Opportunities in football can appear at any age and from any corner of the country. But the players who succeed are almost always those who combine natural ability and a strong interest in the game with hard work, good decisions, and a relentless hunger to improve. For young players, and their parents, understanding how to approach the football journey is crucial.
To help guide that path, we spoke with Chris Maher, a player who has experienced it all at the highest level in Queensland, who currently plays with Moreton City Excelsior, who were NPL Grand Finalists in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
With a career marked by resilience, intelligent choices, and an incredible work ethic, Chris offers valuable insights into what it really takes to make progress in the game.
From Kingaroy to the Top of Queensland Football
Chris’s football journey began in Kingaroy, a regional town in Queensland where football was part of family life. His father was heavily involved in the game and became a key role model both on and off the pitch, and after progressing through the junior age groups, Chris made his senior debut in Kingaroy at 15, already playing against adults and showing maturity beyond his years.
With the support and encouragement from his family, Chris wanted to push himself further, and after looking at schooling options in Brisbane, enrolled in the Kelvin Grove Soccer School of Excellence. There, his football education accelerated.
“The Kelvin Grove Soccer School of Excellence was huge for me. It was a great setup, and while it was important to focus on education and be committed there, to train and play with quality players every single day was amazing. We all learned and progressed our skills really quickly as a group.”
It was during this time that Chris trialled at Mitchelton, who were playing in the Brisbane Premier League at the time. “I actually went down to trial for their youth team, but after the first session the coach grabbed me and took me over to meet the first team coach. After chatting for a few minutes they told me I’d be joining the senior squad. That year I played between the Reserves and First Team and got more valuable experience playing senior football”.
It was later that year that an opportunity appeared that was too good to pass up.
“We were training at school one day, and Stuart McLaren came down”, Chris explained. “I knew he’d played in the NSL and was a top player, but I didn’t know what he was there for. He spoke to us as a group and let us know that Brisbane Strikers were starting a youth team – they hadn’t had one before – and he wanted to invite us to come down and trial. Even though they didn’t have a team, I was like, wow, this is huge. I had to go. Brisbane Strikers are a seriously big club, I mean a few years before they were in the NSL!”
Chris grabbed the opportunity to trial and didn’t look back. He became a regular feature in the First Team setup playing State League football, and stayed at the club until 2012.
After four seasons at the club, Chris was considering a move away from the Strikers. “I’d had a great few years but in my last season there I was on the bench a bit. I wanted to get more minutes and knew that I still wanted to learn and improve. I got a call from Rochedale Rovers, and as soon as I heard about the players they had, I made my decision.”
“I think it was exactly what I needed at the time. It could have been seen as a step down going back to the Brisbane Premier League, but it was a quality environment. We had great players, I got lots of minutes, and it gave me the confidence I needed to kick on”.
Many young players wouldn’t have the humility to make a move like this, and it was another year of tremendous performance and personal growth. Chris’ performances didn’t go unnoticed, and Chay Hews, the new First Team Coach at Brisbane Strikers, offered the opportunity to return to Perry Park.
Rejoining Strikers was something Chris was open to, and he was also presented with the chance to start coaching juniors, something he was passionate about.
“I was playing and also coaching the Under 12 NPL team. I really enjoyed that. I still think that is that age group I enjoy coaching the most because they are so keen to learn, so it was a good time as a player but also to develop in different areas of the game.”
A season at Souths United, where he earned a place in the Brisbane Premier League Team of the Year, and then Lions FC, in the NPL, represented a nomadic time for Chris. “I felt really good at Lions playing under Warren Moon, but I was about to start teaching at Murrumba. I knew that the travel between work, training and home life was going to be too much, so I went back to Strikers for 2019 and 2020.”
It was during this third stint at Strikers (in 2019) that Chris got his first taste of a strong run in the Australia Cup (FFA Cup at the time), Australia’s premier cup competition. The Strikers knocked out A-League side Wellington Phoenix, Manly United and Moreland Zebras, before finally going out in the semi-finals to Melbourne City. These performances, most notably the semi-final, put Brisbane Strikers back under the national spotlight for the first time since their National Soccer League days.
In 2021, a discussion with Royce Brownlie led to Chris signing on with Moreton City (then Moreton Bay Jets). “I was very excited by what he had to offer and everything the Jets were trying to do. We spoke about the facilities, the setup, loads of stuff, it was really appealing. It meant that it was only going to get better too.”
The excitement and potential Chris had seen was right, too. Moreton City have become one of the biggest sides in Queensland, reaching the NPL Grand Final in 2023 and 2024, however fell short on both occasions. “We’ve had two very, very, close finals with Moreton City. We got to play at Suncorp Stadium, which was such a great experience. We only had 4,000 people there, nothing like a professional crowd, and it was still so epic.”
“My time with the team has been an awesome experience, but I really want to win a trophy. Moreton City hasn’t got that silverware yet, and I would love to help them win the first medal.”
The most famous part of this time for Moreton City Excelsior and Chris was another fairytale run in the Australia Cup.
After a comfortable victory against Campbelltown City in the Round of 32, the draw presented another run-in with an A-League club in the shape of Perth Glory. In what proved to be one of the standout performances of the competition, Moreton City claimed another notable scalp, winning 3-2 and putting the club firmly on the footballing map.
The excitement going into the next round, the Quarter Final against Melbourne Victory, was unprecedented in the Brisbane football scene. Fans who had never been to NPL matches were snapping up tickets, hoping to see another giant killing.
Unfortunately for Moreton City and Chris, early chances were squandered and the Victory were too good on the day.
Looking back on these historic matches, Chris has only positive things to say. “It’s been great to have been a part of some cup runs, playing against the A-League guys is incredible. You’re playing in their ‘pre-season’, but they are still fit and sharp, and you just see the quality from those sides. They are unforgettable and great experiences to have played against them.”
In an ongoing playing career that’s seen it all, Chris has shown incredible determination and a strong mentality, coupled with a real desire to continue learning and applying everything possible to achieve results.
When asked what his best attributes are as a player, Chris had the answer right away. “I think it was always that need to win. I found that coachability, your ability to be coached, was so important for me. And I was always keen to learn, I would always hang around after playing reserves to watch the first teams, to see what it would take to play at that level. I’ve always been super competitive so always wanted to learn from everyone around me. I’ve always had this attitude in every season I’ve played.”
To date, Chris’ honours include league titles, various grand final wins, over 200 appearances in Queensland’s top leagues and historic Australia Cup performances.
What It Takes: Dedication and Daily Habits
Chris’s story is not just about climbing through the ranks. It is about how he did it. He highlights one key piece of advice for young players: spend time on the ball every single day.
“You need to put time in at home,” he says. “Find a school of excellence, work on your technique, and get on the ball as much as possible. It has to come from you.”
This self-driven approach is something Chris looks for in players he now coaches, particularly at school where he teaches. He finds joy in working with players who want to be coached and who show up with a desire to learn.
“You can spot the ones who want it,” he says. “They ask questions, they listen, and they’re always looking to improve.”
A Word to Parents: Let the Player Lead
For parents supporting young players, Chris’s advice is simple and powerful if the goal is a future in the sport. Focus less on rushing into an academy, and more on the actual passion of the child.
“Are you taking them to training, or are they dragging you?” he asks. “The initiative needs to come from the player. The ones who love it will always want to play, train, and watch football.”
Chris continues, “it’s also not just about club football. Put yourself in an environment where you can learn, and get on the ball as much as you can. I’d always be playing with school 4-5 times a week, training with club two or three times a week, and even when I got home from school, I’d have a couple of piece of toast and then I’d be out the back kicking the ball for hours. I was on the ball all week, not just at club training.”
He recommends that parents consider a school with a football focus, where the balance between academic and sporting development can be managed well. Just as importantly, he encourages them to avoid being drawn into the trap of thinking the most expensive or well-marketed academy is automatically the right fit.
Finding the Right Club or Academy
When choosing an academy or club, Chris offers a practical checklist that families should consider:
- What qualifications do the coaches have?
- What is the club’s playing philosophy?
- Do they have a good retention policy, or is the focus on short-term success each year?
- What are the real opportunities for progression?
- What is the club culture like? Talk to people, ask questions.
Qualifications:
“Have a look at the coaching credentials – I’d be asking what level the coach is at, what coaching badges they have, and if possible, go and watch a session or two, or even a game!”
Philosophy:
“It’s similar to schools, they have to have education policies and show what their pathway over the years looks like – can you about the club’s policies via their website or by talking to people who have been there for a while?”
Retention:
“Look at their retention policies, do they have a policy for the whole club or rules around their trials every year? Some clubs will do open trials and you have to re-trial every year. If this is the case, it leaves players not knowing what will happen next year, even if they want to be loyal to the club”.
Opportunities:
“What’s their development policy around academy players? Is there long term development plan, is this communicated to parents and coaches, and are there opportunities to play senior football there? How many players from their first team and under 23s have played juniors at the club?”
Culture:
“Culture is important. You want to go somewhere that you can develop and grow, and hopefully make it to the first team setup. If the culture isn’t good, or players don’t feel like they’re getting the right attention, they will probably look to go somewhere else”.
Chris has found a strong cultural fit at Moreton City Excelsior, a club that supports young players and has a healthy, competitive environment. He praises the way the club fosters talent and creates space for players to grow, both in the First Team and in the broader football community.
“It’s been awesome to see the younger guys progress through the ranks at the club. Every year you see players kicking on. There is one who I actually coached at school, who played as a junior at Moreton City, who is now playing with me in the first team. The first couple of months in pre-season he was getting around calling me “Sir” and I had to tell him to cut that out!”
“But it’s really nice to see these young players getting the opportunities to play senior football who have been through our system for a few years.”
Chris also talks about how the club isn’t afraid to give young players a chance, and even when it may be easier to recruit from elsewhere, those from the academy are often given the opportunity to step up.
“It’s great to see when we need to find players, the club looks internally first to see what we have available, rather than waiting for a transfer window or recruitment chance to come up.”
“So many clubs won’t do that because they’re afraid of the potential backlash if results don’t go well”.
A Player Who Gives Back
Chris’s love of the game is evident in how he speaks about his experiences, but also in how he now mentors others. Whether on the pitch or in the classroom, he is passionate about helping the next generation find their way in football.
His story is a powerful example of how success is rarely about shortcuts. It is about choosing good environments, working tirelessly, and maintaining the right mindset. He also shows a clear interest in nurturing younger players to provide great environments and help them on their way.
For young players, the path may not always be straight. But with determination, hard work, and a desire to win, the game can take you places and create memories that will last a lifetime.
October 2025 Update
The 2025 season turned out to be an enormous success for Chris and his Moreton City Excelsior team. The club claimed their first ever NPL title, earning them a place in the inaugural Australian Championship – the second tier of Australian football, pitting the top clubs from each state’s respective NPL competition against each other.
