Sunshine Coast FC Club Newsletter Messenger to tour with New Zealand U20s Written by Michael Flynn,

Sunshine Coast Fire defender Brock Messenger has makes you a better player as well.” received just reward for an outstanding start to his NPL Messenger is grateful for the guidance of Fire head Queensland season with selection in the New Zealand coach Kevin A’herne-Evans, who represented Wales at Under 20’s squad for next Under-21 level as well as month’s tour of China. playing with Cardiff City and Messenger has been an Leeds United in the United integral part of Fire’s first Kingdom. team this year, starting all ten “He’s helped me a lot because of the club’s fixtures in he used to be a right back as addition to scoring his first well, so he’s given me little NPL Queensland goal against tips along the Redlands United in Round 7. way,” Messenger said. The 18-year-old right “It’s good having someone fullback expressed his delight that’s actually been through at his selection for the tour the system as well in youth which will see the squad face teams and professional China, Brazil and Croatia. environments. He’s a good “It’s awesome. I’ve been listener as well.” aiming to get into the squad A’herne-Evans for the last two or three praised Messenger’s work years,” Messenger said. ethic and consistency, going “It’s a big honour and a big so far as to describe him as privilege as well and I will the “best fullback in the keep working hard at it and competition”. see where it takes me from “To think that he’s only 18, there.” the level of his defending and Messenger, who hails from his ability to counter attack is the New Zealand capital of phenomenal,” he said. Auckland, played his junior “He has a terrific attitude and football with Albany United a desire to compete and be before moving to East Coast effective in games. He’s a bit Bays. He also played for the New Zealand Under 20 of a throwback in that he prides himself on that ‘one-v- development team, known as Wanderers, in New one’ battle against the wingers.” Zealand’s top tier ASB Premiership competition. Messenger said his ambition was to further his He explained that NPL Queensland offered a more development in the National Premier Leagues and play technical brand of football than what was on offer in at the highest level possible. New Zealand. “I would be really happy to play A-League and go on “It’s quite different playing over here than what it was from there and eventually go on to Europe. I just want playing back home. The NPL is quite a strong league to make it my full-time job and to get paid to play compared to the leagues I played in New Zealand.” would be unbelievable.” “My coaches back in New Zealand know that I’m However, Messenger remains content at the moment playing regular football in this league and it has helped enjoying the Queensland lifestyle on the Sunshine my chances of getting in.” Coast. “There’s a lot of ex-A-League players and a lot of “I really like Queensland. I’m a bit of a surfer so I like young players, like Brisbane Roar youth team, some of the waves and getting out on the boat for a bit of them have played in the A-League, so the quality and fishing,” he said. the standard is better. Playing against better players

Sunshine Coast FC Club Newsletter

International Football Tour to Japan

As many of you will know, our Club has had a close accommodation and has state-of-the-art relationship for several years with several J-League Clubs football facilities including artificial playing surfaces. in the Kanagarwa Region of Japan. Yokohama is the Whilst in Hakone the players will develop their football Principal City of Kanagarwa province. skills through a number of training sessions and organised Our Club has been working to strengthen our ties with games. our Japanese friends both to provide greater The Academy Director at Yokohama Marinos (J-League opportunities for our players and to expand their side), with the assistance of other Coaches, will put on a exposure to different styles of play. The Japanese full day training and development clinic. technical style of play has to be the best in Asia. Players will have the opportunity to test what they have We have been working on various projects with the learnt in three evening games against J-League and Kanto Japanese and over the next few months we will be League Teams, and a full day tournament against Kanto announcing several exciting new initiatives, which we League Teams. believe, will benefit our players, our coaching staff and When you consider that the J-League players have been support staff. selected from tens of thousands of hopefuls, you get a The first initiative is a Club Football Tour to Japan in the feeling for the quality of the competition. September/October school holidays. Full details of the Included in the tour is a behind the scenes look at how a tour will be released this week. J-League Team operates with a visit to the Headquarters The tour has taken some time to put together but now of Marinos in Yokohama. The tour also takes in a J-League that it has arrived I hope that it will appeal to many of the match, cultural and fun activities. families with players at our Club. We will need a minimum of 25 participants to run the It is truly a football tour. As a taster, we can confirm the tour. Parents/family will also be able to tour. players will travel to Hakone- one of the most scenic The tour brochure will be released shortly. towns in Japan. In Hakone the players will go into camp at Seisa Hakone Noel Woodall Sports Club. The Sports Club provides good group SCFC Managing Director Tour Accommodation - Seisa Hakone Sports Club

Hakone Sengokubara Sports Club is a sports club which was created in the renovated Hakone Sengokubara junior high school. It is located in the beautiful resort town of Hakone, which is at the foot of Mount Fuji. You can take a look at the Sports Club grounds by typing in the URL below and selecting “Grounds Slide Show” http://www.seisa-hakonesengokuharasc.jp/shisetsu.html.

One of the fields at Seisa Hakone Sports Club. The resort town of Hakone in the foothills of Mount Fuji. Sunshine Coast FC Club Newsletter Elite Academy takes to the Stockland Stadium Field

The SCFC Elite Academy took to the Stadium Field on Sunday, May 25 to play two exhibition matches in front of the crowd. The Under 8,9 and 10 players took to the field before the First Team game, while the Under 11s played at half-time. The players put on a great display under the guidance of Coaches Ben Cahn and Alex Barlow. Well done to all players, and a special thank you to the Under 11s team who were ball boys for the First Team game, you all did a great job! ABOVE: The Under 11s Elite Academy: (L to R from back) Todd Camm, Michael Shaw, Byron Rzoska, Nate Plummer, Julian Nisbet, Jacob Lombardo, Coaches Ben Cahn and Alex Barlow, (Front) Sam Roberts, Bailey Warwick-Okkonen, Sunny Law, Patrick Swindles, Aaron Smith, Jack Williams, Matthew Gaske, Liam Macmillan, Sam Early, Patrick Simpson and Alex Patterson. Madi steps up to pass on football skills All football players know the joy of shooting the ball into the net for the first time, and Under 15 Girls Fire player Madi Warren is hoping to pass that joy on to local children. Madi joined with representatives from other sporting Clubs and local leaders on Tuesday to conduct one-on-one ball skill sessions with kids from Sunshine Coast Special Schools. The training day allowed 80 volunteers to work with 80 children with disabilities, focusing on learning the basics of football. Madi became involved with volunteering through the Duke of Edinburgh program and has continued ever since.

Sunshine Coast FC Club Newsletter

Spotlight Craig Hawkins Youth Men’s Coach

How did you become involved in football? I started playing as a 5-year -old and loved it. My Dad was very supportive and encouraging. He helped coach me at different times growing up. Which team is your favourite? Real Madrid Who was your favourite player growing up? Ian Rush and John Barnes And your favourite current player? Diego Forlan Which teams have you played/coached for: FNQ Juniors, Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast, AIS, - Mount Gravatt, Capalaba Bulldogs; English non-league in the Midlands, Sunshine Coast Fire, Woombye FC, Coolum FC, Buderim FC and Caloundra FC. What’s been your best football moment? Playing alongside Mark Viduka at AIS. And best coaching moment? Yet to come. What do you enjoy about coaching? Watching players develop. You are coaching the Youth Men's Team this year, how have they been shaping up? They are developing well as a squad and showing heart and determination to succeed. A goal for a youth player is to forge a pathway to the First Team and we have some talented players who are realising this goal. Some have debuted for the First Team which is a great achievement for the players and for us as coaches.

Tiver wins silver at Athletics Champs Congratulations to Under 15 Girls player Sophie Tiver who recently won a silver medal in the heptathlon at the Australian Athletic Under 16 Championships in Melbourne. The heptathlon consists of 90m hurdles, 200m sprint, 800m sprint, high jump, long jump, shot put and javelin. Aside from training for Congratulations to Open Women’s athletics and volleyball, Sophie also trains with the Team player Carmel Murphy-Pollard Fire each week, which who has been training with the QAS Sophie’s Mum Linda says she NTC team! Carmel will play with the loves. QAS NTC against Western Pride this “She loves playing with the Sunday. Well done Carmel and good Fire—it’s really extended the skills she came in with,” luck! Linda said.

Sunshine Coast FC Club Newsletter Player Spotlight Player Spotlight Josh Croft plays for the Under 12 Boys team. Leilani Westland plays as a His position is centre defender for the Under 13 Girls attacking midfield and Fire team. She has previously he has previously played for Seaforth, Sunshine played for the Sharks and the Noosa Lions. Buderim Wanderers. Leilani’s favourite team is Josh’s favourite Club is Chelsea and her favourite Arsenal and his player is Willian. Her best favourite player is football moment has been Nicklas Bendtner. Josh Josh Croft being selected for SCFFO. lists making the Fire Central midfielder Leilani says her team mates are U12s Team as his Under 12 Boys her biggest football influence favourite football as they encourage her to be Leilani Westland moment so far and lists getting knocked out of the better. This year Leilani would Defender QLD School Soccer Cup as his worst moment. Josh’s like to work her hardest in Under 13 Girls biggest football influence is Aaron Ramsey “because games , and eventually she he is a great player.” would love to play for the Matildas. Hi aim this year is to help the U12 Fire finish in the top three and he would love to win the League. How well do you know your NPL teams?

1. Which two NPL teams have qualified for FFA Cup Round 32 so far? 2. Who is sitting in second place in the NPL Golden Boot competition? 3. Which two teams in the NPL have logos which feature a lightning bolt? 4. Which First Team is undefeated in the season so far? 5. Which team plays in a red and white striped strip? 6. Who does striker Matt Thurtell play for? 7. Which two teams played a 2013 NPL semi-final rematch on Sunday, May 25? 8. Which team calls Mallawa Complex home? 9. Which Club’s emblem features the Southern Meisha Westland in the Under 13 Girls’ game against Brisbane City. Cross?

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Sunshine Coast FC Club Newsletter Contact us: How well do you know your NPL teams? Last Newsletter’s Answers:

Office: (07) 54378955 1. Which NPL team was knocked out of the FQ Cup on Tuesday, April 29, and which team beat Managing Director: them? Redlands lost to Wolves FC Noel Woodall 2. Which NPL First team secured its first win of Administration and Events: the season on Saturday, April 26? Western Robyn Chapman Pride E: [email protected] 3. Which Club’s colours are orange and black? The Roar Media and Communications: Emily Wilson 4. Which A-League team did NPL player Matt E: [email protected] Mundy play for? The Roar 5. Which NPL team does he play for now? Technical Director: Olympic Kevin A’herne-Evans 6. Which goal keeper conceded the least goals in E: [email protected] the 2013 NPL season? Antony Hall (SCFC) Academy Director: 7. Which BPL team did the Strikers play in the FQ Ben Cahn Cup? Lions FC E: [email protected] 8. Which team calls Endeavour Park their home ground? Moreton Bay Jets 9. Which First team is sitting on 16 points after Round 8 of the NPL? Redlands United