Andrew Laming (Bowman, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Pumping through the heart of Redlands is the blood of our service and sporting clubs, Redlands Rugby League Club, Capalaba Warriors Rugby League Club, Capalaba Bulldogs Soccer Club, Victoria Point Sharks, Alex Hills Bombers, the Muddies Rugby Union and the Southern Redlands Rugby Union clubs, but none is any greater than the Redlands United Football Club. They celebrated two great milestones in the last week when they stunned the Queensland State League by winning 2-1 against a foundation and former national league team, the Brisbane Strikers, in Saturday night’s football grand final. They were rank outsiders but they pulled out two goals in the final quarter to win 4-1. The goal scorers were Wayne Knipe, Russell Woodruffe and, of course, our imports Darren Davies from Wales and Englishman Danny Byrne. The man of the match was Graeme Fyfe, another devil Scottish import. They beat the Fire and they beat Olympic on the way to the grand final.

Their second achievement was in the under-21s, Forte Skordou, with his own stellar football career on his resume, set out in his first year and coached the under-21s to within an inch of a grand final. Thanks go to Tony Brennan, the assistant coach; Daniel Piddick, the manager; players player for the season, Craig Gibson; and young Albert Edwards, who is now signed with the Brisbane Roar. He will be one day, mark my words, a Socceroo.

Redlands United Football Club is the home of the Redland City Devils. President, Peter Clarke, and vice-president, Ian Challinor: you are the pantheon of club leaders. Ensuring staffing and support for home games are Liz Austen, Wayne Archer, Keith Cecil, Jodie Preston, Tonya Medlan and Wally Djachenko, the Treasurer. Thanks to Brett Austen for the best home fields in Queensland and Ray Gardner for his media and physio work with our team. Congratulations Redlands United. (Time expired)

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