QSL: Strikers blackout has silverware lining

Brisbane Strikers players and staff received the QSL Premiers trophy at a dimly lit Perry Park on Saturday night after their game with North Queensland Razorbacks was abandoned following a series of power outages.

The match was called off at 7pm, an hour after the scheduled start, when the ground’s floodlights failed for the third time.

Making the most of a bad situation, Brisbane Strikers were presented the trophy by Football Queensland’s Bruce Dinsdale in a presentation originally intended to follow the match.

Brisbane secured the silverware last week with a one-all draw away to Bundaberg Spirit. It’s the club’s first QSL trophy since 2009 and guarantees the club a home semi-final later in the month.

Speaking after the presentation, Strikers captain John Costello described winning the league title as a “fantastic achievement.”

“The boys have done a fantastic job,” Costello explained. “It’s been a long time from October til now, but the effort and playing style has paid off. I’m really happy.”

“The way we’ve done it, and the football we’ve played, it's been outstanding at times. It’s been a pleasure to be involved.”

“This squad, and the style of football David Large has taught us, is the thing that’s going to stand out above over seasons.”

Costello went on to acknowledge the lighting failures that detracted from the evening.

“The power outage was a shame. You really want to be out there playing and do as much as you can going in to the finals.”

“But we’ll adjust our sessions in the next week or so to try and keep that momentum going.”

“I think we’re going to have a red hot go at the grand final this year.”

Club officials stated that electrical works were undertaken at the ground during the week and hinted that this may have been the cause of the floodlight failures.

The fixture has not been rescheduled at this stage.