“The Road To Glory”: The Whitsundays Are Wonderful

The “Road To Glory” began for the Whitsundays’ favourite football team back in early January, as the eventual champions kicked off their preseason. A new coach, the returning Nick Hodgen, whose last spell as manager with the club was in 2014, combined with new players, spelling for a strong outing in the competition – but did they expect the result?

There was undoubted belief in the dressing room from day one, even though their first fixtures indicated otherwise.

A string of new players had found their way to the men’s side, and the reinforcements certainly proved the difference.

Ex-professional footballers and high level Australian National Premier League Players (or slightly below that upper echelon of football) like the Scotts: the agile playmaker Scott Ferries – eventual winner of the league Best and Fairest award – and the lightning quick Scott Boldy. As well as players like Connor Mcavoy – a bulldog on the pitch who often “did Scott Ferries’ dirty work” – each of whom bolstered the already strong squad who were a hangover from those frantic final series of games in 2021.

Nick Hodgen’s arrival ushered in a spate of fresh ideas to turn the once quick, counter-attacking side into a metronomic, possession-based machine, and also brought with him his son, Harry Hodgen, a lightning paced winger with a penchant for dribbling, and who would end the regular season with 29 goals (the competitions Golden Boot winner).

Thomas Torzsok, Sam Blake, and captain James McEvoy-Bowe remained from the previous season as a class above the rest in terms of both technical ability and physical attributes. The team was already looking like a strong side.

In their first three fixtures of the season, Whitsunday United were collecting every form of result: winning one, drawing one, and losing one – but it was time for the team to turn a corner.

On April 2 in Round Four, the team were to face against Mackay City Brothers – a team who’d so often been their “bogey” side. But who they’d also beaten in spectacular fashion the season before. So, it was time to set the tone.

They wasted no time in their demolition of the City Brother’s Squad, although they had gone behind 0-1 at the beginning of the game to a nervy penalty. Harry Hodgen opened his account, and it stayed open: he scored four goals. Six other players added to the tally, ending the game 10-2 and giving what had been a rowdy home crowd plenty to cheer about.

The next week, they demolished Mackay Wanderers 7-3, and it seemed the ball was more than just rolling.

But, the perennial enemy of their season reared their heads for the first time.

Slaying The Lion

Whitsunday United played Mackay Lions Soccer Club six times in their season. Twice in the finals and four times in the league. Each proving a pivotal match.

In Round Six of the FQPL Whitsunday Coast Men’s competition, Whitsunday United travelled to Mackay Lions home ground to face off against a team who had historically had the better of the beach side for years.

On their long, wide pitch, the Lions side were a constant threat: they had the pace to hurt you with a simple ball over the top.

That ball over the top was the order of the day.

United lost 3-2 in their first match-up against their eventual Championship Rivals – but they knew they were better than the Sugar City side. And when they met up again at Whitsunday Sports Park in a Round Two replay (the previous fixture postponed due to rain), they certainly played the better football.

Lion’s counter-attacking prowess saw them win that game 0-2, with Whitsundays struggling to put the ball in the back of the net. And it was the same story for Round 14, when United travelled to Mackay once more to face their challengers. Only a few points separated the sides due to Lion’s dropped points in other fixtures, but Lions were up again – winning in a contentious 2-1 result that saw the Whitsundays’ hopes potentially dashed.

It was now do or die: United needed to win every single fixture until the end of the season and hope for results to go their way in other games or to win on goal difference.

Lions would draw the very next game in Round 15. And Whitsundays had a sniff of a chance.

They met again in Round 18.

In a hard and physical game played at breakneck speed, the Whitsunday Men were the better side all over the park. The yellow cards were flying with neither side taking a backward step, but the speed and class proved the difference in the end.

Led by displays of individual brilliance by midfielder Scott Ferries, as well as Hayden Filby, the side rallied for an emphatic 3-1 victory against the (at the time) league leaders.

United went on to win their four remaining fixtures, seeing them crowned as Minor Premiers after winning against Mackay Magpie Crusaders 3-0 at home.

In the two finals games, they faced off against Lions in two games featuring some world-class footballing performances from players like Tommy Torszok, Ben Seago, captain James Mcevoy-Bowe, and Martyn Goodey. They had beaten the Mackay side’s spirit down, and both ended goalless for Lions at a neutral ground in Mackay.

Whitsunday 4, Lions 0 in the Major Semi. Whitsunday 3, Lions 0 in the Grand Final.

Champions Of The Whitsundays with 49 points from 20 games.

Designer Instruction: Headshots of Players go next to each name. They are listed from 1 to 15 and correspond with each player

Whitsunday United Player Ratings:

Luke Nightingale: Imperious between the sticks. 9.7

Ben Smith: Tireless commander and creator. 8.6

Harry Hodgen: A purebred goal scorer. 10.0

Scott Ferries: The difference maker. 10.0

Ben Seago: Commanding wherever he played. 8.4

Connor McAvoy: An absolute workhorse. 8.6

Declan Durrant: A defensive stalwart. 8.4

James McEvoy-Bowe: The best centre-half in the league. 9.9

Martyn Goodey: An inspiring presence. 10.0

Kurt Ashley: Defensive excellence. 8.4

Jose Puentes: The sides most skilful player. 8.4

Tommy Torzsok: A midfield maestro. 9.7

Hayden Filby: A dynamic forward with an eye for goal. 8.0

Luke Swift:  The voice of the team. 8.1

Scott Boldy: A flying fullback with exceptional ability. 8.3

Honourable Mentions:

Nick Hansen: 8.0

Josh Healey: 8.0

Ben Farrell: 8.0

Mike McCann: 8.0

Stefan Tarne: 8.0

Sam Blake: 8.0

The 15 players were determined through number of appearances and minutes played throughout the season.

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