A long standing family-run U11 carnival will sadly no longer be a part of the CQ football landscape following an announcement from the family that they no longer were in a position to continue hosting the Terry West Cup.
However, Clinton Football Club, for which Terry West used to play, has stepped in and with a revamp to the format, has developed the Clinton Cup as a replacement for what has been almost a traditional end of season feature.
The Clinton Cup includes teams across three age groups, 10, 11 and 12. In what is one major point of difference from the local U12 competition, teams will play 11 a side.
Full rules and nomination forms can be accessed at the links below. Nominations are open now.
Clinton Cup Rules
Clinton Cup Nomination form

Last week saw over 50 junior football teams converge on Mackay for the inaugural FQ Community Cup. Players from age groups U12 to U16 took part in the week long event with the chance for some to impress selectors and be chosen to represent the 2018 U13 and U14 Boys Country State Teams.  These teams will compete at the 2018 National Youth Championships in Coffs Harbour from Monday, 24^th to Friday, 28^th September inclusive.

Three players from CQ, two based in Gladstone and one from Rockhampton, either made the teams or were selected as shadow players. The players and their clubs are: U13 Team – Tiaan Engelbrecht (Central); U13 Shadow – Tyler Wetzler (Bluebirds). U14 Shadow – Cooper West (Clinton). Congratulations to all three players and to everyone that took part in the carnival. Here’s to next year. Thanks to Bill Webb for the picture (attached and below) of the U14 FCQ Team featuring Cooper.
U14 FCQ Community Cup Team

Full State Country U13 team list
Full State Country U14 team list

Nominations for the one-day junior carnival, Emerald’s Barraclough Shield, are still open. This little carnival has been a welcome feature of the Central West region for many years as it provides a great opportunity for various age groups and teams to participate in a well run, fun setting. Details on how to nominate and who to contact can be found on the image attached and flyer below. The carnival will be held on the 29 July.

Flyer
Rules

An exciting new two day carnival will be hosted by Calliope District Football Club at Liz Cunningham Park on 29-3oth of September. This new initiative is open to junior and senior teams across the region and will be played as a six a side format based on the Summer 6’s concept. Fun family activities are planned for the weekend.
For more details and to submit an expression of interest use the contact details on the flyer in this post.

Carnival flyer
Carnival Rules

Another local junior carnival is fast approaching with the 2nd holding of the Frenchville Terry Kennedy U10 Carnival on 22 July. The carnival, named after departed long time Frenchville stalwart Terry Kennedy, had its inaugural successful launch last year and looks set to become a regular part of our junior season.

Nominations are now open with details on both the flyer linked below and the Nomination Form and Comp Rules document (also available below).

Terry Kennedy Carnival Contacts flyer
Carnival Rules and Nomination Form

Bluebirds United FC are calling for nominations for its annual Cec Babbage 6 a side U12 carnival. The carnival will take place on the weekend of 30 June-1 July. A nomination form can be accessed from the post below as can a copy of the carnival rules. Further information can be found via the contact in the image attached.
Cec Babbage Nomination Form
Cec Babbage Rules

Football Central Queensland is proud to welcome the Rockhampton North branch of Birch Carroll & Coyle (BCC) as a sponsor of junior football in the Rockhampton region. General Manager Jim Douglas stated that he was excited to have BCC involved in providing Player of the Match awards that come with vouchers for players to use at the cinema. ‘Juniors who are awarded Player of the Match will have three vouchers they can use to get anything from reduced student tickets with free popcorn to a discount on a small combo when they visit the cinema’, said Douglas. ‘I’d like to thank Becci Davies, General Manager of BCC Rockhampton, for coming on board to support our sport. I look forward to working with BCC on future promotions for our members’, said Douglas.

The awards will be distributed over the coming week to all clubs with junior players currently participating in Rockhampton junior competitions and fixtures.

After the rounds of the Intercity Shield featuring players from several CQ centres, the following players have been selected to represent the zone at the forthcoming FQ Community Cup in Mackay from 8-14 July. This promises to be an exciting tournament with teams featured from across the state. Congratulations to all players and coaches for taking part in our trials and to those who did not make the teams this year, there will always be next year! Thanks go to all the parents for your support as well.
Coaching sessions are underway for all teams as are friendly games in preparation for the cup.
Here are the teams in age group order (note – 14 players for U12s only; the rest have 16 players):
U12
Carter King
Ben Tucker
Adam Whitehouse
Joshua Wilson
Ryley Bell
Sonam Lama
Caleb Mills
Neill Evetts
Shaun Evetts
Max Lane- Meier
Andres Giha Carella
Joe Bebendorf
Charlie Hemmings
Xavier Kooistra
U13
Isaac Anochie
Darcy Knight
Tyler Wetzler
Brent Selman
Oliver Van Someren
Nicholas Gold
Lachlan Wembridge
Maksim Bijelic
Declan King
Nate Beach
Seth Hogarth
Ethan Knapman
Ryan Brito
Joshua Kuss
Jonathan Gamble
Sam Hodgkinson (Bundy)
U14
Cody Bromly
Ky Geddy
Elijah Retort
Ryan Walz
Cooper West
Tristan Meier
Anesu Mangweza
Jai Topfer
Ryan Young
Dylan Price
Luke Dollar
Lachlan Dunn
Hayden Finlay
Tafadzwa Jiri
Jake Triplett
U15
Matthew Marshall
Ryan Mansfield
Connor Edgerton
Declan Howlett
Todd Longden
Sean Keetch
Parker Lindsay
Joe Gorton
Scott Skinner
Dan Gold
Connor Stewart
Saxon Smith
Nick Crook
Jeremy McMahon
Fynn Robinson
Liam Radke
U16
Bailey Rule
Declan Mackay
Bryson Hardwick
Reilly Allen
Lachlan Smith
Michael Hancock
Tyler Jacob Bowers
Sam Levi
Jakob Wright
Connor Hartwell
Simbarashe Mugebe
Toby Richardson
Jake Otto
Luke Smith
Billy Stephenson
Daniel Heit
U15 Girls
Jemma Torr
Keely Hooper
Emilee Myles
Trinnity McKeiver
Zoe Josefski
Alana Sailor
Hayley Seagrott
Brittany Staines
Charlie Barsby
Makayla Marks
Olivia Mowat
Jordan Porter
Erin Harvey
Chantelle Sharp
Tarah Staines
Zoe Wilkie

This coming weekend (23/25 March) may be the last one before the Easter break but it looms as a huge one in the local football calendar.

Apart from the usual fixtures, two early season finals featuring teams from Rockhampton and Gladstone will feature on the Saturday night which also sees the return of the CQ Premier League. As if that wasn’t enough, on Sunday junior rep players from Gladstone, Biloela, Cap Coast and Rockhampton in teams from U11 through to U16, will converge on Norbridge Park in Rockhampton as they try to impress selectors and make the zone teams to travel to Mackay for the FQ Community Cup in July.

Our local final as part of the FFA Cup qualifying process will feature Bluebirds at home to Southside United. Both teams had different passage ways to the final with Bluebirds triumphing 3-1 over last years winner Cap Coast while Southside battled through extra time and penalties to edge past last year’s runner-up Clinton 4-3.

Webber Park will also host the final in our inaugural Women’s Knockout Cup with Gracemere Redbacks, last round winners over Gladstone’s Central 7-0, against Gladstone United who just saw off the promising Bluebirds team 1-0. So a real ‘battle’ of the two cities here! Will last year’s RWL Champions be able to continue that form and overcome a well-coached and newly reinstated United side?

Speaking of that, the CQ Premier League also begins with a bang with Fenchville at home to Clinton in what is a rematch of their first-round clash in the FFA Cup qualifiers. A close game there saw Clinton pip the Roos in penalties after extra time; will the quality Gladstone outfit be able to gain the upper hand and repeat the dose or will a strong and rested Frenchville be able to take advantage of the road-weary Clinton side who are yet to play a game at home in what for them has been a hectic pre-season schedule? Should be a fascinating game.

Gladstone’s Central FC  return to the CQ Premier League after a few year’s away this coming weekend facing a tough match away at a rebuilding Nerimbera. Early preseason form makes this one a difficult one to pick although the away team I’m sure will be out to stamp a mark in the competition early on.

Fixtures featuring teams drawn in either of Cup Finals will be rescheduled. See the online draw under Fixtures for details.

Cup Finals & CQ PL Fixtures Saturday 24 March
FFA Cup Zone Qualifying Final
Bluebirds United v Southside United Webber Park 7pm

FCQ Women’s  Knockout Final
Gracemere Redbacks v Gladstone United Webber Park 5pm

CQ Premier League Round 1
Division 1 – Frenchville v Clinton Ryan Park 7pm
Division 2 – Frenchville v Clinton Ryan Park 5pm
Division 1 – Nerimbera v Central Pilbeam Park 7pm
Division 2 – Nerimbera v Central Pilbeam Park 5pm
Division 2 – Bluebirds v Emerald Webber Park 3pm