Intercity Shield and FQ Community Cup
In early November 2017 Football Queensland formally announced the establishment of the FQ Community Cup, an annual state wide competition that will launch in 2018 in Mackay during the June/July school holidays. This competition replaces the previous ICC program which was dissolved at the completion of its 2017 schedule. This new cup will involve zone invited teams from across the state, with a focus on talent identification for players outside of the QPL/NPL advanced player pathways. It will present greater opportunities for quality community club-level players aged 12 to 16 to gain recognition from scouts involved with QPL/NPL clubs. The new cup coincides with the FFA’s dissolution of National Championships for competitive aged boys (girls still have national championships to aspire to) and means that young male players will still have the opportunity to take that next step to professional football. There’s many more details to come from FQ as nominations from all zones are considered.
In recognition of the opportunities the Community Cup will present, FCQ has undergone consultation with clubs and interested stakeholders in revamping its internal representative series with the aim to link that directly to selection for the Community Cup. Delivered under the banner of the FCQ Junior Development Program (JDP), this new series will be called the Intercity Shield and is expected to feature teams from U11 through to U16 for boys, and U11, U13 and U15 for girls. It is anticipated that a number of centres will put in teams including Cap Coast, Gladstone, Biloela, Emerald and Rockhampton. Players participating in the Intercity Shield will be trialling to be chosen to represent the zone at the Community Cup in June. Discussions are currently underway to provide games for the zone teams prior to attending the Community Cup and beyond but the final structure of the entire program is yet to be decided upon. Under 11 teams will not feature in the Community Cup and while there is some uncertainty about the make-up of the overall JDP, there is clear recognition of the need to have an overall development plan to prepare for the 2019 season and beyond with 2018 very much a transitional one in this area for both the zone and FQ.
Discussions with clubs in Rockhampton and Gladstone have resulted in an agreement that clubs will lead the way with academies for their own younger aged players with an aim for clubs well established in this space to also provide opportunities for coaches from other clubs to learn how to set-up and run something similar back at their own club. FCQ will assist by lobbying Football Queensland for coaching support including training programs/courses to ensure that a common program is delivered across the zone.
Some important events/dates:
- Call for coaches – currently underway – interested coaches can email generalmanager@footballcq.com.au for more information or can download a nomination form here
- 18 February 2018 & 4 March 2018 – trials for the Intercity Shield games – all centres preferred. Gladstone – Palm Drive; Rockhampton – Norbridge Park. Note: Cap Coast, Biloela and Emerald may choose to have one date only. Main aim is to try and ensure teams are ready and selected prior to the first round of the Intercity Shield. Centres can choose to recommend individuals attend one of the larger centres rather than nominate teams if they are struggling for numbers in a particular age group
- 18 March 2018 – first round of Intercity Shield games – Clinton Fields, Gladstone
- 25 March 2018 – second round of Intercity Shield games – Norbridge Park, Rockhampton
- 27 March 2018 – Community Cup teams announced (more time may be needed but this is a proposed date)
- 5/6 May – games for Community Cup teams (TBC)
- June/July school holidays – FQ Community Cup (dates TBC)
There’s more to follow and updates will be provided as details are confirmed. For more information contact generalmanager@footballcq.com.au.
