Over the next week, Lions FC will be one of three NPL sides from Queensland gearing up for the Australia Cup Round of 16. They will be hosting A-Leagues side the Western Sydney Wanderers, and Front Page Football recently spoke with their head coach Darren Sime to look ahead to the game.
Lions FC celebrate qualifying for the Australia Cup Round of 16 after a 4-1 win over Perth RedStar. (Image: VETO Digital)
In addition to his role at Lions FC, Darren Sime also works as an English and HPE teacher. FPF spoke with him during a brief respite from preparing notes on Shakespeare’s Othello for his Year 12 students. In just a few days, Sime's Lions will aim to "tame the Wanderers" in their fourth appearance in the Australia Cup Round of 16.
Sime's connection to Lions FC runs deep. Originally from Dundee, Scotland, he has a family history with the club—his father, John, played for Lions in the early 80s. Darren began his journey with the club in the Under 6s and eventually rose to the first team. The early 90s saw him join the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), where he trained and played alongside future stars like Craig Moore, Lucas Neill, and Mark Viduka. Sime recalls Viduka’s love for Croatian rock music and Metallica, a constant genre played in the dorms.
Upon his return to Brisbane, Sime rejoined Lions FC and soon took on the role of team captain. In 2015, he transitioned to a coaching position as an assistant under Warren Moon. When Moon departed for Brisbane Roar in 2019, following Robbie Fowler’s exit, Sime stepped up as the head coach. Under his leadership, Lions FC clinched NPL Queensland championships in 2020 and 2021, and a premiership in 2022.
The team advanced to this year’s Round of 16 after a gruelling away trip to face Perth RedStar, where they emerged victorious with a 4-1 win despite going a goal down early on. Reflecting on the upcoming match against the Western Sydney Wanderers, Sime views it as an ideal draw, representing a significant opportunity for his side.
“Perth was a fantastic experience, but the players and staff had to make sacrifices, taking leave from their work and studies. To pull out an A-League side in the next round is a great reward,” he told Front Page Football.
Darren Sime providing a team talk to his players. (Image: VETO Digital)
The Wanderers will be making their second visit to the Sunshine State in just a few weeks, having narrowly defeated Brisbane City 2-1 in the previous round. Intriguingly, City’s manager, Peter Gaffney, is a former assistant coach at Lions FC. Sime revealed that he has already reached out to Gaffney for insights and advice, tapping into his knowledge to gain an edge for the upcoming clash.
“I’ve been in touch with Gaff (Gaffney), and he’s been more than happy to help," the 47-year-old stated.
“I think with Wanderers being a few more weeks into their pre-season, they’ll be more polished in terms of the speed of their actions and more familiar with their patterns of play. It's going to be a huge challenge.”
The Lions squad boasts players with substantial A-Leagues experience, including Matt Ridenton and Josh Brindell-South, who have accumulated over 150 appearances combined.
In addition, the club has several talented young players, including midfielder Jack Skinner and striker Luke Broderick, who have made a big impression in the NPL Queensland this season.
The game represents a chance for players to put themselves in the ‘shop window’. Sime believes it is a big but not impossible step for a player to progress into the professional ranks from the National Premier Leagues.
“I think to become a pro, there are certain attributes you need to succeed; you’ve got to have the X-factor. I think there’s more to come from a lot of our young players, and this stage is a great opportunity for them,” he added.
Lions FC will approach the game against the Wanderers with a busy schedule ahead. They are set to compete in the Queensland Cup Final tomorrow night against fellow Round of 16 qualifiers, Moreton City Excelsior. Additionally, having finished fourth in the NPL regular season, a crucial playoff semi-final away at the Premiers Gold Coast Knights is on the horizon. The outcome of this match will determine their place in the Grand Final, which is due to be held at Suncorp Stadium on 7th September.
Having already taken out the Kappa Mens Pro Series at the end of July, Lions will end the season having played over 40 games, a massive ask for a part-time side, and a point not lost on their head coach.
“It has been a really big challenge with such a relentless schedule,” Sime conceded.
“We’ve had to use a lot of our U23 squad, and we also lost Fletcher McDonald to an ACL injury earlier in the year.
“In the last transfer window, we didn’t make any new additions and decided to back the squad. To have achieved what they have, they have done exceptionally well.”
Finally, with ongoing discussions about the proposed National Second Tier (NST) launch in 2025 and the absence of a Queensland side in the current plans, Sime was asked for his thoughts on the situation.
“I think it’s widely accepted that for the game to grow in this country, there needs to be an effective promotion and relegation system,” Sime responded.
“We’ve seen the positive impact here in Queensland with the connection of the football pyramid and the promotion/relegation between FQPL (Football Queensland Premier League) and the NPL.”
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Lions FC has consistently supported the idea of a National Second Tier. However, the club remains cautious about the proposed financial model, a viewpoint their head coach shares.
"I’m 100 per cent behind the club’s stance," Sime affirmed.
"It’s crucial that the model benefits all involved. It seems like participating clubs will need to take on significant risks to make this happen, and Lions are not in a position to be one of those clubs at this time."
As we thank Sime for his time and let him return to preparing his Year 12 English lessons, he's asked if he’s ever been tempted to sprinkle a bit of Shakespeare into his team talks.
“I’ve tried the odd Macbeth quote,” he admits with a chuckle.
“But to be honest, they tend to go straight through to the keeper!”
Lions FC will aim to pen a memorable chapter in their history by reaching the Australia Cup quarter-finals for the first time. The Round of 16 clash starts at 7:30 pm AEST on Tuesday, 27th August, at Luxury Paints Stadium.
Click here to buy tickets for the match, which will also be streamed live and free on 10 Play.
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