Carroll has Cairns FC ready for big time

GOLD Coast United won’t be the only ones with a fresh lick of paint tonight, with Cairns FC taking part for the first time.

Jamie Carroll will lead the outfit after an off-season of upheaval in which the Far North Queensland entity was changed from the FNQ Heat.

Few are more passionate about representing the region than Carroll, making easier coach Danny Graystone’s decision to plump for the striker atop the leadership pile.

Goals eluded him as he took hold of off-field responsibilities last season, but a humbled Carroll hopes to turn a corner and lead the players to show their true form.

“I haven’t asked for it ... but it’s going to be a big privilege and something I’ll have to take on, the responsibility of leading these boys, young and old,” he said.

“Obviously the club’s a lot more professional, a lot more settled, this year so I think things are going to be in place for us to achieve things.

“There’s a lot more people involved this year outside of football. I think it’s something we should all respect.

“We’ve got to fulfil what we’re doing here for Far North Queensland and Cairns FC, and we want to put on a good show and the best football we can for Cairns and the region.”

Creating goalscoring opportunities might be his focus in the early stages rather than hitting the back of the net, although he didn’t want to give too much away about how the purported “good brand of football” they have planned will work.

“I don’t want to talk too much about our game plan – I want to keep it from our opposition – but if we work together as a team and work our game plan the way we want to, hopefully we’ll get a good result,” said the 28-year-old.