Tigers embrace the Cup
EDGE Hill United will be the only community club from Queensland in the FFA Cup’s Round of 32 but the FNQ Premier League heavyweights are out to make the August 18 clash an event for the region.
The Tigers have dominated the Premier League for the past few years, which included two straight trebles – the premiership, championship and Crad Evans Shield – and a 30-game winning run from late September to earlier this year.
The club is also just two wins away from cementing the 2021 Premier League premiership, with Edge Hill United holding a 10-point lead atop the ladder with seven rounds left in the regular season.
But Edge Hill United president Michael Falchetti has emphasised how their success is a win for FNQ, and he will approach the August 18 FFA
Cup tie with hope the region’s football community will come together to back the side.
Falchetti said the Tigers’ presence in the Round of 32 is putting the spotlight on the talent from FNQ, putting runs on the board for the local football community and highlighting to Brisbane and others that “we’re doing some things right in the football space”.
A deep run in the FFA Cup has been one of the biggest motivators for the club in recent years, and with a fixture against NPL Queensland club Gold Coast Knights set for Barlow Park, the Tigers have a chance to go even further in the national knockout tournament.
FQ CEO Robert Cavallucci said Edge Hill United’s achievement proved the level of talent across the state.
“It’s the magic of the cup; a great celebration of community football,” Cavallucci said.
“It shows there’s top talent across Queensland. Edge Hill are great representatives of the FNQ community; and they showed they can mix it with the best.
“It’s a great spectacle of football, and a great chance for talent to be showcased.”
Cavallucci said the Tigers’ success proved the need for clubs and their players to have greater access to more highquality competition.
A conference system, which would allow for the top clubs in
Cairns, Townsville and Mackay to face off in a Champions League style tournament has been flagged for future introduction to the calendar.
“It completely reinforces what we’re saying in terms of the QPL conference system, crossover, more opportunity for the connected football pyramid,” Cavallucci said.
Edge Hill United travel to White Rock on Saturday night to face second-placed Leichhardt in the Premier League.