Redlands United Football club are off to a running start as they prepare for a successful 2018 season in the PlayStation 4 National Premier League with the club having already made a number of key signings for the men’s team.
After a disappointing 2017 season, senior men’s coach Nick Dibbs says his side will concentrate on getting off to a good start in 2018.
“The season was challenging from start to finish in 2017,” he said.
“Firstly, we are not going to have the injury problems we had but that is obviously out of my hands so we will manage the players very well.”
The club has re-signed 2017 team memebrs including player of the year Mikey Dalton along with Alex Warrilow, Carlton Westerdale, James Edgar, Lloyd Harrington, Liam O’Bryan, Sam Langley and Graham Fyfe.
O’Bryan, who suffered a knee injury at the end of last season, is expected to re-join the squad in June while Langley is expected to be ready early in the season.
Experienced midfielder, Graham Fyfe returns for his 10th season with the Red Devils, after becoming the first player to reach 100 NPL games and 200 club appearances. He also takes on a new role at the club as the Technical Director after the departure of Matt Chandler.
Youth players Toby Hughes and Luke Hendrix, have been rewarded for their performances and contribution to the senior men from last season, having been promoted to the senior side for 2018.
Redlands will also see the return of former senior players, Jayden Prasad and Scott Bow.
Prasad left Redlands in 2015 to make the move to the Brisbane Roar Youth system and he also was selected for the Young Socceroos squad for the AFF Under 19 Championships.
He found his way to the Victorian NPL, joining Hume City for the 2017 season. Meanwhile, Bow returns to Redlands after three seasons at Olympic FC.
Dibbs has also signed youngsters Brendon Bouchier and Bill Hobbs along with experienced defender Daniel Varma and NPL Queensland players, Scott Sargent and Jason Park.
Hobbs is a talented centre back from the Brisbane Strikers Youth system as Bouchier from Logan Lighting is set to compliment 18-year-old goalkeeper, Edgar.
While Varma is also new to the NPL Queensland but does not lack NPL experience having spent nine years in South Australian NPL before moving back to Queensland last season to play with Souths United in the Brisbane Premier League.
“Am I excited for the season ahead with the players we have assembled together with the nice blend of youth and experience? Yeah 100 per cent,” Dibbs said.
“Are we going to challenge? Yes and are we are still viewed as underdogs from other sides? I hope so.”
Redlands is expected to sign more players in the coming month ahead of the pre-season games, which begin in December.