstream acceptance and credibility in Australia, NSL Grand Finals– the pinnacle of club football in Australia – generally drew crowds between 12,000 and 25,000. But the 1997 Grand Final, played at Lang Park in Brisbane, drew a capacity 40,446 spectators to watch the Strikers beat Sydney United 2–0 with goals by Farina and Rod Brown.

This was a watershed moment for football in Australia, but the Strikers struggled the next season, finishing 12th. A significant event in the history of the club occurred in 1998 when the QSF divested itself of its ownership, which passed to the Strikers Football Club Pty Ltd.

Scarcely three years after the club had played its part in Australian club football's proudest moment, it was dealt a savage blow when Soccer Australia, as part of a restructuring of the national competition, refused the Strikers' application for a place in the NSL, citing financial concerns. Canberra Cosmos was also expelled. This left the national league without a representative from the country's third most populous state.

Politicians, supporters and the general public waged a campaign to have the club reinstated to the national league. Then-Queensland premier Peter Beattie said of Soccer Australia officials: "Who the hell do they think they are?" How can you have a national soccer competition without a Queensland team? I mean, it's absolutely ridiculous. Soccer officials must be sensitive to its national obligations."

Public pressure eventually convinced Soccer Australia to reverse its decision and grant the Strikers Football Club Pty Ltd a licence for the 2000/2001 season.

Back on the field, under coach John Kosmina, the Strikers finished fourth and qualified for the NSL finals. Eventual premiers South Melbourne FC prevailed over the Strikers in their two-legged semi-final.

The next season saw the Strikers struggle again and led to the club parting ways with Kosmina. Despite a host of coaches showing interest in the vacancy, including some from overseas, the Strikers took the step of appointing 28-year-old club captain Stuart McLaren as head coach, assisted by Luciano Trani. Together, the two assembled a squad of unsung players from the local leagues and turning them into a team that took the club back to the 2003/04 NSL finals only to lose a memorable semi-final play-off to Adelaide United.

That season was the last for the NSL. A strong reform movement within the game in Australia had seen a new Soccer Australia Board appointed (which would change its name to Football Federation Australia) under the Chairmanship of Frank Lowy and the new governing body set about creating a new national competition called the A-League.

1996–97 remained the only time a Queensland team had won an Australian national football title, until Brisbane Roar won the 2010–11 A-League title.

First A-League bid

The Brisbane Strikers were a prime candidate for the Brisbane position in the new A-League that kicked off in mid-2005. Football Federation Australia boss Frank Lowy was quoted at the time saying that the two Brisbane bids were outstanding , but the reality was that only one team would make it.

The A-League decided to go with the Lions bid, who changed their name to the Queensland Roar, whose name changed once more to the present Brisbane Roar, maintaining their local link to the Lions, and its Dutch ethnic iconography.

Brisbane Premier League 2005–2007

Determined to find an outlet to continue their philosophy of developing the talents of Queensland footballers, the Brisbane Strikers joined forces with local Brisbane club North Star to field a team in the Brisbane Premier League. Coached by Bobby Hamilton, the new team qualified for the finals play-off in its first BPL season (2005) before falling to Palm Beach in a semi-final. However, in 2006 the Strikers carried all before them, winning the BPL championship, the Grand Final and the Premier Cup.

Another coaching change saw Craig Collins take on the player-coach role in 2007. It was an "almost" season for the Strikers, which saw them finish runners-up in the championship to Rochedale Rovers F.C., before losing a titanic struggle in the Grand Final to the same team by the scoreline of 5–4.

Queensland State League 2008–2012

With the Queensland State League due to commence in 2008 as part of Football Federation Australia and Football Queensland's goal of enhancing career pathways across Queensland and providing a platform between the local and national competitions, the Strikers saw a position in the QSL as a natural "fit" with the club's own player development ethos. Its application to join the new state competition was accepted and the club, once again under the coaching of Stuart McLaren, put its best foot forward on playing fields from Brisbane to Townsville in the inaugural QSL season. The Strikers finished second behind Sunshine Coast F.C. on the league table before hosting the Grand Final at Perry Park and losing to the same team.

The following (2009) season, McLaren and his squad clinched the QSL championship in the penultimate round of the competition after a tense season-long battle with Olympic FC. In doing so, the Brisbane Strikers became one of the very few football clubs in Australia to have won trophies at local, state and national levels. However, the Strikers lost in a Grand Final once again, going down 1–4 in a boilover result to Redlands United FC, who had finished the season in fourth position on the QSL ladder.

The 2010 and 2011 campaigns took on a familiar path. With David Large taking on the coaching role from the departing McLaren, the club finished both seasons in second position on the league table before going on to host the Grand Finals and losing each one by an identical scoreline, 1–0 to Sunshine Coast FC. The 2012 QSL proved to be a successful season for the club. The Strikers claimed their second QSL championship in five years in emphatic fashion, finishing eight points above second place Far North Queensland Bulls FC. The Strikers were eliminated in a home semi-final 2–0 to Whitsunday Miners FC.

National Premier Leagues Queensland 2013–2021

After 2012 the Strikers competed in the National Premier Leagues Queensland, run by Football Queensland, the top tier state-level association football competition in Queensland, replacing the Queensland State League. The conference is a sub division of the National Premier Leagues. The league consists of teams across Queensland.

In seasons 2013 and 2014 the Strikers finished fourth in the league before being eliminated in the semi-finals by league winners and eventual Grand Final champions in Olympic FC and Palm Beach Sharks respectively.

Season 2015 saw a new coach take the helm in Kevin Aherne-Evans and while enjoying a relatively successful campaign it was to prove a frustrating year for the club. With the Strikers equal top of the league but second on goal difference their final game of the season was abandoned due to wet weather and with the governing body, Football Queensland, choosing not to reschedule the match and deem it a goalless draw they were forced to settle for the runners-up position. The disappointment from the last game controversy was further heightened when the Strikers qualified for the Grand Final, only to lose to their league rivals Moreton Bay United.

The Strikers proved a dominant force in season 2016, finally clinching the club's first National Premier Leagues Queensland league title. In 2017 Sean Lane took over the coaching duties from the departing Aherne-Evans. The Strikers became the first side to win consecutive league titles in the National Premier Leagues Queensland era after a gripping battle with Gold Coast City FC. Postseason football however continued to be a thorn in the Strikers' side with the team losing their semi-finals in both 2016 and 2017 seasons.

As league winners in 2016 and 2017 the Strikers also qualified for the Australia-wide National Premier Leagues finals series which sees the winner from each state federation compete in a knockout cup competition to be crowned national champions. After losing at the semi-final stage to eventual champions Sydney United 58 in 2016, the Strikers became the first Queensland side to make the Grand Final in 2017 where they hosted National Premier Leagues Victoria side Heidelberg United. The Strikers lost that match 2–0 in front of 1105 fans at Perry Park.

The following year, an annual $500,000 bequeathment from the late Dr Jones, which was paid to Strikers, Sport, Recreation and Welfare Association Limited for a decade after his death, ended as per the terms of his will. The club's 2020 financial report, submitted to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, noted: "The discontinuation of the above funding subsequent to 30 June 2018 gives rise to a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt about the ability of the entity to continue as a going concern."

In 2019, the Strikers appointed Salvatore Sottile and Julianna Suranyi, who claimed to be a psychic, to the board. Shortly afterwards, in February 2020, a player development partnership with Spanish club CD Leganes was announced, with the relationship between Sottile and CD Leganes representative Morris Pagniello cited as the driving force behind the deal. Pagniello was one of about 50 people arrested as part of the 2015 "Dirty Soccer" Italian football match-fixing scandal.

For the 2021 season, and without the financial stability of Dr Jones's bequeathment, Strikers chairman Bruce Atterton-Evans announced a new youth-focused policy that saw almost the entire first-team squad depart for rival clubs. The effect was instant, with the Strikers winning just two matches in the 2021 NPL season, ensuring relegation for the first time in the club's history.

Atterton-Evans ceased being a director on 14 October 2021, leaving the Strikers under the control of Sottile, Suranyi and Bosnian-born Brisbane businessman Dino Hasanovic.

Paolo Ucchino replaced Suranyi as chairman on 10 July, 2024.

FFA Cup

The Football Federation Australia Cup is Australia's national knockout Cup football competition. Since its inception in 2014 Brisbane Strikers has enjoyed some memorable moments in the FFA Cup.

Qualifying through the Brisbane zone for the national Round of 32 in 2014 the Strikers featured in a piece of Australian football history when its tie against Newcastle based club Broadmeadow Magic became the first live televised game of the new Cup competition. The Strikers won the game 2–1 but were eliminated in the Round of 16 after a 1–0 away loss to Adelaide City FC.

Once again the Strikers made it to the national stage of the FFA Cup in 2015 when the qualified for the Round of 32 from the Brisbane zone. However they suffered a heartbreaking 4–3 extra time defeat to Hume City FC.

The 2016 FFA Cup saw Brisbane Strikers qualify for the third successive time, this time drawing Darwin NorZone Premier League side Shamrock Rovers Darwin FC in the Round of 32. On 27 July 2016, the Strikers ran out 6–0 winners over Rovers Darwin in front of 1358 people at Darwin Football Stadium. In the Round of 16, Brisbane drew A-League side Melbourne City FC. In front of 3571 people at Perry Park, the Strikers' biggest crowd since their exit from the NSL, two Bruno Fornaroli penalties saw the A-League side progress, despite the Strikers taking the lead through Greig Henslee. The match also marked Tim Cahill's first game since arriving back in Australia, joining Melbourne City.

The Strikers next qualified for the Round of 32 in the 2019 FFA Cup, where they met Wellington Phoenix at Perry Park on 7 August. In front of 1612 fans, the Strikers went 2–0 ahead through goals to Hiroki Omori and Andy Pengelly, before Wellington scored twice to equalise. The Strikers held on in extra time, thanks largely to goalkeeper Bon Scott, who saved an extra time penalty. Scott continued his heroics in the penalty shoot-out, which the Strikers won 4–3.

The Strikers qualified for the quarter-finals for the very first time on 29 August 2019, when they defeated Manly United 1–0 in front of 1240 spectators at Perry Park and drawing Moreland Zebras in the next round.

The Strikers defeated the Zebras 3–2 in front of 1915 at Perry Park on 18 September 2019, to become the first Queensland side to qualify for the FFA Cup semi finals, setting up a match with Melbourne City. They lost that match at Perry Park 1–5, in front of a post-NSL club record crowd of 3706.

Second A-League bid

The Strikers announced in May 2017 that the club would once again put in a bid to join the A-League, with the club making the announcement on the 20th anniversary of its NSL grand final win.

Central to the Strikers bid was the club's plans for a 15,694-seat boutique stadium at Perry Park.

However, the club pulled out of the race when the bid's financial backers pulled their support. The debacle led to criticism from fans about the club's direction and the "inertia" of the bid.

Later, it emerged that the Strikers had approached Brisbane City, another Brisbane club vying for A-League admission, about consolidating their bids. Brisbane City knocked back that approach. City subsequently withdrew its own bid.

Players

First-team squad

As of 28 January 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  AUS Jerrad Tyson 2 DF  AUS Cooper Hein 3 DF  AUS Jack Boxell 4 DF  BRA Daniel Cunha 5 MF  AUS Jayke Cuschieri 6 MF  AUS Kai Barnes 7 FW  NZL Daniel Champness 8 MF  AUS Connor Booth 9 FW  AUS Adam Edgar 10 MF  AUS Jake McLean 11 DF  AUS Scott Coulson 12 MF  AUS Oscar Burns-Bytheway 13 DF  AUS Dom Van Breemen 14 FW  AUS Seth Renjifo 15 FW  AUS Javier Todd 16 DF  AUS Luke Plummer 17 MF  AUS Ryan Cokell 18 FW  AUS Matt Thurtell (Captain) 19 MF  AUS Kodi Bailey

No. Pos. Nation Player 20 FW  AUS Cameron Nairn 21 GK  AUS Zac Coulibally 22 FW  AUS Morris Kyal 23 FW  AUS Sam Cronin 24 FW  AUS Ethan Jones 25 DF  AUS Lucas Gosselin 26 DF  AUS Simon Quick 27 DF  AUS Sam Pickett 28 MF  AUS Matko Leko 29 DF  AUS Ryan Miller 30 GK  AUS Liam Myers 31 DF  AUS Shaunyon Gibson 32 DF  AUS Jermaine Quakawoot 33 FW  AUS Josh Shewring 34 DF  AUS Brayden Warnes 35 FW  AUS Godwill Remijo 36 MF  AUS Jayden Rodgers 37 MF  AUS Apollo Hickey 38 MF  AUS Justus Ndizeye

Coaching staff

Notable players and coaches

Ex-players currently playing senior football at professional/overseas clubs

As of 18 December 2024

Player	Club	#	League	Tier
Joel Anich	US Massese 1919	10	Eccellenza Liguria	5
Keaton August	Belper Town	-	Northern Premier League Division One East	8
Zachary Binrong	Muang Loei United	4	Thai League 3	3
Vinnie Bowman	Heybridge Swifts	18	Isthmian League North Division	8
Zion Cruz	Moura AC	TBC	Campeonato de Portugal	4
Deen Hasanovic	Al-Ittifaq	28	UAE Second Division League	3
Taye Jackson	CE Constància	15	Tercera Federación	5
Keegan Jelacic	Brisbane Roar (on loan from KAA Gent)	23	A-League Men	1
Ryan Laverty	C. D. Almuñecar City	19	Divisiones Regionales de Fútbol in Andalusia	6
Dauntae Mariner	Nelson Suburbs FC	14	Southern League	1
Dominic Mercuri	ASD Gaeta	-	Eccellenza Liguria	5
Brock Messenger	Hamilton Wanderers	22	Northern League	1
Ivan Ozzi	Brisbane Roar	49	A-League Men	1
Sebastian Scaroni	Samut Praken City	44	Thai League 2	2
Noah Stokes	Doncaster City	-	Central Midlands Alliance League	11

Players who have represented their nation at senior level

Active players in bold.

As of 19 November 2024

Player	Pos	National team	Debut	Caps	G	World Cup	Confed Cup	Continental championships
Rahmat Akbari	MF	Afghanistan	2023	9	1	0	0	0
Clint Bolton	GK	Australia	2000	4	0	0	1 (2001)	1 (OFC 2000)
Rod Brown	FW	Australia	1985	2	0	0	0	0
Nathan Coe	GK	Australia	2011	3	0	0	0	1 (AFC 2011)
Sean Cranney	MF	Australia	1996	3	0	0	0	1 (OFC 1996)
Denis Daluri	FW	South Sudan	2019	4	0	0	0	0
Alex Davani	MF	Papua New Guinea	2003	4	3	0	0	0
Alun Evans	DF	New Zealand	1992	17	0	0	0	0
Frank Farina	FW	Australia	1984	37	11	0	0	0
Lee-Navu Faunt	MF	Papua New Guinea	2023	5	0	0	0	1 (OFC 2024)
Glenn Gwynne	DF	Australia	1998	2	0	0	0	1 (OFC 1998)
Danny Halligan	MF	New Zealand	1987	36	5	0	0	0
Alan Hunter	DF	Australia	1986	9	1	0	0	0
Carl Jorgensen	DF	New Zealand	1991	1	0	0	0	0
Stephen Laybutt	DF	Australia	2000	15	1	0	0	2 (OFC 2000, 2004)
Dauntae Mariner	MF	Samoa	2023	13	0	0	0	1 (OFC 2024)
Brad McDonald	MF	Papua New Guinea	2014	1	0	0	0	0
Jon McKain	DF	Australia	2004	16	0	0	0	1 (AFC 2011)
Matt McKay	MF	Australia	2006	59	2	1 (2014)	0	2 (AFC 2011, 2015)
Craig Moore*	DF	Australia	1995	52	3	2 (2006, 2010)	2 (2001, 2005)	0
Jade North	DF	Australia	2002	41	0	0	0	2 (OFC 2002, 2004)
Jason Polak	MF	Australia	1988	32	2	0	0	1 (OFC 1996)
Adam Sarota	MF	Australia	2011	3	0	0	0	0
Shane Smeltz	FW	New Zealand	2003	58	24	1 (2010)	3 (2003, 2009, 2017)	3 (OFC 2004, 2008, 2012)
Matt Smith	DF	Australia	2012	3	0	0	0	0
Jean Carlos Solórzano	FW	Costa Rica	2012	1	0	0	0	0
Shane Stefanutto	DF	Australia	2007	3	0	0	0	0
Felix Tagawa	MF	Tahiti	2000	22	14	0	0	3 (OFC 2000, 2002, 2004)
Kris Trajanovski	FW	Australia	1996	16	11	0	0	2 (OFC 1996, 1998)
Kasey Wehrman	MF	Australia	1998	12	0	0	0	1 (OFC 1998)
Chris Zoricich	DF	New Zealand	1988	57	1	0	2 (1999, 2003)	3 (OFC 1998, 2000, 2002)
Michael Zullo	DF	Australia	2009	10	0	0	0	0

* Craig Moore never played a match for the Strikers, but was a registered player when he trained with the club ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Players who have played senior football at professional clubs

Ex-player	Notes
Rahmat Akbari	Current Afghanistan international. Former Australian U-17 international. Former A-League player with Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory. Former Erovnuli Liga player with Torpedo Kutaisi.
Richie Alagich	Former Australia U-23 international. Former A-League player with Adelaide United.
Joel Anich	Former Australia U-20 international. Former Treća HNL player with NK Rovinj (on loan from NK Istra 1961). Former Eccellenza player with Albenga 1928. Former Serie D player with USD Fezzanese. Current Eccellenza player with US Massese 1919.
Michael Baird	Former Australia U-20 international. Former A-League player with Queensland Roar, Perth Glory and Central Coast Mariners.
Zachary Binrong	Former Thailand U-20 international. Former Thai League 3 player with Phatthalung FC. Current Thai League 3 with Muang Loei United.
Clint Bolton	Former Australia international. Former A-League goalkeeper with Sydney FC and Melbourne Heart.
Lleyton Brooks	Former Australia U-20 international. Former A-League player with Melbourne Victory. Former Canadian Premier League player with Cavalry FC. Current NPL Victoria player with Preston Lions.
Louis Brain	Former Australia U-20 international. Former A-League player with Adelaide United.
Royce Brownlie	Former / A-League player with Queensland Roar and Wellington Phoenix. Former Football League Two player with Swindon Town and Chester City.
Peter Buljan	Former Australia U-23 international. Former Regionalliga West/Südwest player with 1. FC Saarbrücken Former Regionalliga player with SV Eintracht Trier 05.
Steven Bullock	Former Football League Second Division player with Oldham Athletic. Former Football League Fourth Division player with Tranmere Rovers and Stockport County.
Nathan Coe	Former Australia international. Former Serie A goalkeeper with Inter Milan. Former Eredivisie goalkeeper with PSV Eindhoven. Former Superliga goalkeeper with F.C. Copenhagen, Randers and SønderjyskE. Former Allsvenskan goalkeeper with Örgryte IS. Former A-League player with Melbourne Victory,
Denis Daluri	Former South Sudan international. Former Maltese Challenge League player with Lija Athletic. Current Victorian State League 1 player with Geelong SC.
Karl Dodd	Former / A-League player with Queensland Roar, Wellington Phoenix and North Queensland Fury. Former Divizia A player with Universitatea Craiova. Former Scottish Premier League player for Falkirk. Former Hong Kong Premier League player for Hong Kong Pegasus FC.
Frank Farina	Former Australia captain. Former First Division player with Club Brugge. Former Serie A player with Bari. Former Football League First Division player with Notts County. Former Ligue 1 player with Strasbourg and Lille.
Steve Fitzsimmons	Former / A-League player with New Zealand Knights and Queensland Roar.
Paul Foster	Former Hong Kong First Division League player with Kitchee SC and Instant Dict FC.
Todd Gava	Former A-League player with Queensland Roar.
Ben Griffin	Former Australia U-23 international. Former A-League player with Brisbane Roar.
Chay Hews	Former J.League player with Bellmare Hiratsuka. Former Superettan player with IF Sylvia and Västra Frölunda IF. Former Football League Third Division player with Carlisle United.
Scott Higgins	Former / A-League goalkeeper with Brisbane Roar, Wellington Phoenix and Gold Coast United. Former Scottish Premier League goalkeeper for Falkirk. Former Australian Senate candidate for Clive Palmer's United Australia Party.
Danny Invincibile	Former Australia U-20 international. Former Football League Second Division player with Swindon Town. Former Scottish Premier League player with Kilmarnock and St Johnstone. Former Cypriot First Division player with Ermis Aradippou FC. Former Thai Premier League player with Army United.
Keegan Jelacic	Current Australia U-23 international. Former New Zealand U-17 international. Former A-League player with Perth Glory. Current Belgian Pro League player with KAA Gent. Current A-League player with Brisbane Roar (on loan).
Jason Kearton	Former Premier League goalkeeper with Everton. Former Football League First Division goalkeeper with Crewe Alexandra.
Max King	Former Japan Football League player with FC Tiamo Hirakata. Current NPL Victoria player with St Albans Saints.
Stephen Laybutt	Former Australia international. Former J.League player with Bellmare Hiratsuka. Former Eredivisie player with Feyenoord Rotterdam and RBC Roosendaal. Former Eliteserien player with Lyn Oslo. Former First Division player with R.E. Mouscron and KAA Gent.
Daniel Leach	Former Major League Soccer player with Portland Timbers. Former League Two player with Barnet FC. Former Conference South player with Dover Athletic.
Kyle Luetkehans	Former Ykkönen player with Kemi City and Helsinki IFK. Former Kakkonen player with Grankulla IFK.
Dauntae Mariner	Current Samoa international. Current Southern League player with Nelson Suburbs.
Robert Markovac	Former Prva HNL player with Hajduk Split. Former League of Ireland First Division player with Waterford United. Former Chinese Super League player with Guangzhou Evergrande.
Kody Maude	Former I Lyga player with FC Vilniaus Vytis. Former Gibraltar National League player with Mons Calpe SC. Former National League North player with Hereford FC. Current NPL Queensland player with Olympic FC.
Josh McCloughan	Former A-League player with Brisbane Roar.
Brad McDonald	Former Papua New Guinea international. Former A-League player with North Queensland Fury and Central Coast Mariners. Former Philippines Football League player with Davao Aguilas F.C.
Jon McKain	Former Australia international. Former Divizia A player with Naţional Bucureşti and Politehnica Timișoara. Former / A-League player with Wellington Phoenix and Adelaide United. Former Saudi Professional League player with Al Nassr FC. Former Malaysia Super League player with Kelantan FA.
Matt McKay	Former Australia international. Former A-League player with Brisbane Roar. Former Chinese Super League player with Changchun Yatai. Former Scottish Premier League player with Rangers. Former K League player with Busan IPark.
Stuart McLaren	Former Australia U-20 international. Former Scottish Football League First Division player with Stirling Albion and Hamilton Academical. Former A-League player with Queensland Roar and Perth Glory.
Brandon McMorrow	Former A-League player with Brisbane Roar. Current NPL Queensland player with Olympic FC.
Ronnie McQuilter	Former Football League Third Division player with Bristol City. Former Scottish First Division player with Hamilton Academical, Kilmarnock, Ayr United, Stirling Albion and St Mirren. Former Scottish Second Division player with Clydebank, Stranraer, Queen of the South and Stenhousemuir. Former Scottish Third Division player with Gretna.
Golgol Mebrahtu	Former Australia U-23 international. Former A-League player with Gold Coast United, Melbourne Heart, Western Sydney Wanderers and Brisbane Roar. Former Czech First League player with FK Mladá Boleslav and Sparta Prague. Former Nemzeti Bajnokság I player with Puskás Akadémia. Former Liga 1 player with PSM Makassar. Current NPL Victoria player with Bentleigh Greens.
Warren Moon	Former A-League player with Queensland Roar. Former Scottish Football League First Division player with Queen of the South.
Craig Moore	Former Australia captain. Former Scottish Premier League player with Rangers. Former Football League First Division player with Crystal Palace. Former Bundesliga player with Borussia Mönchengladbach. Former Premier League player with Newcastle United. Former A-League player with Brisbane Roar. Former Super League Greece player with Kavala.
Kevin Meacock	Former Football League Third Division player with Bristol City and Cardiff City.
Jade North	Former Australia captain. Former / A-League player with Perth Glory, Newcastle Jets, Wellington Phoenix and Brisbane Roar. Former K League player with Incheon United. Former Eliteserian player with Tromsø IL. Former J.League player with FC Tokyo and Consadole Sapporo.
Hiroki Omori	Former J3 League player for Blaublitz Akita and SC Sagamihara.
Ivan Ozzi	Current A-League player with Brisbane Roar.
Andrew Packer	Former Australia U-17 international. Former A-League player with Sydney FC and Queensland Roar.
Andy Pengelly	Former Singapore Premier League player with Lion City Sailors. Current NPL Queensland player with Lions FC.
Alistair Quinn	Former Australia U-20 international. Former Eerste Divisie player with Telstar.
Jason Polak	Former Australia international. Former Alpha Ethniki player with Panathinaikos. Former Eredivisie player with De Graafschap.
Sasa Radulovic	Former 2.Bundesliga player with Rot-Weiß Oberhausen and LR Ahlen. Former 3.Liga player with FC Augsburg. Former Eliteserian player with Lillestrøm SK. Former Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina player with Čelik Zenica. Former Nemzeti Bajnokság I player with Újpest FC.
Hassan Ramazani	Former A-League player with Brisbane Roar. Current NPL Queensland player with Lions FC.
Aaron Reardon	Former A-League player with Brisbane Roar. Former Bangladesh Premier League player with Mohammedan SC. Current NPL Victoria player with Hume City.
Fernando Rech	Former Campeonato Brasileiro Série A player with Juventude, Palmeiras, Internacional and Etti Jundiaí. Former J.League player for Yokohama Flügels. Former A-League player with Adelaide United.
Jonti Richter	Former Australia U-20 international. Former / A-League player with Queensland Roar and New Zealand Knights.
Anthony Roche	Former Oberliga Nordrhein player with Fortuna Düsseldorf. Former League Two player with Yeovil Town.
Josh Rose	Former / A-League player with New Zealand Knights, Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne City.
Adam Sarota	Former Australia international. Former A-League player with Brisbane Roar. Former Eredivisie player with FC Utrecht. Former Eerste Divisie player with Go Ahead Eagles.
Sebastian Scaroni	Current Thai League 2 player with Samut Praken City.
Bon Scott	Former A-League goalkeeper with Brisbane Roar. Current NPL Victoria goalkeeper with Preston Lions.
Wayne Shroj	Former Australia U-23 international. Former A-League player with Perth Glory and Melbourne Heart. Former Divizia A player with Naţional Bucureşti and Politehnica Timișoara.
Lorenzo Sipi	Former A-League player with North Queensland Fury. Former BVIFA National Football League player with Rebels FC.
Shane Smeltz	Former New Zealand international. Former Football League Two player with Mansfield Town. Former / A-League player with Wellington Phoenix, Gold Coast United, Perth Glory and Sydney FC. Former Süper Lig player with Gençlerbirliği. Former Malaysia Super League player with Kedah FA. Former Liga 1 player with Borneo FC. Former Northern Premier League player with Guiseley AFC.
Matt Smith	Former Australian international. Former Championship player with Portsmouth. Former A-League player with North Queensland Fury and Brisbane Roar. Former Thai League 1 player with Bangkok Glass. Former Hong Kong Premier League player with Kitchee.
Jean Carlos Solórzano	Former Costa Rica international. Former Liga FPD player with Alajuelense, Puntarenas and Municipal Liberia. Former A-League player with Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory.
Shane Stefanutto	Former Australia international. Former Tippeligaen player with Lillestrøm SK and Lyn. Former A-League player with North Queensland Fury and Brisbane Roar.
Mitchell Thorn	Former USL League One player with Tormenta FC.
Reece Tollenaere	Former A-League player with Queensland Roar.
Kris Trajanovski	Former Australia international. Former Hong Kong First Division League player with Happy Valley and South China. Former S.League player with Tanjong Pagar United.
Michael Turnbull	Former Australia U-23 international. Former / A-League player with New Zealand Knights and Melbourne Victory.
Jerrad Tyson	Former Australia U-23 international. Former A-League goalkeeper with Gold Coast United, North Queensland Fury, Perth Glory and Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Victory. Former Hong Kong Premier League goalkeeper with Sun Pegasus. Former I-League goalkeeper with Chennai City FC. Current Football Queensland Premier League goalkeeper with Brisbane Strikers.
Sebastian Usai	Former A-League goalkeeper with North Queensland Fury. Former Premier League goalkeeper with Blackburn Rovers. Former Division 1 Norra goalkeeper with AFC United. Former Scottish Third Division goalkeeper with Cowdenbeath. Former Division 2 Norrland goalkeeper with Friska Viljor FC. Former Tercera División goalkeeper with CD Robres. Current NPL Capital Football goalkeeper with Canberra Olympic.
Kasey Wehrman	Former Australia international. Former Tippeligaen player with Moss, Lillestrøm, Fredrikstad and Lyn. Former A-League player with Newcastle Jets.
Michael Weier	Former A-League goalkeeper with Newcastle Jets. Current NPL Victoria goalkeeper with Hume City.
Brendan White	Former A-League goalkeeper with Gold Coast United, Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory. Current NPL Victoria goalkeeper with Oakleigh Cannons.
Russell Woodruffe	Former Australia U-20 international. Former A-League player with Central Coast Mariners.
Chris Zoricich	Former New Zealand captain. Former Football League Second Division player with Leyton Orient. Former Premier League player with Chelsea.
Michael Zullo	Former Australia international. Former A-League player with Brisbane Roar, Adelaide United, Melbourne City and Sydney FC. Former Eredivisie player with FC Utrecht.

Ex-players/coaches who have coached national teams or professional/top flight club teams

Ex-player or coach	Team	Years
Miron Bleiberg	Hapoel HaTzair Kiryat Haim	1982–1983
	Heidelberg United	1989–1990
	Brisbane United	1991–1993
	Queensland Roar	2004–2006
	Gold Coast United	2009–2012
Karl Dodd	Guam	2018–2021
Frank Farina	Brisbane Strikers	1996–1998
	Marconi Stallions	1998–1999
	Australia	1998–2005
	Queensland Roar	2006–2009
	Papua New Guinea	2011–2013
	Sydney FC	2012–2014
	Fiji	2015–2016
Paul Foster	Hong Kong Football Club	2010–2011
	Hong Kong Sapling	2011–2012
	Happy Valley	2013
Graham Harvey	Kaya	2021
Alan Hunter	Sydney United	2000–2001
Danny Invincibile	Bangkok United B	2020–2022
	Samut Prakan FC	2022–2023
	Ayutthaya United	2023–2024
John Kosmina	Newcastle Breakers	1995–1998
	Brisbane Strikers	1999–2003
	Adelaide United	2003–2007
	Sydney FC	2007–2009
	Adelaide United	2011–2013
Sean Lane	Mohammedan Sporting Club	2019–2022
Stuart McLaren	Brisbane Strikers	2003–2004
	Stirling Albion	2014–2016
	Scotland women (interim)	2021
Warren Moon	Brisbane Roar	2020–2023
	Papua New Guinea	2023–2024
Gary Phillips	Tonga	2001
	Sydney Olympic	2001–2003
	Da Nang FC	2004
	Sabah FA	2009–2011
	Papua New Guinea women	2014–2015
	Negeri Sembilan FA	2015–2016
	Davao Aguilas	2017
	Nepal women	2021
	Cook Islands women	2022
Matt Smith	BG Panthum United	2022–2023
Bruce Stowell	Sydney Olympic	1977
	Newcastle Breakers	1991–1993
	Brisbane Strikers	1994–1996
	Johor	1999–2000
Felix Tagawa	Hienghène Sport	2018–present
Luciano Trani	Brisbane Roar (interim)	2024
Kasey Wehrman	FK Ørn Horten	2016
	Strømmen IF	2021–2023
	Ullensaker/Kisa IL	2023–present
Chris Zoricich	Western Springs	2018–2022

Other notable players

Ex-player	Notes
Andy Harper	Fox Sports Australia analyst.
James Johnson	Former Australian U-17 international. Current Football Australia chief executive officer.

List of head coaches

Coach	Years
Miron Bleiberg	1991–1994
Bruce Stowell	1994–1996
Frank Farina	1996–1998
John Kosmina	1998–2003
	2020–2021
Stuart McLaren	2003–2004
	2008–2010
Bobby Hamilton	2005–2006
Craig Collins	2007
David Large	2010–2013
	2018
Chay Hews	2014
Kevin A'Herne-Evans	2015–2016
	2024–present
Sean Lane	2017
Owen Baker	2019–2020
Vedran Becirbegovic	2021–2022
Bojan Vilic	2022
André Meyer	2022–2023
Jade North	2023
Daniel Carew	2024

Honours

National Soccer League

• Champions: 1996–97
• League Runners-Up: 1996–97
• Finalists (4): 1995–96, 1996–97, 2001–02, 2003–04
• Joe Marston Medal: Alan Hunter (1996–97)
• Johnny Warren Medal: Fernando Rech (2001–02)
• NSL U/21 Player of the Year: Kasey Wehrman (1996–97)

FFA Cup

• Semi finals: 2019
• National Round of 16: 2014, 2016
• National Round of 32: 2015
• Michael Cockerill Medal: Fraser Hills (2019)

National Premier Leagues

• Grand Finalists: 2017
• Semi finalists: 2016

NPL Queensland

• Premiers (2): 2016, 2017
• League Runners-Up: 2015
• Grand Finalists: 2015
• Golden boot: 2019 (Andy Pengelly – 41 goals)

Queensland State League

• Premiers (2): 2009, 2012
• League Runners-Up (3): 2008, 2010, 2011
• Grand Finalists (4): 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
• Golden Boot: 2010 (Matt Thurtell – 23 goals)

Brisbane Premier League

• Premiers: 2006
• League Runners-Up: 2007
• Champions: 2006
• Grand Finalist: 2007

Canale Cup

• Champions: 2014

Brisbane Premier Cup

• Champions: 2006

Silver Boot

• Champions (3): 2010, 2013, 2018
• Runners-Up (2): 2009, 2016
• Third-place play-off winner: 2019

Records

League

• Win: 12–1 v Sunshine Coast FC (NPL Queensland round 18, Perry Park, 20 August 2019)
• Loss: 10–0 v Olympic FC (NPL Queensland round 8, Goodwin Park, 9 May 2021)
• Goals in a single game: 9 – Andy Pengelly (v Sunshine Coast FC, NPL Queensland round 18, Perry Park, 20 August 2019)
• Appearances: Chay Hews (217)
• Attendance: 40,446 v Sydney United (1996–97 NSL Grand Final, Suncorp Stadium, 25 May 1997)

FFA Cup

• Loss: 1–5 v Melbourne City (Semi-final, Perry Park, 1 October 2019)
• Attendance: 3,706 v Melbourne City (semi-final, Perry Park, 1 October 2019)

References

1. "Brisbane Strikers | The Brisbane Strikers". The Brisbane Strikers. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
2. "Symbols used by Council". brisbane.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
3. Lingard, John (23 January 1994). "Striking the right balance". The Sun-Herald.
4. Schwab, Laurie (22 October 1993). "New names but the same old NSL". The Age. p. 27. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Football finds a female champion in Bonita Mersiades". News.com.au. 26 July 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
6. "PM – Soccer clubs threaten legal action over restructure". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
7. "Soccer Oz blasted". The World Game. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
8. "Brisbane Strikers would make the grade in A-League insists chairman Bruce Atterton-Evans". adelaidenow.com.au. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
9. ASIC, NZCO and. "Search Company and Other Registers". connectonline.asic.gov.au. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
10. "Couriermail.com.au | Subscribe to The Courier Mail for exclusive stories". Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
11. "Brisbane Strikers FC". Retrieved 23 October 2021 – via Facebook.
12. "Calcioscommesse: l'elenco dei fermati". La Gazzetta dello Sport - Tutto il rosa della vita (in Italian). 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
13. FC, Brisbane Strikers. "Football is not only our game it's our way of life". Brisbane Strikers FC. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
14. "Search Company and Other Registers". connectonline.asic.gov.au. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
15. "Brisbane Strikers Board Announcement". Archived from the original on 10 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
16. "Sydney FC to meet Wollongong Wolves in FFA Cup Round of 32". SBS. 30 June 2016. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
17. "Darwin Rovers vs Brisbane Strikers, Australia Cup, Round of 32, 27th Jul 2016". 31 July 2017.
18. "Westfield FFA Cup Round of 16 draw revealed". Football Federation Australia. 10 August 2016.
19. "Brisbane Strikers vs Melbourne City FC, FFA Cup, Round of 16, 24th Aug 2016". 31 July 2017. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
20. Smith, Pete (8 August 2019). "Brisbane earns a 'cupset' double as the Roar and Strikers progress". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
21. Smith, Pete (29 August 2019). "Brisbane Strikers advance as Roar pay the penalty". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
22. "Couriermail.com.au | Subscribe to The Courier Mail for exclusive stories". couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
23. Jackson, Ed (1 October 2019). "Melbourne City demolish Brisbane Strikers to reach FFA Cup final". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 1 October 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
24. Rugari, Vince (25 May 2017). "Brisbane Strikers officially in the race for an A-League licence". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 8 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
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26. Atfield, Cameron (5 September 2018). "Brisbane needs a boutique stadium and the World Game can deliver it". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
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28. "Moore Thwarted In Strikers Bid". FTBL. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.

External links

• Official website
• Supporters website

v t e Men's soccer in Queensland
Football Queensland
2023–24 clubs	A-League Men Brisbane Roar
2024 clubs	NPL Queensland Brisbane City Brisbane Roar Youth Gold Coast Knights Gold Coast United Lions FC Moreton City Excelsior Olympic Peninsula Power Redlands United Rochedale Rovers Sunshine Coast Wanderers Wynnum Wolves Football Queensland Premier League Moreton City Excelsior Reserves Brisbane Strikers Broadbeach United Caboolture Sports Capalaba FC Eastern Suburbs Logan Lightning Mitchelton FC Southside Eagles SWQ Thunder St George Willawong Western Pride Football Queensland Premier League 2 Bayside United Grange Thistle Holland Parks Hawks Ipswich Knights Magic United Maroochydore North Lakes United North Star Pine Hills Samford Rangers Souths United Taringa Rovers
Regional association zones	CEQ Wide Bay Central Coast NQ Far North & Gulf Northern Whitsunday Coast SEQ Darling Downs Metro South Coast Sunshine Coast
Cup competition	Australia Cup Canale Cup
Former teams	Bundaberg Spirit Cairns FC Capricorn Cougars Central Queensland FC Logan United Magpies Crusaders United Northern Fury QAS NTC Sunshine Coast FC Southern Cross United Surfers Paradise Apollo Tugan Jets / Twin Towns Whitsunday Miners Wide Bay Buccaneers
Former competitions	Queensland State League (2008–2012)
League seasons	Regional Era 1884−1991 State Cup era 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 QSL era 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 NPL era 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

• Brisbane Strikers
• National Premier Leagues clubs
• Queensland State League soccer teams
• Football Queensland Premier League clubs
• Association football clubs established in 1994
• National Soccer League (Australia) clubs
• 1994 establishments in Australia