Rooted in the heart of the Tablelands, Mareeba United is a club built on tradition, community pride, and a long-standing commitment to football in North Queensland.
Football has long been part of Mareeba’s identity, with the first official club founded in 1946 and quickly making its mark by winning premierships in the early 1950s and going undefeated in 1963.
Over the decades, the club continued to grow in strength, producing local stars like Frank Farina and drawing thousands to games during the State League era.
Since 1998, Mareeba United Football Club, known as the Bulls, has enjoyed sustained success, claiming multiple premierships, grand finals, Crad Evans Shields, and historic trebles, with standout seasons in 2004 and 2014.
Speaking to Soccerscene, former Mareeba United president Alex Srhoj reflected on his journey from junior player to club leader, sharing how the club has grown through State League participation, expanded programs, and strong community support.
In our interview, Alex highlights ongoing volunteer challenges, recent facility upgrades, and the club’s continued focus on player development and infrastructure.
Can you share some insight into your role at the club and how Mareeba United Football Club has evolved since you first stepped into that position?
Alex Srhoj: I first started as a Bulls junior back in the late ’80s, moved into senior football around the early 2000s, and tried to play as much as I could, but my knees didn’t agree. I moved into the club’s administration around 2003 and started coaching ladies’ football in 2004. I coached both ladies’ and youth football until 2008, when I became club president in late 2008 and remained in that role until 2014.
During that time, the club was accepted into the former Football Queensland State League from 2009 to 2012, where I also served as operations manager for the state league team.
I started coaching the club’s premier side in 2013 and continued until the end of the 2016 season. We won premierships in 2014 and 2015, went back-to-back in grand finals, and claimed the prestigious Crad Evans Shield in 2014.
I remained on the club committee until 2019, and from 2014 to 2019, I was also the club’s technical director. The club has evolved alongside the changes in Australian football over the past 20 years, growing in areas like coaching development and player pathways. But the club’s essence has never changed. It’s a family club, part of the community, and the community is part of the club. It’s a one-team, one-town club, and that will never change.
Have there been any challenges that the club has faced on or off the field? I know that there were fears late last year that Mareeba United could potentially shut down. How did the club deal with that?
Alex Srhoj: As with every sporting club in the country, society has evolved, and the ability for clubs to source volunteers has changed, it’s become more and more of a struggle. Every so often, clubs go around in a circle where the message perhaps gets a little lost. Last year was simply a chance for the club to put out a call to arms to the community, and the community responded greatly!
In 2024, Mareeba United were awarded a share in nearly $4 million, with $266,050 going towards new change rooms. How has that impacted the club?
Alex Srhoj: Exciting times for the club, with two new female-specific dressing rooms being built, along with upgrades to the existing dressing rooms and referees’ room. For the club to be awarded the funds was a huge boost, and something that was truly needed.
To sustain its status in the Football Queensland FQPL competition, the club must meet venue standards, but more importantly, it needs to offer a safe environment for all our female players from across the Tablelands. The club has the largest female program on the Tablelands, and the new dressing rooms will provide our female players with facilities that match the standard offered by other clubs in the region.
In what ways does Mareeba United connect with and support its local community, both on and off the field?
Alex Srhoj: The club and the community have always been one and the same. Our premier men’s and ladies’ teams consist of arguably 90% locally born and bred juniors, and maintaining a strong player pathway is a key focus. All our players live and work in the community, regularly visiting schools whenever possible.
MUFC annually plays host to numerous school competitions, including the Bill Turner Cup. More recently, the club has hosted John Moriarty Foundation development programs. John Moriarty Football (JMF) strives to support every level of talent in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, ensuring all kids have the opportunity to participate in football, have fun, connect with others, and improve their health and wellbeing.
One of the club’s favourite sons, Wayne Srhoj, also hosts the annual “Wayne Srhoj Cup” between the two primary schools in Mareeba.
Have there been any new sponsors or partnerships this season, and how are they helping Mareeba United Football Club grow both on and off the field?
Alex Srhoj: Being a small regional town, sponsorship is one of the largest revenue streams for the club. The club has strong partnerships with a number of the large agricultural growers in the area. Local farming organisations like Howe Farming, Rockridge Farming, and Tropicana Bananas are just a few of the many major supporters of the club.
More importantly, the club has been able to offer the growing number of Pacific Islander workers, who work on the local banana farms, a place to enjoy their football. This year, the club formed a Vanuatuan-based men’s team, which now competes in the FQ Far North Men’s Senior Community Division 1 competition.
What’s on the horizon for the club in 2025 and beyond? Are there any new plans or projects you’re looking forward to?
Alex Srhoj: The club’s main focus over the next couple of seasons is ensuring junior player development stays aligned with our city counterparts, being able to offer an environment where we can provide the same level of coaching and development. We are also working hard behind the scenes to secure funding for lighting upgrades across the three playing fields.
