Brisbane Strikers FC

(Redirected from Brisbane Strikers)

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 and was one of two clubs contending for an A-League licence during the establishment of the league in 2004.

Brisbane Strikers
Full nameBrisbane Strikers Football Club
Nickname(s)Strikers
Founded1991 (as Brisbane United)
GroundPerry Park
Capacity5,000
ChairmanJulianna Suranyi
CoachDaniel Carew
LeagueFQPL
20234th of 12
WebsiteClub website
Current season

Brisbane Strikers currently competes in the Football Queensland Premier League, with home matches played at Perry Park.[1]

History edit

Background edit

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 edit

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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]

 
The Brisbane United club crest, used between 1991 and 1993.

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.[5]

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.[6] 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."[7]

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 edit

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.[8]

Brisbane Premier League 2005–2007 edit

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 edit

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 edit

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."[9]

In 2019, the Strikers appointed Salvatore Sottile and Julianna Suranyi, who claimed to be a psychic,[10] 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.[11] Pagniello was one of about 50 people arrested as part of the 2015 "Dirty Soccer" Italian football match-fixing scandal.[12]

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[13] 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,[14] leaving the Strikers under the control of Sottile, Suranyi and Bosnian-born Brisbane businessman Dino Hasanovic.

 
Perry Park before kick-off for the 2019 FFA Cup semi-final against Melbourne City. The attendance was 3706.

FFA Cup edit

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.[15] On 27 July 2016, the Strikers ran out 6–0 winners over Rovers Darwin in front of 1358 people at Darwin Football Stadium.[16] In the Round of 16, Brisbane drew A-League side Melbourne City FC.[17] 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.[18]

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.[19]

 
The Strikers commissioned Cox Architects to design a 15,694-seat boutique stadium for Perry Park as part of the club's bid to join the A-League.

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[20] 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,[21] 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,[22] in front of a post-NSL club record crowd of 3706.

Second A-League bid edit

The Strikers announced in May 2017 that the club would once again put in a bid to join the A-League,[23] 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.[24]

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.[25] City subsequently withdrew its own bid.[26]

Players edit

First-team squad edit

As of 28 January 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. 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 edit

Position Name
Head Coach Daniel Carew
Assistant Coach Nicholas Robinson
Technical Advisor Frank Farina
U/23 coach Breeze Ligthart

Notable players and coaches edit

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

Player Club # League Tier
  Rahmat Akbari Torpedo Kutaisi 6   Erovnuli Liga 1
  Joel Anich ASD Pietra Ligure 1956 13   Eccellenza Liguria 5
  Keaton August Heanor Town -   United Counties League Premier Division North 9
  Zachary Binrong Phatthalung FC 4   Thai League 3 Southern 3
  Vinnie Bowman Margate FC 14   Isthmian League Premier Division 7
  Lleyton Brooks Cavalry FC 11   Canadian Premier League 1
  Zion Cruz FC Serpa 14   Campeonato de Portugal 4
  Deen Hasanovic Al-Ittifaq TBC   UAE Second Division League 3
  Taye Jackson Inter Manacor 10   Tercera Federación 5
  Keegan Jelacic Brisbane Roar 23   A-League 1
  Dauntae Mariner Nelson Suburbs FC 14   Southern League 2
  Michael Weier Newcastle Jets 20   A-League 1

Players who have represented their nation at senior level edit

Active players in bold.

As of 25 March 2024
Player Pos National team Debut Caps G World Cup Confed Cup Continental championships
Rahmat Akbari MF   Afghanistan 2023 5 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 3 0 0 0 0
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 5 0 0 0 0
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

Players who have played senior football at professional clubs edit

Ex-player Notes
  Rahmat Akbari Current   Afghanistan international.

Former   Australian U-17 international.

Former   A-League player with Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory.

Current   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 ASD Pietra Ligure 1956.

  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.

Current   Thai League 3 player with Phatthalung FC.

  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.

Current   Canadian Premier League player with Cavalry FC.

  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.
  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   Maltese Challenge League player with Lija Athletic.
  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.

  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 Gold Coast Knights.

  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.
  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 Queensland player with Gold Coast Knights.

  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.

  Bon Scott Former   A-League goalkeeper with Brisbane Roar.

Current   Victoria Premier League 1 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 Current   A-League goalkeeper with Newcastle Jets.
  Brendan White Former   A-League goalkeeper with Gold Coast United, Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory.
  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 edit

Ex-player or coach Team Years
  Kevin A'Herne-Evans   Brisbane Roar (assistant) 2020–2021
  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
  Newcastle Jets (assistant) 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   Brisbane Strikers (assistant) 2012–2014
  Eastern (assistant) 2019–2021
  Kaya 2021
  Brisbane Roar (assistant) 2022-present
  Alan Hunter   Sydney United 2000–2001
  Danny Invincibile   Bangkok United B 2020–2022
  Samut Prakan FC 2022–2023
  Ayutthaya United 2023–present
  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
  North Queensland Fury (assistant) 2010–2011
  Stirling Albion 2014–2016
  Scotland U16 2018–2022
  Scotland women (interim) 2021
  Celtic (U18s) 2022–2024
  Warren Moon   Brisbane Roar 2020–2023
  Papua New Guinea 2023–present
  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 (technical director) 2019–2021
  Nepal women 2021
  Cook Islands women 2022
  Matt Smith   BG Panthum United 2022–2023
  Macarthur FC (assistant) 2023-present
  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 Strikers (assistant) 2003–2004
  Wellington Phoenix (assistant) 2009–2011
  Adelaide United (assistant) 2011–2012
  Brisbane Roar (assistant) 2013–2014
2023–2024
  Melbourne City (assistant) 2014–2016
  Newcastle Jets (assistant) 2016
  Sint-Truiden (assistant) 2020
  Melbourne Victory (assistant) 2021–2023
  Kasey Wehrman   Strømmen IF (assistant) 2015
2018
  FK Ørn Horten 2016
  Fredrikstad FK (assistant) 2019
  Strømmen IF 2021–2023
  Ullensaker/Kisa IL 2023–present
  Chris Zoricich   Western Springs 2018–2022

Other notable players edit

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 edit

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
  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 edit

National Soccer League

FFA Cup

National Premier Leagues

  • Grand Finalists: 2017
  • Semi finalists: 2016

NPL Queensland

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 edit

League edit

FFA Cup edit

  • Win: 10–1 v Souths United (Preliminary Fourth round, Perry Park, 9 April 2019)
  • Loss: 1–5 v Melbourne City (Semi-final, Perry Park, 1 October 2019)
  • Goals in a single game: 6 – Andy Pengelly (v Souths United, Preliminary Fourth round, Perry Park, 9 April 2019)
  • Attendance: 3,706 v Melbourne City (semi-final, Perry Park, 1 October 2019)

References edit

  1. ^ "Brisbane Strikers | The Brisbane Strikers". The Brisbane Strikers. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  2. ^ "Symbols used by Council". brisbane.qld.gov.au. 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. 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. 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. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Couriermail.com.au | Subscribe to The Courier Mail for exclusive stories". 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). Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  13. ^ FC, Brisbane Strikers. "Football is not only our game it's our way of life". Brisbane Strikers FC. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  14. ^ "Search Company and Other Registers". connectonline.asic.gov.au. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  15. ^ "Sydney FC to meet Wollongong Wolves in FFA Cup Round of 32". SBS. 30 June 2016.
  16. ^ "Darwin Rovers vs Brisbane Strikers, Australia Cup, Round of 32, 27th Jul 2016". 31 July 2017.
  17. ^ "Westfield FFA Cup Round of 16 draw revealed". Football Federation Australia. 10 August 2016.
  18. ^ "Brisbane Strikers vs Melbourne City FC, FFA Cup, Round of 16, 24th Aug 2016". 31 July 2017.
  19. ^ Smith, Pete (8 August 2019). "Brisbane earns a 'cupset' double as the Roar and Strikers progress". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  20. ^ Smith, Pete (29 August 2019). "Brisbane Strikers advance as Roar pay the penalty". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  21. ^ "Couriermail.com.au | Subscribe to The Courier Mail for exclusive stories". couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  22. ^ Jackson, Ed (1 October 2019). "Melbourne City demolish Brisbane Strikers to reach FFA Cup final". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  23. ^ Rugari, Vince (25 May 2017). "Brisbane Strikers officially in the race for an A-League licence". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  24. ^ "Brisbane Strikers – what could have been | FootballToday.news". footballtoday.news. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  25. ^ Atfield, Cameron (5 September 2018). "Brisbane needs a boutique stadium and the World Game can deliver it". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  26. ^ "Statement – A-League expansion | www.brisbanecityfc.com.au". brisbanecityfc.com.au. Retrieved 9 September 2018.

External links edit

Preceded by NSL Champions
1996/97
Succeeded by