View source for Brisbane Strikers FC

{{short description|Soccer club in Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Brisbane Strikers
| image = BrisbaneStrikers.png
| upright = 1.0
| fullname = Brisbane Strikers Football Club
| nickname = ''Strikers''
| shortname = 
| founded = 1991 (as Brisbane United)
| ground = [[Perry Park, Brisbane|Perry Park]]
| capacity = 5,000
| chairman = Paolo Ucchino
| coach = Kevin Aherne-Evans
| league = {{Australian soccer updater|BrisbaneS}}
| season = {{Australian soccer updater|BrisbaneS2}}
| position = {{Australian soccer updater|BrisbaneS3}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.brisbanestrikers.com.au/}}
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'''Brisbane Strikers Football Club''' is an Australian semi-professional [[association football|football]] club based in [[Brisbane]], [[Queensland]]. Founded in 1991 as Brisbane United, the club competed in the [[National Soccer League]] until the [[2003–04 National Soccer League|2003–04 season]].

Brisbane Strikers currently competes in the [[Football Queensland Premier League]], with home matches played at [[Perry Park, Brisbane|Perry Park]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.brisbanestrikers.com.au/index.php/grounds/brisbane-strikers/|title=Brisbane Strikers {{!}} The Brisbane Strikers|work=The Brisbane Strikers|access-date=2018-08-01|language=en-US|archive-date=1 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801155150/http://www.brisbanestrikers.com.au/index.php/grounds/brisbane-strikers/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==

===Background===
Brisbane's first representation in the [[National Soccer League]] (NSL), then known as the Philips Soccer League (PSL), came in the form of [[Brisbane City SC|Brisbane City]] and [[Queensland Lions FC|Brisbane Lions]]. Brisbane City won the first two national knockout competitions, by defeating [[Marconi Stallions|Marconi]] in 1977 and [[West Adelaide SC|West Adelaide]] in 1978.

Brisbane Lions won the knockout competition in 1981, also defeating West Adelaide.  Brisbane City left the NSL in after the 1986 season and Brisbane Lions after the 1988 season.

===National Soccer League 1991–2004===
[[File:Performance Chart NSL BRS.svg|thumb|Chart of yearly table positions for Brisbane Strikers in [[National Soccer League|NSL]]]]
The next Brisbane team in the NSL was Brisbane United, which played from 1991 to 1993 coached by [[Miron Bleiberg]]. The team wore predominately white, with a blue and gold trim – the official colours of Brisbane.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Symbols used by Council|url=https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/about-council/council-information-and-rates/council-history/symbols-used-by-council|access-date=2020-09-09|website=brisbane.qld.gov.au|language=en|archive-date=26 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326023556/https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/about-council/council-information-and-rates/council-history/symbols-used-by-council|url-status=live}}</ref> After a troubled time, with small crowds, confronting relegation and with a "disenchanted team", former [[Australian Soccer Federation]] chairman [[Ian Brusasco]] headed a trustee management group to restructure the club.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lingard|first=John|date=23 January 1994|title=Striking the right balance|work=The Sun-Herald}}</ref> The name was changed to the Brisbane Strikers for the 1993/94 season, with the colours, newly installed coach [[Bruce Stowell]] and most players retained.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schwab |first=Laurie |date=1993-10-22 |title=New names but the same old NSL |pages=27 |work=The Age |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/76682416/new-names-but-the-same-old-nsl/ |access-date=2021-04-29 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=29 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429020656/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/76682416/new-names-but-the-same-old-nsl/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Initially the Brisbane Strikers were owned by the [[Football Queensland|Queensland Soccer Federation]] (QSF), which handed the running of the club to a Trust Management Group composed of Brusasco (also a former president of the QSF), [[Clem Jones]] (former [[Lord Mayor of Brisbane]]) and leading football official Frank Speare.

Coached by Stowell for three seasons, the Strikers finished fourth in 1995/96 to qualify for their first NSL finals appearance, in which they lost a semi-final playoff over two legs to [[Sydney United]].

In the 1996/97 season, the Strikers ditched the white to wear a predominately gold kit, with blue trims, and were led by player-coach [[Frank Farina]]. The team finished second on the NSL ladder to Sydney United before going on to beat United in their semi-final to set up a home grand final&nbsp;– against the same team.

During this period, future [[FIFA]] [[whistleblower]] [[Bonita Mersiades]] worked for the Strikers as the club's media officer.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-07-26|title=Football finds a female champion in Bonita Mersiades|url=https://www.news.com.au/news/football-finds-a-female-champion-in-bonita-mersiades/news-story/01d0f70793706fe9fdcf426aeb7c93b9|access-date=2020-08-20|publisher=News.com.au|language=en}}</ref>

At a time when football was struggling for mainstream acceptance and credibility in Australia, NSL Grand Finals– the pinnacle of club football in Australia – generally drew crowds between 12,000 and 25,000. But the 1997 Grand Final, played at [[Lang Park]] in Brisbane, drew a capacity 40,446 spectators to watch the Strikers beat Sydney United 2–0 with goals by Farina and [[Rod Brown (Australian soccer)|Rod Brown]].

This was a watershed moment for football in Australia, but the Strikers struggled the next season, finishing 12th. A significant event in the history of the club occurred in 1998 when the QSF divested itself of its ownership, which passed to the Strikers Football Club Pty Ltd.

Scarcely three years after the club had played its part in Australian club football's proudest moment, it was dealt a savage blow when Soccer Australia, as part of a restructuring of the national competition, refused the Strikers' application for a place in the NSL, citing financial concerns. [[Canberra Cosmos FC|Canberra Cosmos]] was also expelled.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PM – Soccer clubs threaten legal action over restructure|url=https://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s308549.htm|access-date=2020-08-20|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|archive-date=11 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511094139/http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s308549.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> This left the national league without a representative from the country's third most populous state.

Politicians, supporters and the general public waged a campaign to have the club reinstated to the national league. Then-[[Premier of Queensland|Queensland premier]] [[Peter Beattie]] said of Soccer Australia officials:  "Who the hell do they think they are?" How can you have a national soccer competition without a Queensland team? I mean, it's absolutely ridiculous. Soccer officials must be sensitive to its national obligations."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Soccer Oz blasted|url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/soccer-oz-blasted|access-date=2020-08-20|website=The World Game|language=en}}</ref>

Public pressure eventually convinced Soccer Australia to reverse its decision and grant the Strikers Football Club Pty Ltd a licence for the 2000/2001 season.

Back on the field, under coach [[John Kosmina]], the Strikers finished fourth and qualified for the NSL finals. Eventual premiers [[South Melbourne FC]] prevailed over the Strikers in their two-legged semi-final.

The next season saw the Strikers struggle again and led to the club parting ways with Kosmina. Despite a host of coaches showing interest in the vacancy, including some from overseas, the Strikers took the step of appointing 28-year-old club captain [[Stuart McLaren]] as head coach, assisted by [[Luciano Trani]]. Together, the two assembled a squad of unsung players from the local leagues and turning them into a team that took the club back to the 2003/04 NSL finals only to lose a memorable semi-final play-off to [[Adelaide United]].

That season was the last for the NSL. A strong reform movement within the game in Australia had seen a new Soccer Australia Board appointed (which would change its name to Football Federation Australia) under the Chairmanship of [[Frank Lowy]] and the new governing body set about creating a new national competition called the A-League.

1996–97 remained the only time a Queensland team had won an Australian national football title, until [[Brisbane Roar]] won the [[2010–11 A-League]] title.

===First A-League bid===
The Brisbane Strikers were a prime candidate for the Brisbane position in the new [[A-League]] that kicked off in mid-2005. [[Football Federation Australia]] boss Frank Lowy was quoted at the time saying that the two Brisbane bids were outstanding {{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}, but the reality was that only one team would make it.

The A-League decided to go with the Lions bid, who changed their name to the Queensland Roar, whose name changed once more to the present [[Brisbane Roar]], maintaining their local link to the Lions, and its Dutch ethnic iconography.<ref>{{cite web|title=Brisbane Strikers would make the grade in A-League insists chairman Bruce Atterton-Evans|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/football/brisbane-strikers-would-make-the-grade-in-a-league-insists-chairman-bruce-atterton-evans/story-fnk6pqha-1227347388275|publisher=adelaidenow.com.au|access-date=30 June 2015}}</ref>

===Brisbane Premier League 2005–2007===
Determined to find an outlet to continue their philosophy of developing the talents of Queensland footballers, the Brisbane Strikers joined forces with local Brisbane club North Star to field a team in the [[Brisbane Premier League]]. Coached by Bobby Hamilton, the new team qualified for the finals play-off in its first BPL season (2005) before falling to [[Palm Beach Sharks|Palm Beach]] in a semi-final. However, in 2006 the Strikers carried all before them, winning the BPL championship, the Grand Final and the Premier Cup.

Another coaching change saw Craig Collins take on the player-coach role in 2007. It was an "almost" season for the Strikers, which saw them finish runners-up in the championship to [[Rochedale Rovers F.C.]], before losing a titanic struggle in the Grand Final to the same team by the scoreline of 5–4.

===Queensland State League 2008–2012===
With the [[Queensland State League (association football)|Queensland State League]] due to commence in 2008 as part of Football Federation Australia and Football Queensland's goal of enhancing career pathways across Queensland and providing a platform between the local and national competitions, the Strikers saw a position in the QSL as a natural "fit" with the club's own player development ethos. Its application to join the new state competition was accepted and the club, once again under the coaching of Stuart McLaren, put its best foot forward on playing fields from Brisbane to Townsville in the inaugural QSL season. The Strikers finished second behind [[Sunshine Coast F.C.]] on the league table before hosting the Grand Final at Perry Park and losing to the same team.

The following (2009) season, McLaren and his squad clinched the QSL championship in the penultimate round of the competition after a tense season-long battle with [[Olympic FC]]. In doing so, the Brisbane Strikers became one of the very few football clubs in Australia to have won trophies at local, state and national levels. However, the Strikers lost in a Grand Final once again, going down 1–4 in a boilover result to [[Redlands United FC]], who had finished the season in fourth position on the QSL ladder.

The 2010 and 2011 campaigns took on a familiar path.  With [[David Large]] taking on the coaching role from the departing McLaren, the club finished both seasons in second position on the league table before going on to host the Grand Finals and losing each one by an identical scoreline, 1–0 to Sunshine Coast FC. The 2012 QSL proved to be a successful season for the club. The Strikers claimed their second QSL championship in five years in emphatic fashion, finishing eight points above second place [[Far North Queensland Bulls FC]].  The Strikers were eliminated in a home semi-final 2–0 to [[Whitsunday Miners FC]].

===National Premier Leagues Queensland 2013–2021===
After 2012 the Strikers competed in the [[National Premier Leagues Queensland]], run by [[Football Queensland]], the top tier state-level [[association football]] competition in [[Queensland]], replacing the [[Queensland State League (association football)|Queensland State League]]. The conference is a sub division of the [[National Premier Leagues]]. The league consists of teams across [[Queensland]].

In seasons 2013 and 2014 the Strikers finished fourth in the league before being eliminated in the semi-finals by league winners and eventual Grand Final champions in [[Olympic FC]] and [[Palm Beach SC|Palm Beach Sharks]] respectively.

Season 2015 saw a new coach take the helm in [[Kevin Aherne-Evans]] and while enjoying a relatively successful campaign it was to prove a frustrating year for the club.  With the Strikers equal top of the league but second on goal difference their final game of the season was abandoned due to wet weather and with the governing body, [[Football Queensland]], choosing not to reschedule the match and deem it a goalless draw they were forced to settle for the runners-up position.  The disappointment from the last game controversy was further heightened when the Strikers qualified for the Grand Final, only to lose to their league rivals [[Moreton Bay United FC|Moreton Bay United]].

The Strikers proved a dominant force in season 2016, finally clinching the club's first [[National Premier Leagues Queensland]] league title.  In 2017 [[Sean Brendan Lane|Sean Lane]] took over the coaching duties from the departing Aherne-Evans.  The Strikers became the first side to win consecutive league titles in the [[National Premier Leagues Queensland]] era after a gripping battle with [[Gold Coast City FC]].  Postseason football however continued to be a thorn in the Strikers' side with the team losing their semi-finals in both 2016 and 2017 seasons.

As league winners in 2016 and 2017 the Strikers also qualified for the Australia-wide [[National Premier Leagues]] finals series which sees the winner from each state federation compete in a knockout cup competition to be crowned national champions.  After losing at the semi-final stage to eventual champions [[Sydney United 58 FC|Sydney United 58]] in 2016, the Strikers became the first Queensland side to make the Grand Final in 2017 where they hosted [[National Premier Leagues Victoria]] side [[Heidelberg United FC|Heidelberg United]]. The Strikers lost that match 2–0 in front of 1105 fans at Perry Park.

The following year, an annual $500,000 bequeathment from the late Dr Jones, which was paid to Strikers, Sport, Recreation and Welfare Association Limited for a decade after his death, ended as per the terms of his will. The club's 2020 financial report, submitted to the [[Australian Securities & Investments Commission|Australian Securities and Investments Commission]], noted: "The discontinuation of the above funding subsequent to 30 June 2018 gives rise to a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt about the ability of the entity to continue as a going concern."<ref>{{Cite web|last=ASIC|first=NZCO and|title=Search Company and Other Registers|url=https://connectonline.asic.gov.au/RegistrySearch/faces/landing/SearchRegisters.jspx?_adf.ctrl-state=qh7y7x92c_4|access-date=2021-10-23|website=connectonline.asic.gov.au|language=en-AU|archive-date=24 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240824161000/https://asic.gov.au/online-services/service-availability/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2019, the Strikers appointed Salvatore Sottile and Julianna Suranyi, who claimed to be a [[psychic]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Couriermail.com.au {{!}} Subscribe to The Courier Mail for exclusive stories|url=https://dsf.newscorpaustralia.com/couriermail/subscription/|access-date=2021-10-23|language=en-AU|archive-date=4 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104083103/https://dsf.newscorpaustralia.com/couriermail/subscription/|url-status=live}}</ref> to the board. Shortly afterwards, in February 2020, a player development partnership with Spanish club [[CD Leganés|CD Leganes]] was announced, with the relationship between Sottile and CD Leganes representative Morris Pagniello cited as the driving force behind the deal.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brisbane Strikers FC|url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=3030224667012125&id=178447882189832|access-date=2021-10-23|via=Facebook|language=en}}</ref> Pagniello was one of about 50 people arrested as part of the 2015 [[2015 Italian football match-fixing scandal|"Dirty Soccer"]] Italian football match-fixing scandal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015 |title=Calcioscommesse: l'elenco dei fermati |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/19-05-2015/calcioscommesse-dirty-soccer-elenco-fermati-110887206505.shtml |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=La Gazzetta dello Sport - Tutto il rosa della vita |language=it}}</ref> 

For the 2021 season, and without the financial stability of Dr Jones's bequeathment, Strikers chairman Bruce Atterton-Evans announced a new youth-focused policy<ref>{{Cite web|last=FC|first=Brisbane Strikers|title=Football is not only our game it's our way of life.|url=https://brisbanestrikersfc.com/chairmans-announcement-1|access-date=2021-10-23|website=Brisbane Strikers FC|language=en-AU|archive-date=23 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023234536/https://brisbanestrikersfc.com/chairmans-announcement-1|url-status=live}}</ref> that saw almost the entire first-team squad depart for rival clubs. The effect was instant, with the Strikers winning just two matches in the 2021 NPL season, ensuring relegation for the first time in the club's history.

Atterton-Evans ceased being a director on 14 October 2021,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Search Company and Other Registers|url=https://connectonline.asic.gov.au/RegistrySearch/faces/landing/SearchRegisters.jspx?_adf.ctrl-state=n4wwtxv34_4|access-date=2021-10-23|website=connectonline.asic.gov.au|archive-date=24 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240824161000/https://asic.gov.au/online-services/service-availability/|url-status=live}}</ref> leaving the Strikers under the control of Sottile, Suranyi and Bosnian-born Brisbane businessman Dino Hasanovic.

Paolo Ucchino replaced Suranyi as chairman on 10 July, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brisbane Strikers Board Announcement |url=https://brisbanestrikersfc.com/brisbane-strikers-board-announcement/ |access-date=10 July 2024 |archive-date=10 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710201428/https://brisbanestrikersfc.com/brisbane-strikers-board-announcement/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Perrypark.jpg|thumb|Perry Park before kick-off for the 2019 FFA Cup semi-final against Melbourne City. The attendance was 3706.]]

===FFA Cup===
The [[Football Federation Australia Cup]] is Australia's national knockout Cup football competition.  Since its inception in 2014 Brisbane Strikers has enjoyed some memorable moments in the [[FFA Cup]].

Qualifying through the Brisbane zone for the national Round of 32 in 2014 the Strikers featured in a piece of Australian football history when its tie against Newcastle based club [[Broadmeadow Magic]] became the first live televised game of the new Cup competition.  The Strikers won the game 2–1 but were eliminated in the Round of 16 after a 1–0 away loss to [[Adelaide City FC]].

Once again the Strikers made it to the national stage of the FFA Cup in 2015 when the qualified for the Round of 32 from the Brisbane zone.  However they suffered a heartbreaking 4–3 extra time defeat to [[Hume City FC]].

The [[2016 FFA Cup]] saw Brisbane Strikers qualify for the third successive time, this time drawing [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]] [[NorZone Premier League]] side [[Shamrock Rovers Darwin FC]] in the Round of 32.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2016/06/30/sydney-fc-meet-wollongong-wolves-ffa-cup-round-32|title=Sydney FC to meet Wollongong Wolves in FFA Cup Round of 32|publisher=[[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]]|date=30 June 2016|access-date=12 August 2016|archive-date=6 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806224440/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2016/06/30/sydney-fc-meet-wollongong-wolves-ffa-cup-round-32|url-status=live}}</ref> On 27 July 2016, the Strikers ran out 6–0 winners over Rovers Darwin in front of 1358 people at [[Darwin Football Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.theffacup.com.au/matchcentre/Rovers-Darwin-FC-v-Brisbane-Strikers/862153 | title=Darwin Rovers vs Brisbane Strikers, Australia Cup, Round of 32, 27th Jul 2016 | date=31 July 2017 }}</ref> In the Round of 16, Brisbane drew [[A-League]] side [[Melbourne City FC]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theffacup.com.au/article/westfield-ffa-cup-round-of-16-draw-revealed/mwukkjqvp7vb15n3iq6dnl1dg|title=Westfield FFA Cup Round of 16 draw revealed|work=Football Federation Australia|date=10 August 2016}}</ref> In front of 3571 people at Perry Park, the Strikers' biggest crowd since their exit from the NSL, two [[Bruno Fornaroli]] penalties saw the A-League side progress, despite the Strikers taking the lead through Greig Henslee. The match also marked [[Tim Cahill]]'s first game since arriving back in Australia, joining Melbourne City.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theffacup.com.au/matchcentre/Brisbane-Strikers-v-Melbourne-City-FC/883886|title=Brisbane Strikers vs Melbourne City FC, FFA Cup, Round of 16, 24th Aug 2016|date=31 July 2017|access-date=24 August 2016|archive-date=26 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826100056/http://www.theffacup.com.au/matchcentre/Brisbane-Strikers-v-Melbourne-City-FC/883886|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Strikers next qualified for the Round of 32 in the [[2019 FFA Cup]], where they met [[Wellington Phoenix FC|Wellington Phoenix]] at Perry Park on 7 August. In front of 1612 fans, the Strikers went 2–0 ahead through goals to [[Hiroki Omori]] and Andy Pengelly, before Wellington scored twice to equalise. The Strikers held on in extra time, thanks largely to goalkeeper Bon Scott, who saved an extra time penalty. Scott continued his heroics in the penalty shoot-out, which the Strikers won 4–3.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/soccer/brisbane-earns-a-cupset-double-as-the-roar-and-strikers-progress-20190808-p52f3b.html|title=Brisbane earns a 'cupset' double as the Roar and Strikers progress|last=Smith|first=Pete|date=2019-08-08|website=Brisbane Times|language=en|access-date=2019-08-08|archive-date=8 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808064213/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/soccer/brisbane-earns-a-cupset-double-as-the-roar-and-strikers-progress-20190808-p52f3b.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Perry Park Cox Architects.jpg|thumb|The Strikers commissioned Cox Architects to design a 15,694-seat boutique stadium for Perry Park as part of the club's bid to join the A-League.]]The Strikers qualified for the quarter-finals for the very first time on 29 August 2019, when they defeated [[Manly United FC|Manly United]] 1–0 in front of 1240 spectators at Perry Park<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/soccer/brisbane-strikers-advance-as-roar-pay-the-penalty-20190829-p52ly7.html|title=Brisbane Strikers advance as Roar pay the penalty|last=Smith|first=Pete|date=2019-08-29|website=Brisbane Times|language=en|access-date=2019-08-29|archive-date=29 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829024020/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/soccer/brisbane-strikers-advance-as-roar-pay-the-penalty-20190829-p52ly7.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and drawing [[Moreland Zebras FC|Moreland Zebras]] in the next round.

The Strikers defeated the Zebras 3–2 in front of 1915 at Perry Park on 18 September 2019,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=CMWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.couriermail.com.au%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Fbrisbane-strikers-claim-slice-of-history-after-securing-spot-in-ffa-cup-semifinals%2Fnews-story%2Fb546c4a8776e9b16e67b84d61b165ad3&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=b642c3f9dda62edf27c7203831946623-1568841300|title=Couriermail.com.au {{!}} Subscribe to The Courier Mail for exclusive stories|website=couriermail.com.au|access-date=2019-09-18}}</ref> to become the first Queensland side to qualify for the FFA Cup semi finals, setting up a match with [[Melbourne City FC|Melbourne City]]. They lost that match at Perry Park 1–5,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/soccer/melbourne-city-demolish-brisbane-strikers-to-reach-ffa-cup-final-20191001-p52wr5.html|title=Melbourne City demolish Brisbane Strikers to reach FFA Cup final|last=Jackson|first=Ed|date=2019-10-01|website=Brisbane Times|language=en|access-date=2019-10-01|archive-date=1 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001220042/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/soccer/melbourne-city-demolish-brisbane-strikers-to-reach-ffa-cup-final-20191001-p52wr5.html|url-status=live}}</ref> in front of a post-NSL club record crowd of 3706.

=== Second A-League bid ===
The Strikers announced in May 2017 that the club would once again put in a bid to join the A-League,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rugari|first=Vince|date=2017-05-25|title=Brisbane Strikers officially in the race for an A-League licence|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/brisbane-strikers-officially-in-the-race-for-an-aleague-licence-20170525-gwddr8.html|access-date=2018-09-08|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|archive-date=8 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908130509/https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/brisbane-strikers-officially-in-the-race-for-an-aleague-licence-20170525-gwddr8.html|url-status=live}}</ref> with the club making the announcement on the 20th anniversary of its NSL grand final win.

Central to the Strikers bid was the club's plans for a 15,694-seat boutique stadium at [[Perry Park, Brisbane|Perry Park]].

However, the club pulled out of the race when the bid's financial backers pulled their support. The debacle led to criticism from fans about the club's direction and the "inertia" of the bid.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brisbane Strikers – what could have been {{!}} FootballToday.news|url=http://footballtoday.news/features/brisbane-strikers-what-could-have-been|access-date=2018-09-08|website=footballtoday.news|language=en|archive-date=10 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810111620/http://footballtoday.news/features/brisbane-strikers-what-could-have-been|url-status=live}}</ref>

Later, it emerged that the Strikers had approached [[Brisbane City FC|Brisbane City]], another Brisbane club vying for A-League admission, about consolidating their bids. Brisbane City knocked back that approach.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Atfield|first=Cameron|date=2018-09-05|title=Brisbane needs a boutique stadium and the World Game can deliver it|url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/soccer/brisbane-needs-a-boutique-stadium-and-the-world-game-can-deliver-it-20180905-p501uc.html|access-date=2018-09-08|website=Brisbane Times|language=en}}</ref> City subsequently withdrew its own bid.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Statement – A-League expansion {{!}} www.brisbanecityfc.com.au|url=https://www.brisbanecityfc.com.au/news/statement-a-league-expansion/|access-date=2018-09-09|website=brisbanecityfc.com.au|language=en-AU|archive-date=13 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413155422/https://www.brisbanecityfc.com.au/news/statement-a-league-expansion/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Players==

===First-team squad===
{{updated|28 January 2024}}

{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=GK|name=[[Jerrad Tyson]]|other=|no=1}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=DF|name=Cooper Hein|no=2}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=DF|name=Jack Boxell|no=3}}
{{Fs player|nat=BRA|pos=DF|name=Daniel Cunha|no=4}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Jayke Cuschieri|no=5}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Kai Barnes|no=6}}
{{Fs player|nat=NZL|pos=FW|name=Daniel Champness|no=7}} 
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Connor Booth|no=8}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=FW|name=Adam Edgar|no=9}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Jake McLean|no=10}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=DF|name=Scott Coulson|no=11}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Oscar Burns-Bytheway|no=12}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=DF|name=Dom Van Breemen|no=13}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=FW|name=Seth Renjifo|no=14}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=FW|name=Javier Todd|no=15}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=DF|name=Luke Plummer|no=16}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Ryan Cokell|no=17}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=FW|name=Matt Thurtell|other=Captain|no=18}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Kodi Bailey|no=19}}
{{Football squad mid}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=FW|name=Cameron Nairn|no=20}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=GK|name=Zac Coulibally|no=21}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=FW|name=Morris Kyal|no=22}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=FW|name=Sam Cronin|no=23}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=FW|name=Ethan Jones|no=24}} 
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=DF|name=Lucas Gosselin|no=25}} 
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=DF|name=Simon Quick|no=26}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=DF|name=Sam Pickett|no=27}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Matko Leko|no=28}} 
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=DF|name=Ryan Miller|no=29}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=GK|name=Liam Myers|no=30}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=DF|name=Shaunyon Gibson|no=31}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=DF|name=Jermaine Quakawoot|no=32}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=FW|name=Josh Shewring|no=33}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=DF|name=Brayden Warnes|no=34}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=FW|name=Godwill Remijo|no=35}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Jayden Rodgers|no=36}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Apollo Hickey|no=37}}
{{Fs player|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Justus Ndizeye|no=38}}
{{Fs end}}

==Coaching staff==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Position
!Name
|-
| Head Coach
| [[Kevin Aherne-Evans]]
|-
|Assistant Coach
|Daniel Carew
|- 
|Assistant Coach
|Nicholas Robinson
|-
|Goalkeeping coach
|Steve O'Connor
|- 
| Technical Advisor
|[[Frank Farina]]
|-
| U/23 coach
|Breeze Ligthart 
|}

== Players who have represented their country at senior level ==
Active players in '''bold'''.{{updated|25 March 2025}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Player
!Pos
!National team
!Debut
!Caps 
!G
![[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]]
![[FIFA Confederations Cup|Confed Cup]]
!Continental championships
|-
|'''[[Rahmat Akbari]]'''
|[[Midfielder|MF]]
|{{fb|Afghanistan}}
|2023
|11
|1
|0
|0
|0
|-
|[[Clint Bolton]]
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]
|{{fb|Australia}}
|2000
|4
|0
|0
|1 ([[2001 FIFA Confederations Cup|2001]])
|1 ([[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]] [[2000 OFC Nations Cup|2000]])
|-
|[[Rod Brown (Australian footballer)|Rod Brown]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|{{fb|Australia}}
|1985
|2 
|0
|0
|0
|0
|-
|[[Nathan Coe]]
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]
|{{fb|Australia}}
|2011
|3 
|0
|0
|0
|1 ([[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]])
|-
|[[Sean Cranney]]
|[[Midfielder|MF]]
|{{fb|Australia}}
|1996
|3 
|0
|0
|0
|1 ([[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]] [[1996 OFC Nations Cup|1996]])
|-
|'''[[Denis Daluri]]'''
|[[Midfielder|FW]]
|{{fb|South Sudan}}
|2019
|4
|0
|0
|0
|0
|-
|[[Alex Davani]]
|[[Midfielder|MF]]
|{{fb|Papua New Guinea}}
|2003
|4
|3
|0
|0
|0
|-
|[[Alun Evans (New Zealand footballer)|Alun Evans]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|{{fb|New Zealand}}
|1992
|17
|0
|0
|0
|0
|-
|[[Frank Farina]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|{{fb|Australia}}
|1984
|37
|11
|0
|0
|0
|-
|'''[[Lee-Navu Faunt]]'''
|[[Defender (association football)|MF]]
|{{fb|Papua New Guinea}}
|2023
|5
|0
|0
|0
|1 ([[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]] [[2024 OFC Men's Nations Cup|2024]])
|-
|[[Glen Gwynne|Glenn Gwynne]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|{{fb|Australia}}
|1998
|2
|0
|0
|0
|1 ([[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]] [[1998 OFC Nations Cup|1998]])
|-
|[[Danny Halligan]]
|[[Defender (association football)|MF]]
|{{fb|New Zealand}}
|1987
|36
|5
|0
|0
|0
|-
|[[Alan Hunter (Australian association footballer)|Alan Hunter]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|{{fb|Australia}}
|1986
|9
|1
|0
|0
|0
|-
|[[Carl Jorgensen]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|{{fb|New Zealand}}
|1991
|1
|0
|0
|0
|0
|-
|[[Stephen Laybutt]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|{{fb|Australia}}
|2000
|15
|1
|0
|0
|2 ([[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]] [[2000 OFC Nations Cup|2000]], [[2004 OFC Nations Cup|2004]])
|-
|'''[[Dauntae Mariner]]'''
|[[Defender (association football)|MF]]
|{{fb|Samoa}}
|2023
|13
|0
|0
|0
|1 ([[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]] [[2024 OFC Men's Nations Cup|2024]])
|-
|[[Brad McDonald]]
|[[Defender (association football)|MF]]
|{{fb|Papua New Guinea}}
|2014
|1
|0
|0
|0
|0
|-
|[[Jonathan McKain|Jon McKain]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|{{fb|Australia}}
|2004
|16
|0
|0
|0
|1 ([[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]])
|-
|[[Matt McKay]]
|[[Midfielder|MF]]
|{{fb|Australia}}
|2006
|59
|2
|1 ([[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014]])
|0
|2 ([[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]], [[2015 AFC Asian Cup|2015]])
|-
|[[Craig Moore]]*
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|{{fb|Australia}}
|1995
|52
|3
|2 ([[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]], [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010]])
|2 ([[2001 FIFA Confederations Cup|2001]], [[2005 FIFA Confederations Cup|2005]])
|0
|-
|[[Jade North]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|{{fb|Australia}}
|2002
|41
|0
|0
|0
|2 ([[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]] [[2002 OFC Nations Cup|2002]], [[2004 OFC Nations Cup|2004]])
|-
|[[Jason Polak]]
|[[Midfielder|MF]]
|{{fb|Australia}}
|1988
|32
|2
|0
|0
|1 ([[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]] [[1996 OFC Nations Cup|1996]])
|-
|[[Adam Sarota]]
|[[Midfielder|MF]]
|{{fb|Australia}}
|2011
|3
|0
|0
|0
|0
|-
|[[Shane Smeltz]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|{{fb|New Zealand}}
|2003
|58
|24
|1 ([[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010]])
|3 ([[2003 FIFA Confederations Cup|2003]], [[2009 FIFA Confederations Cup|2009]], [[2017 FIFA Confederations Cup|2017]])
|3 ([[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]] [[2004 OFC Nations Cup|2004]], [[2008 OFC Nations Cup|2008]], [[2012 OFC Nations Cup|2012]])
|-
|[[Matt Smith (footballer, born 1982)|Matt Smith]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|{{fb|Australia}}
|2012
|3
|0
|0
|0
|0
|-
|[[Jean Carlos Solórzano]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|{{fb|Costa Rica}}
|2012
|1
|0
|0
|0
|0
|-
|[[Shane Stefanutto]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|{{fb|Australia}}
|2007
|3
|0
|0
|0
|0
|-
|[[Félix Tagawa|Felix Tagawa]]
|[[Midfielder|MF]]
|{{fb|Tahiti}}
|2000
|22
|14
|0
|0
|3 ([[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]] [[2000 OFC Nations Cup|2000]], [[2002 OFC Nations Cup|2002]], [[2004 OFC Nations Cup|2004]])
|-
|[[Kris Trajanovski]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|{{fb|Australia}}
|1996
|16
|11
|0
|0
|2 ([[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]] [[1996 OFC Nations Cup|1996]], [[1998 OFC Nations Cup|1998]])
|-
|[[Kasey Wehrman]]
|[[Midfielder|MF]]
|{{fb|Australia}}
|1998
|12
|0
|0
|0
|1 ([[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]] [[1998 OFC Nations Cup|1998]])
|-
|[[Chris Zoricich]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|{{fb|New Zealand}}
|1988
|57
|1
|0
|2 ([[1999 FIFA Confederations Cup|1999]], [[2003 FIFA Confederations Cup|2003]])
|3 ([[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]] [[1998 OFC Nations Cup|1998]], [[2000 OFC Nations Cup|2000]], [[2002 OFC Nations Cup|2002]])
|-
|[[Michael Zullo]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|{{fb|Australia}}
|2009
|10 
|0
|0
|0
|0
|}
''* Craig Moore never played a match for the Strikers, but was a registered player when he trained with the club ahead of the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Moore Thwarted In Strikers Bid |url=https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/moore-thwarted-in-strikers-bid-174382 |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=FTBL |archive-date=24 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240824161508/https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/moore-thwarted-in-strikers-bid-174382 |url-status=live }}</ref>''
== List of head coaches ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Coach
!Years
|-
|{{flagicon|Israel}} [[Miron Bleiberg]]
|1991–1994
|-
|{{flagicon|England}} [[Bruce Stowell]]
|1994–1996
|-
|{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Frank Farina]]
|1996–1998
|-
| rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|Australia}} [[John Kosmina]]
|1998–2003
|-
|2020–2021
|-
| rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Stuart McLaren]]
|2003–2004
|-
|2008–2010
|-
|{{flagicon|Scotland}} Bobby Hamilton
|2005–2006
|-
|{{flagicon|Australia}} Craig Collins
|2007
|-
| rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|England}} David Large
|2010–2013
|-
|2018
|-
|{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Chay Hews]]
|2014
|-
| rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Kevin Aherne-Evans|Kevin A'Herne-Evans]]
|2015–2016
|-
|2024–present
|-
|{{flagicon|England}} [[Sean Brendan Lane|Sean Lane]]
|2017
|-
|{{flagicon|England}} Owen Baker
|2019–2020
|-
|{{flagicon|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} Vedran Becirbegovic
|2021–2022
|-
|{{flagicon|Australia}} Bojan Vilic
|2022
|-
|{{flagicon|Germany}} André Meyer
|2022–2023
|-
|{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Jade North]]
|2023
|-
|{{flagicon|Australia}} Daniel Carew
|2024
|}

==Honours==
'''[[National Soccer League]]'''
* Champions: [[National Soccer League 1996–97|1996–97]]
* League Runners-Up: [[National Soccer League 1996-97|1996–97]]
* Finalists (4): [[National Soccer League 1995–96|1995–96]], [[National Soccer League 1996–97|1996–97]], [[National Soccer League 2001–02|2001–02]], [[National Soccer League 2003–04|2003–04]]
*[[Joe Marston Medal]]: [[Alan Hunter (Australian association footballer)|Alan Hunter]] ([[1996–97 National Soccer League|1996–97]])
*[[Johnny Warren Medal]]: [[Fernando Rech]] (2001–02)
*NSL U/21 Player of the Year: [[Kasey Wehrman]] ([[1996–97 National Soccer League|1996–97]])
'''[[FFA Cup]]'''
* Semi finals: [[2019 FFA Cup|2019]]
*National Round of 16: [[2014 FFA Cup|2014]], [[2016 FFA Cup|2016]]
* National Round of 32: [[2015 FFA Cup|2015]]
*[[FFA Cup#Michael Cockerill Medal|Michael Cockerill Medal]]: Fraser Hills ([[2019 FFA Cup|2019]])

'''[[National Premier Leagues]]'''

* Grand Finalists: [[2017 National Premier Leagues|2017]]
* Semi finalists: [[2016 National Premier Leagues|2016]]

'''[[National Premier League Queensland|NPL Queensland]]'''

* Premiers (2): [[2016 Football Queensland season|2016]], [[2017 Football Queensland season|2017]]
* League Runners-Up: [[2015 Football Queensland season|2015]]
* Grand Finalists: [[2015 Football Queensland season|2015]]
* Golden boot: [[2019 National Premier Leagues#Queensland|2019]] ([[Andy Pengelly]] – 41 goals)

'''[[Queensland State League (association football)|Queensland State League]]'''
* Premiers (2): 2009, 2012
* League Runners-Up (3): 2008, 2010, 2011
* Grand Finalists (4): 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
* Golden Boot: 2010 ([[Matt Thurtell]] – 23 goals)

'''[[Brisbane Premier League]]'''
* Premiers: 2006
* League Runners-Up: 2007
* Champions: 2006
* Grand Finalist: 2007

'''[[Canale Cup]]'''
* Champions: 2014

'''[[Brisbane Premier Cup]]'''
* Champions: 2006

'''[[Silver Boot]]'''
* Champions (3): 2010, 2013, 2018
* Runners-Up (2): 2009, 2016
* Third-place play-off winner: 2019

== Records ==

=== League ===

* Win: 12–1 v [[Sunshine Coast FC]] ([[NPL Queensland]] round 18, [[Perry Park, Brisbane|Perry Park]], 20 August 2019)
* Loss: 10–0 v [[Olympic FC]] (NPL Queensland round 8, [[Goodwin Park]], 9 May 2021)
* Goals in a single game: 9 – [[Andy Pengelly]] (v Sunshine Coast FC, NPL Queensland round 18, Perry Park, 20 August 2019)
* Appearances: [[Chay Hews]] (217)
* Attendance: 40,446 v [[Sydney United 58 FC|Sydney United]] ([[1996–97 National Soccer League|1996–97 NSL Grand Final]], [[Suncorp Stadium]], 25 May 1997)

=== FFA Cup ===

* Loss: 1–5 v [[Melbourne City FC|Melbourne City]] ([[2019 FFA Cup|Semi-final]], Perry Park, 1 October 2019)
* Attendance''':''' 3,706 v Melbourne City (semi-final, Perry Park, 1 October 2019)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.brisbanestrikers.com.au/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051107223520/http://www.bssa.org.au/ Supporters website]

{{S-start}}
{{Succession box|title=[[National Soccer League#Champions and runners up|NSL Champions]]|before=[[Melbourne Knights]]|after=[[South Melbourne FC|South Melbourne]]|years=1996/97}}
{{S-end}}

{{National Soccer League}}
{{Association football in Queensland}}
{{Football Brisbane}}

[[Category:Brisbane Strikers| ]]
[[Category:National Premier Leagues clubs]]
[[Category:Queensland State League soccer teams]]
[[Category:Football Queensland Premier League]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1994]]
[[Category:National Soccer League (Australia) clubs]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in Australia]]