AS pre-season training is about to kick-off for the 2017 PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland men’s competition, Redlands United FC will be looking to defend their championship title from last season.
After finishing fourth in the regular season and beating Premiers Brisbane Strikers in a semi-final penalty shootout they headed to a grand final match against FNQ Fury.
It was a hard-fought win, as Heat lead at half-time before two late goals from Redlands saw them crowned champions for the 2016 season, a sweet victory for the small club from Cleveland.
Redlands United FC technical director and coach, Matt Chandler is looking forward to his side backing up from the successes of last season.
“We had a very good two or three months to the grand final,” he said. “I believe a lot of people didn’t think we would win but we did.”
Last season will be the one the club will remember for a long time.
One of the most memorable moments for the club and the team came in the FFA Cup when they drew A-League Champions, Adelaide United.
A last-minute goal in regulation time to Redlands midfielder, Michael Lee, forced the match into extra-time and just seven minutes later Redlands scored what would be the winning goal.
“It really unified the club and it was an astonishing achievement,” Matt Chandler said.
It was only the third time an NPL side had defeated an A-League team since the inception of the FFA Cup last year but no NPL club had defeated the A-League Champions.
Despite the heights Redlands achieved last season, football is football and players have left to peruse other ventures so the club must recruit.
“Obviously you lose a few and we’ve gained a few,” Matt Chandler said. “We are quite pleased with our recruitment. I believe we have signed some players who will help us in what we are trying to achieve.”
Redlands does not want to make last season the end of something but the beginning of what they want to achieve although anything can happen.
Matt Chandler has his eyes set on a top four spot again and a good run in the FFA Cup are the must for next season.
“I’d like to play better football than we did last season. (I’m) not saying we played bad football but I’m always looking to have continuous and never-ending improvement in what we do,” he said.
The NPL season kicks off early in 2017, but the team have booked in for the BKL Silver Boot at Lions F.C. in the new year and will have a number of pre-season games in order to be prepared for what comes their way.
