OUT IN FRONT

CAIRNS FC REVEALS CARROLL AS NEW CAPTAIN

JAMIE Carroll will lead Cairns FC into a brave new world wearing the captain’s armband for the club’s first match at Barlow Park tonight.

Few are more passionate about representing the Far North Queensland football community, making easier Danny Graystone’s decision to continue the leadership the striker held at FNQ Heat.

Goals eluded him as he took hold of off-field responsibilities last season, but a humbled Carroll (above) 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” might 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.

Carroll urged the multiple debutants expected to take to Barlow Park to keep it simple.

“Obviously it’s going to be a big occasion for some of these young fellas,” he said.

“If they just keep things simple on the night, they can’t go wrong. If they overthink things, they can come unstuck.”