Player Profile: Football Fever

In the small, white walled change room of the Loganholme Football Club, the seven-year-old Dustin Steele sat strapping his overly big shin pads on against a tiny leg. Now nineteen, he sits again in the same room pulling his white socks over the very same shin pads that he has used for thirteen years. The small white legs of his childhood now replaced by thick rippling calves and quadriceps from years of exercise, though he is now surrounded by a much more serious crowd of players.

With a raw talent that kids dreamt of having and a heart that exceeds it, Dustin Steele has always set the standard a little bit higher. Though not his harshest critic by any measure, if you sat down and talked about his game and the way he plays it, the calm, confident young man would soon start to become uneasy in his seat and fidgety.

Growing up in the small suburb of Shailer Park in Logan, he was much the same as other kids, always active and willing to give any sport a go. Playing in the streets and backyards with neighbours and his younger brother, his excitement for the round ball game was weaved into a small passion that has grown ever since. But while most kids ran around imitating their favourite players, yelling out “Ronaldo” and “Henry”, Dustin never did such a thing.

“To be honest I didn’t watch many games of soccer growing up and still don’t, I never had a favourite team or player and found watching the game to bore me a little. I’ve always just enjoyed playing, the challenge of the game and the small intricacies. Instead of basing my technique on others I found what worked for me and have always been motivated to improve all the time,” he says.

Speaking respectfully about his parents influence on playing the game, there is no doubt why he has become a prominent player in the eyes of his peers, coaches and teachers. Being a prefect at school and always putting in 110% on and off the pitch in whatever he does.

Always being involved in his football, father Gregg Steele is nothing but proud of his son.

“He has always shown the potential to make it to the next level, always pushing himself to become a better player, putting in the hard yards at training and at home,” he says.

His ambition to constantly improve comes as no surprise, with talented younger brother Jacob seeming to have received the football gene. The need to stay ahead of his brother Dustin says has always been an “inspiration to take it to the next level and become better at my game,” he says.

When talking about his aspirations or hopes for the future, Steele talks remotely about goals of one day playing over seas, but the only thing stopping this modest nineteen year old is an area of self-doubt.

“There has always been apart of me that thinks I’m not good enough to make it to that level and I guess that is what has really stopped me from trying to push further and try and make a career out of it,” he says.

Looking back on his soccer life he has had little in the way of set backs, every team he has tried out for he has been selected, receiving the highest honours each year and being selected in the top teams at club level and school level going on to play representative for Brisbane at a young age then for high school in his later years.

Coaches are astounded that he has never progressed to any higher level, speaking highly of the young man they say to be an ‘untapped source’. Though he hasn’t been without the chances, knocking back an offer to play for Logan representative side Logan United in a higher grade.

Playing Metro One at Loganholme FC this year, senior head coach Joe Borg looks serious though shakes his head and gives a wry smile when speaking about the static number twelve for his team.

“He is a vital asset to any team he plays for, He has the ability to break defences down with shear pace and skill and tear up the park with what looks like little to no effort, its an irreplaceable talent, I’ve got no doubt with some hard work he’d have a chance at a high league,” he says.

It is hard to believe Dustin was thinking of giving up the sport just a couple of years ago, though with a few bad injuries he was plagued with constant niggles, becoming frustrated with the game.

“I tore ligaments in my knee a couple of years ago, as well as hyper extended my other, this led to problems with my ankles and other things, so for about two years I was on and off the field. Football has always been my stress relief, and without that I became bored very quickly and forgot what I loved about it,” he says.

But this year has seen rejuvenation in the heart of the fast paced number twelve, playing in a competitive competition without injuries so far has led to the passionate play that has made him great.

The boy that could play all sports, dipping his hand into tennis and gymnastics before football, Dustin Steele now spends his weeks as a first year apprentice electrician, working early hours on weekdays, training at nights and coaching a women’s team in between a busy social life hitting the pub and clubbing scenes.

With his thirteen year old shin pads on, he now lets his football tell the story, his ambition and passion will be the deciding factor for the story to come.

Round Four Metro One Reserves Vs Grange Thistle

With one win and one loss over the past two games, The Loganholme Metro One Reserves provided the consistency they have been working for with a 2-0 win over Grange Thistle.

While coach Col Hume was sidelined with a broken leg, Loganholme FC looked injured providing sluggish football in the first half though digging deep in defence to stay even with the opposition.

Chances came and went as the Lightning struggled to finish each opportunity, breaking numerous times down the lines and looking dangerous in attack.

Glad to hear the half time whistle, The Reserves continued to fight hard for form early in the second half, improving with each minute until striker Agim found the net in the 64th minute to lift the Loganholme FC side.

On a high from a breakthrough, Lightning continued to penetrate the Grange Thistle defence and putting pressure on the keeper.

Grange hit back hard looking to even the score, pushing an extra man into the midfield and causing numerous overlaps in attack.

Loganholme stayed strong holding out a fierce and hungry opposition with some much needed defensive work from the forwards to the backs as a unit.

Central Midfielder Matthew Taylor slid into his role with ease providing the second goal of the match in the 81st minute as the pressure valve was released on the Grange side.

A goalless response kept a disappointing Grange Thistle out of the game and helping the Loganholme FC side to their second win of the season.

Stamping their foot on the competition and letting their presence known, the reserves have put in their bid for the 2009 premiership.

Round Four Metro One Vs Grange Thistle

Loganholme FC Metro One has thundered over rival opposition Grange Thistle securing their first three points for the season at Lanham Park tonight.

It looked to be another tight game for the away side, struggling early in the first half to keep possession over a leaky Grange defence.

Conceding a goal late in the first half against the run of play, Loganholme were on the defence showing heart but not shape.

Strong Grange support from the sideline and an irrigated pitch made it look like another walk over taking Loganholme back to past weeks.

Coach Joe Borg stood strong instilling confidence into the young team as the second half whistle went.

A new team looked to take the pitch in the second half for Loganholme FC, showing maturity through hard work, control and the possession that was vital for any chance of a come back.

The man dubbed ‘Rambo’, David Funnell opened the floodgates in the 54th minute, putting a deflected ball into the bottom left hand corner off his left boot to bring the score back to even.

A second followed with constant pressure and creative ball work across the park, striker Chris Jones found the bottom right corner 28 yards out to lift the Loganholme FC supporters to their feet.

The floods continued, as Loganholme appeared to put a cloud over the park with some static play that has been coming all season, leaving a weary Grange Thistle team running after the ball and not with it.

A superb strike from number 3 Jacob Steele in the 59th minute left the crowd in awe as he looked to provide a small tutoring session into breaking teams and goal lines, curling the ball into the top left hand corner from the right wing, catching the keeper and defence flat footed.

The final arrow in the heart of the Grange Thistle came as pocket rocket Blake Greenwood secured the win in the 66th minute, finishing the ball with a lightning touch and strike.

With only one late reply Loganholme FC recorded their first win of the season but with high confidence that there is more to come, looking to next weeks match at home to back up on some magic football.

Event Review Two: Loganholme Metro Round Three

The achillis heel of Loganholme FC Metro One and Metro One Reserves has been exposed as they suffered another loss in the third round against Brisbane Athletic on Saturday night that left coach Joe Borg fuming.

An action packed and high scoring game found the Reserves on the wrong side of the score line going down 5-4 in the dying minutes at Cornubia Park.

Reserve coach Col Hume gave his thoughts saying there was no question that the side didn’t play up to the standard they should.

“Our defence as a unit is lacking and has been lacking in these early games, forming an attack is no problem but when we are confronted with a break and the midfield are struggling to make it back, then we fall apart and its hard to pick it up after that,” he says.

It is clear that the side needs to tighten the screws on its defence quickly in the week leading up to the next match, conceding seven goals in two games.

Despite early pressure on Brisbane Athletics’ defence, the Loganholme Reserves were the first to concede in the 18th minute when Athletic countered from a Loganholme corner, overwhelming the small defence that was left with a break down the field.

Hitting back late in the first half Loganholme Reserves took hold of the match, showing glimpses of the football they can play going up 3-1 with two early goals in the second half.

Though their defence continued to lapse and it cost them the game, conceding goal after goal with only one reply by the 90th minute.

Both teams were looking to post the three points on the ladder after a key match was washed out last weekend against University of Queensland, though Loganholme Metro One was left looking into the heavens for any assistance at the final whistle.

In a tight contest that looked like it could go either way, Loganholme FC Metro One took to the challenge as best could be expected, putting together brilliant football that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats for 90 minutes.

Though Coach Joe Borg was left seething, lashing out at the referee after two controversial goals against his side in the back end of the game was the only thing to separate the two sides.

“I’m proud of the way the boys played tonight, they deserved a win or at least a draw. It’s a harsh way to lose when the referee makes those calls but I guess that’s football and you can’t do anything about that except cop it and try to move on,” he says.

Loganholme FC were not without their chances, pressure on the Athletics’ defence brought enough opportunities but the near misses just added salt into the wound.

Captain Jimmy Hodsdon said he was disappointed with the result.

“We really should have went on and finished the job we started tonight, its frustrating knowing you gave it all with the boys supporting each other and not coming out with the desired result because of a couple of bad calls,” he says.

With Two losses from two games, the Metro One side is more focused then ever for this weeks training ahead of the next game against Grange Thistle.

Club secures Major Sponsor

The senior metro one and metro one-reserve teams have a new face to represent with the introduction of Financial Connections as sponsors for the 2009 season. Owner and operator of the insurance company Tony Daniel has been affiliated with Loganholme FC for the past nine years through his children playing for the club. With the relocation of his business from Woolloongabba to Loganholme, Tony said it was a good opportunity to support our local community. The Teams have been supplied with kit bags, training strips as well as playing strips, and club shirts.

For every client that comes across in doing business with either Financial Connections or Financial Integration Tony will support Loganholme Football Club by giving them $300.

New club name, new look

With the introduction of the club name 'Loganholme FC' after a committee meeting that approved the name change from the previous 'Loganholme Lightning', the club is now awaiting the arrival of new jerseys and gear. The current strip is predominately maroon with green and has been popular throughout the last few seasons. Though with the club signing a variety of new top players as well as making a new name for itself in trying to establish Loganholme as a power figure in football Brisbane, a new strip seems to be the way to go. President Gregg Steele has said the new gear will feature white jerseys and shorts with a bit of green while the socks will also be predominantly white with a strip of maroon.

Talks are under way with local businesses trying to search for a new sponsor for the top team to provide the new gear as well as a training strip and club shirt.

Wet weather drowns hopes of match

An eager Loganholme squad was disappointed to find the match cancelled on the weekend due to heavy rain throughtout the week. Scheduled to play at the University of Queensland on Saturday afternoon the side were looking to hit back after the first round loss to Nerangba United. Though the rain could have been a blessing in disguise with defender Luke Muscut and Striker Barry Kerr out with injury, giving them a chance to recover before the next game.