FNQ side to get regional playoff on home turf

THE last FNQ Football team standing in this year’s FFA Cup will enjoy home field advantage against their regional rivals before a possible road trip to Central Queensland.

Football Queensland held the draw yesterday, as a record nine FNQ Football teams waited to learn their path to the Round of 32 and possible date with an A-League club.

The first game to involve Far North teams will be the second round clash between Second Division teams Atherton and Douglas United.

The winner of that game will join the seven Premier League clubs in Round 3, hitting the road to Innisfail to take on the Cutters.

While zone administrator Alex Srhoj is excited to see the two lower division clubs take on the big boys, he was most keen about Round 6.

“It’s been a few years since we’ve hosted that regional playoff so that’s going to be a big night,” Srhoj said.

Dates are locked in for three local rounds, with Atherton and Douglas Utd likely to face off on either February 22 or 29. The regional playoff will be played on May 16.

Now-defunct NPL club Cairns FC set the standard in 2018 when they hosted ALeague glamour club Sydney FC in the Round of 16, but

FNQ clubs failed to progress beyond the regional stage last year.

Leichhardt was the last FNQ team standing last year after they eliminated eventual Premier League champions Edge Hill United, but were bundled out by Townsville Brothers in a forgettable road trip to Townsville.

Adelaide United won the FFA Cup last year, trouncing Melbourne City 4-0 in the final at Coopers Stadium.