Kawana’s Dream Team
Clinton Edwards - Goalkeeper
Clint at the height of his career was the best shot
stopper, high ball gatherer and had the softest hands
for powerful shots seen on the Coast. He also had a
knack for saving penalties. During a period from 2002
to 2004, a total of 42 goals were conceded by Clint in
the League. He is best remembered for his save in the
2005 Grand Final to deny Coolum which would have
won it for them with 2 minutes to go. Kawana won in
extra time.
Roger Hardwicke – Sweeper
At sweeper, Rogers positioning was uncanny. Many a
time opposing teams would have their hearts broken as
Roger would block that shot, intercept a run or cut out
that final pass. When Roger played, Kawana coaches
would play a 3-5-2 system as was the confidence in
Roger. He has played for 9 years at Kawana but in 3
spells. His last game was the 2003 Grand Final beating
Caloundra 3-0, but he was at his best in the classic
Semi-Final that same year when against Caloundra, the
game went to a penalty shoot-out and Roger sent
Kawana to the Grand Final. He is rated by a lot of good
judges as the best Sweeper seen on the Coast.
Liam Tucker – Left Fullback
Liam is another reason our coaches would employ a 35-2 system. As a man to man marker, there were none
better. Any danger strikers, Liam made it his job to win
that personal battle. He was quick, strong and outthought the majority of the strikers he has marked. He
took it personally if his man scored and is Kawana true
blue. He has a deadly shot but it was him that took the
free-kick that Jarrad Tyson spilled with a minute to go
that enabled Kawana to go into extra-time.
Darren Nott – Right Fullback
Notty comes from the old school of ‘Take no Prisoners’.
He was tough as teak and very uncompromising, even
when he committed a foul it was never a foul. He had a
wiry, strong frame and every tackle was 100%. He was
another player who hated losing. Here is a-bit of an
idea of the man - He worked at a video store and was
held-up one time. Notty ended up chasing the assailant
down the street. He just hated losing that much.
Ryan Smith – Stopper
As Captain of the successful Fire outfit in its inaugural
year, shows how much respect and talent Ryan has.
Ryan can play anywhere, but is best just in front of the
backline dictating incoming play and controlling attack
when other teams are on the back-foot. He’s
exceptional in the air and has great vision but it’s his
calmness on the ball which makes him outstanding. You
could count his mistakes throughout the year on one
hand. It is so fantastic to see a Kawana stalwart do so
well at the top level in Queensland.
Scott McLean – Centre Midfield
Scott’s another player who looks like he has time on
the ball and great vision as well. This is a player who
knows the game inside/out and who can decide a game
with a great release ball. Scooter was a junior at
Kawana and also spent time at Premier League side
Wynnum, who won their 1st Premiership in 80 years,
but Scooter missed the Coast and the camaraderie at
Kawana and returned in 2002. Scooter can’t score
goals, he’ll tell you this himself, but was smart enough
to put himself in position on the park to control the
game and not be wasted. In the 2003 Grand Final at
BeeGees, he found himself 1 on 1 with the keeper. He
dillyed and dallyed waiting for someone to foul him
because he knew he would put it on the highway. They
did foul him, a penalty given and we scored. Job done.
Brad Gill – Centre Midfield (Captain)
Gilly has deservingly been awarded Captaincy of this
Dream Team. Arguably the most complete player to
ever play for Kawana Soccer Club. He sat in the midfield
and dictated everything. He could score goals, his light
frame would outjump anyone but when he hit you, his
timing was spot on and his work rate was phenomenal.
He also had fantastic skills while running directly at
defenders. As a leader; he led by example never asking
his players to do what he couldn’t do himself. His
career was cut short by a second broken leg and it is a
pity that a lot of today’s players never got to see one of
our best. He is well respected by those who were lucky.
Peter Watson – Left Midfield
You can probably see him smiling now. This is Watto Always smiling. He is a player who hasn’t got an enemy
on or off the field. He actually looks like he’s enjoying
himself when he plays, but when he’s in one of his’ Get
the ball off me’ moods, what a sight. Watto would run
at the defence and just give defenders a sniff of a
tackle before snatching their chance away and he was
also a very direct runner and could tear a team apart.
Peter started at Kawana in 1989 and played until 2007.
That’s 19 years as a Senior footballer for Kawana. His
smiling did get him some stitches once, when after he
tackled a Nambour player. Watto got up smiling
afterwards as he always did and the Nambour player
knocked him out. He’s a great player on the field with a
great personality off it.
Steve Morris – Right Midfield
Another Kawana Junior who played Senior football at
the age of 15 & 16. He had a year at Blackburn before a
dodgy knee ruined what could have been. A very
aggressive player with a physical presence about him.
Steve scored a lot of goals from 25-30 metres out with
a low bullet like shot. He showed maturity well above
his age to play midfield. His career at Kawana deserved
to end better than the 3-1 loss to BeeGees in the 1992
Grand Final at Noosa.
Ken McLean – Striker
When Bucky hit the Coast, the coast didn’t know what
hit them and although he didn’t come to Kawana until
the twilight of his career, he still destroyed a lot of
defences. He had a great sense of balance and would
work for 90 minutes of a game just to score goals. His
positioning was his biggest asset and was always one
step ahead of defenders and would put his body on the
line for a goal. Bucky scored a lot of goals from close
range and never missed. He was a hard man, tricky and
oh so sneaky. At the age of 42 he was still scoring goals
and gave back to the club through coaching at a senior
level.
Scott Rocker – Striker
Scott is arguably the most prolific striker seen on the
Coast. Bomber was also a Sunshine Coast junior player
and his name has been engraved on the Coasts Highest
Goal Scorer trophy constantly. He was also a member
of Wynnums recent success along side Scott McLean. In
4 ½ years at Kawana Soccer Club he scored an amazing
146 goals and has scored 7 goals in 4 Grand Finals for
our club. He has one of the most powerful shots seen
and an uncanny knack of scoring from anywhere.
Bomber also coached Kawana in 2005 & 2006 when
Kawana won both the League and Grand Finals.
Volka Pinzcel – Sub Goalkeeper
Volka was a sensational shot stopper and 1 on 1
keeper. Volka was another part of the Pinzcel brothers
to play for Kawana. Apart from his goalkeeping
attributes, he would also play striker for the Reserve
grade and bagged a lot of goals. He was ‘Man of the
Match’ in Kawanas inaugural Grand Final victory over
Noosa in 1997. He is another keeper who never made
mistakes and always gave teams confidence in defence.
Volka could have played a lot longer but had trouble
with the advent of Saturday night games under lights
as he struggled with his vision.
Shane Crowe – Sub Fullback
Crowey was the most calmest of defenders to play the
game, not flashy, you wouldn’t even know he was out
there but no-one ever got the better of him. This would
upset a lot of strikers as he’d win the ball and lay it off
or outjump attackers. He could play sweeper, stopper
or a man marking role with aplomb. He was another
player who had other family members play for our club.
Tyson Holmes –Sub Midfielder
We probably haven’t seen the best of Tiger yet, an
excitement machine with sublime skills. He’s another
winner at The Fire department who is one of the 1st
picked every week. He was a Kawana junior, who all of
the present players have seen develop into something
special. He played Reserve Grade for Kawana before a
year in the Victorian Premier League made the player.
Tyson came back a confident young man and surprised
the local competition in how much he had improved. He
is Kawanas only Sunshine Coast Player of the Year and
he won that by a massive 6 points. He loves the game
and the possibilities of where it can take him. His
highlight was the 2006 epic Grand Final against
Maroochydore. He scored with 2 minutes to go in extra
time to make it 4-4 and then took the winning penalty
shot to give Kawana the Double.
Les Fleming – Sub Striker
If Kawana Soccer Club was in the dictionary for sure
you would see the name ‘Casper’ along side it. He’s
such a team man and a real club man. He is a player
that would work and die for his mates. His tenacity and
competitiveness are a few attributes that made him a
great player and great leader. His ability to find a goal
when needed and create something out of nothing
makes him a player you would want you in your team.
But it’s his dogged never give up attitude that makes
Casper a man you want to play with and a coach you
want to play for. He started at the club in 1991 and was
a player and the Coach of the victorious 1997 Grand
Final team beating Noosa. He’s had his fair share of
scoring goals over the years and played 1st Division
right up into his 40’s. His dedication and commitment
to this club is the true essence of this man and he is a
genuine mentor for the youth of our club.
Alex Murphy – Coach
In 1999 Alex Murphy ushered in a new hardnosed
approach to Kawana Soccer Club. The statistics don’t lie
– in 6 years the 1st Division won 4 Minor Premierships,
2 Grand Finals and reached 2 other Grand Finals. He
also led this team to take out the Qantas Cup in 2000
against Buderim. The 2nd Division won 5 Minor
Premierships and 2 Grand Finals plus numerous
Kingaroy victories. An astonishing 95% win ratio and
all of a sudden Kawana had grown up. Alex Murphy had
left a great legacy to carry on with.
John Hansen – Manager
Fohnny was a gentle giant and a fantastic Manager for
all players. He would be driving buses or taking 3am
phone calls from the then Coach, it was anything for
the boys. An everlasting memory of John is 3 or 4
blokes hanging off him at the Kingaroy Hotel after the
boys played up. John had to deal with a lot of mischief
from the boys but it was never a problem and always
dealt with all situations with a smile on his face.
Jeff McGurk – Bus Driver
Hail to the Bus Driver man. Bluey had the most
important job at the club. A non drinker, he was
obviously the perfect choice to move the boys around.
With bus trips to Kingaroy, the Gold Coast and Burrum
Heads, Bluey was always the first to sign up. He’d
dropped the boys off personally to their front doors
after big trips at 1 or 2 in the morning and any
travelling requests were always granted by Bluey. On
the football side of things, Bluey has had 11 years at
the club and has amassed 10 Minor Premier and
Championships medals in that time. A well loved
character that would do anything for the club or player.
Along with Scott Rocker has been involved with our 1st
Kindy Soccer Programme this season.