Northern Fury FC

Foundation

A bid known as Northern Thunder FC (or North Queensland Thunder FC) was considered for admission for the 2008–09 season along with Gold Coast Galaxy. The bid was publicly well progressed, with the team's badge and colours (red, white and black) released. The training facilities were to be located at the North Queensland Institute of Sport and the home ground was to play at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

The bid was tentatively accepted to join in the 2008–09 season expanding the league to ten teams. Needing to meet certain financial criteria to be granted entry into the league, the club's major financial backer pulled out of the franchise on 5 March 2008, effectively collapsing the bid. Football Federation Australia determined on 11 March 2008 that neither Thunder or Galaxy would be granted entry "in the best interests of the league," given that a nine team format was generally unfavoured and delayed expansion of the league until the 2009–10 season.^[3][4]

With expansion put off until the following season, by June 2008 the FFA had received ten bids for new A–League teams, two of which came from Townsville – one headed by Melbourne businesswoman Milissa Fischer and one by local businessman Don Matheson.^[5][6] Matheson's bid, which "rose from the ashes of the Northern Thunder bid",^[7] was granted a provisional licence by Football Federation Australia on 24 July.^[8][9] On 28 August 2008 the franchise was accepted into the A–League by CEO Ben Buckley with the only matter outstanding the finalisation of all legal requirements.^[10]

On 6 November 2008, the franchise named was officially revealed as North Queensland Fury FC.^[11] Their inaugural kit was revealed in April 2009, featuring dark green sleeves/socks, and a white/light green front.^[12]

It was announced on 10 December 2008, that the Fury had signed Rockhampton–born businessman Dean Hassall as their CEO.^[13] Also the club signed Scottish club, Celtic's strength and conditioning coach Alan McCall^[14] and was also joined by Football Operations Manager Nicholas Deluca.

North Queensland in the 2009/2010 season won the 'Queensland Nickel Cup', which was a tri-tournament played throughout the regular A League season between the Queensland clubs of Brisbane Roar, (and his 2 teams) North Queensland Fury and Gold Coast United.

Struggles and demise

On 7 June 2010, former Sparta Prague and one time Czech Republic national team coach František Straka was announced as the club's coach for the coming 2010–11 A-League season after agreeing to a one-year deal.^[15]

The club finished last in the 2010/11 A-League season, winning only 4 of their 30 matches. The crowd average of 4,245 was the 4th lowest in the history of the A-League behind the Gold Coast United crowd average of the same season and the two seasons of the New Zealand Knights.

A community ownership model was launched, aimed at finding 1.5 million dollars (per year, for three years), of capital investment being sought to cover half the expected losses for the next three seasons. Ben Buckley, in an open letter to Fury supporters, made it clear that the FFA would not fund continual losses.^[16]

On 1 March 2011, the club officially had its A-League licence revoked due to financial reasons. The FFA reported that the Fury had received only $300,000 of the investment required for the next season, and despite increased sponsorship revenue the club would still lose $2 to $3 million. FFA released a statement confirming earlier reports that a decision had been taken not to continue with the franchise as the financial position of the club for season 2011–2012 considered too big of a financial risk for the FFA to undertake.^[17]

Reformation

On 3 October 2012 the club was officially re-formed after it was announced that the club would participate in the 2013 NPL Queensland Conference.^[18] The club will keep the old North Queensland Fury logo.^[19] On 12 November 2012 the club announced former player Gareth Edds would take up the head coach role as well as field his position at the club.^[20]

First team squad

Correct as of 9 August 2016.^[24] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Ryan Murphy 2 DF Caleb Hobson 3 DF Kris Dennis 4 DF George Dalton 5 DF Thomas Pearce 6 DF Lyndsay Gabiola 7 MF Josh Bowman 8 MF Jae Eurell 9 FW Matthew Richards 10 FW Michael Eisenhut

No. Position Player 11 MF Jonathan Bagley 12 MF Benjamin Stanley 13 DF Mitchell Maher 14 MF Sam Herlihy 15 MF Corey Waples (Captain) 16 MF Matthew Gauci-Martin 17 FW Hamish Cassady 18 MF Joe Thornton 19 DF Nicholas Dunn 20 GK Matthew Bolton

Minor Trophies/Honours

• Queensland Nickel Cup
  • 2009/10 (NQ Fury V's Gold Coast United: {Contested Over 3 League Fixtures} NQ Fury W2/D0/L1)
• Chief Minister's Cup

 – 2009 (3–2 V's Adelaide United – Played In Darwin/NT 02/07/09)

Appearances

Appearances Rank Player Appearances 1 Corey Waples 85 2 Caleb Hobson 65 3 Ari Isman 56 4 Jacob Crowley 51 5 David Williams 49 6 Hamish Cassady 47 7 Chris Grossman 43 8 Jake Perry 40 Benjamin Stanley 40 George Dalton 40 Bold denotes players still playing at the club. Last updated on 21 August 2016.

Goals

Appearances Rank Player Goals 1 Braedyn Crowley 17 2 Michael Eisenhut 12 3 Alex Read 11 Jonathon Bagley 11 5 Gareth Edds 10 Jake Perry 10 Joseph Thornton 10 8 Robbie Fowler 9 9 David Williams 8 10 Dyron Daal 7 Jake Navarro 7 Corey Waples 7 Bold denotes players still playing at the club. Last updated on 21 August 2016.