Lions FC are building one of the great seasons seen in Australian football, just a win away from a four-trophy campaign in Queensland while performing exceptionally on the national stage in the Australia Cup.

Already winners of the Queensland NPL Premiership and both state cups, they’ll have the chance to cement legendary status in mid-September when they play their state Grand Final, and then meet South Melbourne in the Australian Cup semi-finals just three days later.

Manager Dan Barber has conjured within his group a rare ability to succeed in big matches as both underdogs and frontrunners; dual Cupsets against Perth Glory and Melbourne City examples of the former point, crushing wins while fancied over North Sunshine Eagles and Peninsula Power (in Sunday’s Queensland qualifying final) last week the latter.

‘We’ve got a really ambitious and talented group of players and staff. People have used terminology like ‘underdog’ or ‘Cupset’, but behind the scenes and on the training pitch, they have a real belief that they’re capable of turning up and getting a result,’ Barber told Box2Box.

‘I think that’s helped us hugely in the Australia Cup in particular, in games which have been high-profile against quality sides. We’ve played with a freedom, a bravery.

‘It was then pleasing to see how they reacted to maybe being favourites [against North Sunshine in the quarter-finals], to put on a really strong performance that I thought really deserved a result to progress to the semis.’

Manchester-born & raised, Barber has lived in Queensland with his Australian partner since 2020 and has been climbing the ranks at Lions FC since 2021. He took on the senior men’s managerial role this season after two years as Darren Sime’s assistant, and feels the standard of football in the state is improving.

Once derided by some as ‘Victorian NPL2’ – where those who couldn’t cut it in the ‘tougher’ competition down south would head for opportunity – Barber feels greater exposure to national competitions has seen the state’s top sides lift.

A Queensland NPL club has reached the quarter-finals of the last three years of the Australian Cup, while Moreton City Excelsior made the semis of last season’s inaugural Australian Championship – which Lions will contest this year due to their Premiership status; ‘it’ll probably end up being a thirteen-month season in all!’’

‘I think there’s a different type of player [here now], maybe post-Covid. We’ve got a really young cohort of talented local boys who have been given an opportunity this year and grabbed it with both hands,’ said Barber.

‘We’re proud of that and know a lot of other clubs up here are trying to fulfil a similar model. Hopefully we can, as Moreton City did last year, do the state proud in the Championship, and continue the Australia Cup as well.

‘It’ll be a really interesting test against South Melbourne to see where we’re up to at the minute, and see what the levels are between the two competitions.’