PRIDE ON LINE AS TEAMS LINE UP FOR NPL DERBY
GOLD Coast United captain Michael Thwaite knows more than most about the pride and passion of a local derby.
A fixture of the United sides that took on Brisbane Roar in the A-League’s M1 Derby between 2009-12, the former Socceroo’s experiences only intensified when he did battle with Sydney FC during his oneseason stint with Western Sydney Wanderers.
At 7 o’clock tonight, he will be part of history when United and Gold Coast Knights launch the city’s first NPL derby – playing for The Coast Cup – at Carrara’s Croatian Sports Centre.
It is a fixture Thwaite, playing his first season in the state league after leaving the Wanderers last year, said had been earmarked as a priority.
“I think it does,” Thwaite said when asked if this game means more.
“I think anyone that says a derby doesn’t mean anything is lying. Hopefully (this game) is not as hostile as the Sydney derby, especially with our RBB (supporter group Red and Black Bloc) fans last year.
“(But) that’s what we want to generate in the Coast here. You want to generate crowds, that’s the name of the game.
“It’s about the fans, it’s about the kids coming to the game supporting their senior teams … and seeing the pathway that they want to aspire to.”
After back-to-back losses to start the season, United have strung to together fourstraight wins – including a last-start 3-2 victory over Roar Youth – to grab a share of third spot.
NPL debutants in 2019, the second-placed Knights enter Round 7 desperate to bounce back from their first loss to ladder-leading Peninsula Power last weekend.
“I’m excited, it’s the first derby for football on the Gold Coast so a lot of people are excited,” Knights midfielder Roman Hofmann said.