THAGOONA-based Ipswich FC head coach Andrew Catton gains immense satisfaction working with some of the region’s most talented footballers.
“They are good lads . . . just the buy-in, they are right into what we’re trying to do,” he said.
“I’ve had a lot of them before and there’s good signs there. They are on the right path.
“The way they get around each other has been excellent.”
However, back as a second year coach in the competitive Football Queensland Premier League 1 competition, Andrew also tackles new challenges.
“The hardest part so far is we’re trying to change the playing style,” Andrew said.
“The reality is that’s a big task.
“Hopefully we get there sooner rather than later. That we have a bit of joy out it.”
Ipswich FC lost their latest match 2-0 to home side Broadbeach United after an impressive first-up 3-1 victory of Logan Lightning at the Briggs Road Sporting Complex.
The team Andrew coaches is the region’s highest placed side – a level below the National Premier League.
Andrew enjoys training and playing at the club’s Flinders View headquarters, boosted by the season-opening victory over Logan.
“It was awesome, a good crowd and people were very invested [in the game],” he said.
“We need to keep getting some good results so people keep turning up.”
Ipswich FC’s next home game is against Capalaba on March 22.
With youthful talent and experience, Ipswich FC’s talented players are keen to fly high this season. Photo: LYLE RADFORD
Andrew previously coached at Western Pride in the 2020 season before returning after the club merged with the Ipswich City Bulls to become Ipswich FC.
Having moved around for many years, Andrew enjoys being settled in Thagoona with his wife Maree, who he married in 2018, and their young son George.
Apart from the open spaces to spend with his family, the more relaxed environment gives Andrew a chance to plot his future football strategies.
“I love it. It’s awesome, especially after living in town,” Andrew said.
Andrew was born in NSW before igniting his passion for playing and coaching in the small town of Howard in Hervey Bay.
After moving south in 2015 to teach at Ipswich Grammar School (IGS), Andrew also spent some time living at Fernvale for similar reasons.
Before some recent career changes, Andrew was a Director of Football and Cricket at IGS, as well as a sports co-ordinator at the school.
He also previously worked for Cricket Ipswich, based at Amberley.
Andrew’s priority has always been giving Ipswich regional players the best opportunities to further their careers.
He did that at IGS where he shared in multiple school state and national successes in competitions like the Bill Turner Cup, UhlSport Cup and ISSA Cup, along with GPS premiership victories.
“I love all those tournaments,” he said. “They are fantastic for the kids as well because it teaches them how to win.”
Andrew started playing in Howard as a youngster after his dad Robert “was right into it” and “he just directed me towards football when I was a kid.”
The centre back pursued his playing career in the Maryborough competition.
But it was another path over a decade that expanded Andrew’s football knowledge.
“As I got a bit older, I started refereeing and it gave me a really good understanding of the game,” he said.
“It taught me to read the game really well and I was lucky to referee at a decent sort of level [in the Wide Bay area].”
Aged 20, he started coaching, building his way into junior Premier League teams and overseeing Queensland Country sides.
In 2012, he worked with a Sunshine Coast Fire under-19 side in the Queensland State League competition.
He also coached the Wide Bay Revolution under-18 side for a few years in the NPL.
After moving to the Ipswich area, Andrew honed his knowledge as a technical director at the Knights, Western Pride and Olympic FC.
He completed his A-Licence while at Western Pride.
Andrew stepped down from his first Ipswich coaching stint after the 2020 FQPL1 season due to the impending birth of his son George.
However, he feels more relaxed coaching a second time living in a positive country environment like Thagoona.