CAIRNS FC GETS STRIKE FORCE
Bleiberg’s influence helps with club’s recruiting coup for next season
THE influence of former ALeague coach Miron Bleiberg on Cairns FC coach Danny Graystone has already had an impact on recruitment at the rebranded NPL club.
Joshua Taylor, who captain-coached Innisfail United to a rare FNQ Football Premier Men’s finals appearance this season, was named alongside Jamie Carroll as Cairns FC’s inaugural signings.
Taylor crossed paths with the former Gold Coast United coach in Brisbane and said he always had a goal to return to the NPL when he moved north.
“I’ve been just playing local league doing my teaching stuff, so it’s good to come back here and get back into the state league again and try to test myself against the best in the state,” the former Brisbane Strikers player said.
“It’s good to be back at that level. They’re all inviting, humble blokes and it’s good. I think we’ll have a lot of success this year.”
Graystone said Taylor, regarded as the best player in the local competition, had been on his radar.
“Josh is a very exciting talent,” Graystone said. “He knows where the back of the net is, he’s a good striker and I’m hoping he’s going to put a few away for us this season.
“I know Miron Bleiberg in Queensland and he said: ‘That’s the guy I told you about who used to play for Brisbane Strikers and you should keep hold of him’.
“Obviously we want to get out and score some goals. It’s very important we’ve got a decent striker on board.
“I’m over the moon to sign both of them. Obviously Jamie is known very much in Cairns for his work with FNQ Heat. He was their skipper and leader and from what I’ve seen in Jamie in the short time I’ve been here, he’s not only an exceptional player but he’s a player that’s going to be a mentor to the young players we need.”
The senior squad had their first official preseason run on Monday night.
Graystone said while the top squad would be up to 22 players deep, the training squad could swell to 45 with the addition of under-18 and under-20 players set to be invited to train with the NPL squad.
“The good thing about local players and young players is they work extremely hard and (Monday) night’s training session was excellent and I’m really pleased,” he said.
Taylor’s signing will be the ideal foil for Carroll, who Graystone is favouring as his captain for 2018..