North Queensland Fury FC
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North Queensland Fury FC is an Australian football (soccer) team, which will enter the A-League, in the 2009–10 season. A consortium headed by Don Matheson and known as North Queensland FC, was awarded a provisional license by Football Federation Australia in July 2008, with a final decision expected by the end of August.
Townsville-based bids were also considered for the 2007–08 season, when ' license was revoked, and the 2008-09 season, by Northern Thunder FC.
A Townsville bid was first considered for the 2007–08 season, when the ' license was revoked. A group named Tropical Football Australia attempted to secure the spot but Football Federation Australia preferred to keep a New Zealand team in the competition, opting for the .
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, but Football Federation Australia has delayed expansion of the league until at least the 2009-10 season.
The bid was publicly well progressed, with the teams 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 March 5 2008, effectively collapsing the bid. The FFA determined on 11 March 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.
With expansion put off until the 2009-10 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. Matheson's bid, which "rose from the ashes of the Northern Thunder bid", was granted a provisional license by Football Federation Australia on 24 July. On 27 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..
On November 6, 2008, the franchise named was officially revealed as North Queensland Fury FC.
It was annouced on December 10, 2008, that the Fury have signed Rockhampton-born businessman Dean Hassall as there CEO. Also the club has signed Scottish giants Celtic's strength and conditioning coach Alan McCall.
Team
Central Coast Mariners assistant coach, Ian Ferguson has been unveiled as the inaugural coach of the new A-League franchise, North Queensland FC.
Jade North was orginally signed as their marquee player but asked for a release so he could pursue his career in South Korea with Incheon United.
Currently the fury is in talks with socceroo player Scott Chipperfield as well as Leicester City goalkepper Paul Henderson and Sydney FC goalkeeper Clint Bolton. Meanwhile the club has announced the interest of former Liverpool and England international Robbie Fowler who will fly to Townsville to have talks with the club. If he signs, he will become the replacement for Jade North as their marquee player.
Current squad
Players in bold have represented their country at senior international level