Best teams will fight it out for silverware
Prestigious intercity football contest has been raging since 1963
THE prestige of the Crad Evans Shield is built into the historic piece of silverware which is on the line.
The annual contest between the premiership winners of FNQ Football and NQ Football has raged since 1963, with another chapter to be written at Tiger Park, Manunda, on Saturday.
Edge Hill United and MA Olympic enjoyed similarly strong seasons in their respective competitions, but that will be pushed aside when they meet in the arguably the most important game of the year.
FNQ Football administrator Alex Srhoj is no stranger to the high-profile event.
He played in several teams who won and lost the big one in the 1990s and 2000s, and most recently won one of two trips to the Crad Evans Shield in 2014-15 as a coach.
“It’s always been one of the biggest games of the years,” Srhoj said. “You have to be the best team in your competition to even have a chance of playing for the Crad Evans Shield, but you also have to get back up to your best after playing the grand final.
“It takes a special team to be able to do that.
“This is the highest level club football can get in North Queensland. The grand final is a special day, the Crad Evans Shield is even bigger.”
Adding to the allure of the contest is the silverware, which is the same shield teams have played for in all but one of the past 57 seasons.
Seven FNQ Football premiers will face their NQ Football counterparts on a blockbuster day at Tiger Park.
The Tigers earned hosting rights after topping the Men’s Premier League table, with Townsville’s best performing team to host next year. In the women’s competition, Leichhardt will look to put the disappointment of last week’s 6-1 grand final loss behind them as they take on Brothers Townsville. Five FNQ clubs will be represented, with JCU Strikers, Mareeba United and Douglas Utd Dragons all featuring in other grades.
Games will be played across two fields in the noon, 2.30pm and 5pm timeslots, with the men’s Premier division taking centre stage at 7pm.