| Founded | 2008, as Missed Calls | |
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| Ground | OZSPORTS, Springwood | |
| League | THMB | |
| 2009/10 Oct-Feb |  Current season | |
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Substitutes (formerly known as Missed Calls) are an indoor soccer team from Brisbane, Australia.
History
editFormation
editThe idea for the formation of an indoor soccer side was the brainchild of team captain Andrew Blyth. Having returned from England with a strong passion for the code, he approached former youth national representative Nick Whitbread with the idea of entering a local league. Whitbread, having recently suffered a spontaneous pneumothorax and under strict doctor's orders to avoid extreme physical exertion, agreed on the sole condition that any chosen venue would sport a bar.
2008 Jun-Oct
editThe team's first season, often referred to as the Missed Calls Era or the Nik's Team Era, saw the inaugural squad of Blyth, Broadfoot, Lipinski, Menon, Robke and Whitbread compete at OZSPORTS Browns Plains, joining a poorly attended competition of only four teams mid-season, and maintaining an unflattering, season-long winless streak. Reaching the finals in their first season simply to make up numbers, the team were defeated in the first round.
2008/09 Oct-Feb
editA new name, a new venue and a new line-up saw no immediate change of fortunes for the newly-crowned Substitutes. Carrying their "defeated-streak" into their second season, the team, now with Wilkinson in place of Lipinski, lost their first eight matches, though showed definite improvement. They finally recorded their first win in Round 9, a hard-fought contest against eventual rivals, Sup Baby. The team sought to use the experience as a springboard, hoping to transform the newly-found confidence into further wins, but it wasn't until the late-season addition of John Kennedy to the ranks that their fortunes finally changed. With John's calmly reasoned approach to the game, Substitutes won their final two games of the regular season, barely securing a second successive finals berth in the third bracket. Facing rivals Sup Baby in the first round the team enjoyed a comfortable victory that secured a third bracket Grand Final appearance, which they would win 8-6.
2009 Feb-Jun
edit- See also: 2009 Feb-Jun THMC season
Substitutes, after two unremarkable campaigns, went undefeated through the entire regular season, finishing as minor premiers. They would drop just one game on their way to securing a maiden premiership. The season began strongly, with the only roster change being the permanent addition of John Kennedy. The team carried the good form shown at the close of the previous season into their first three matches, winning two games and drawing another. That tie, a game that saw Substitutes squander a commanding lead in the final minutes, would be the last time the team failed to secure a win for the rest of the season. Tragedy would strike half way through their campaign as John Kennedy was felled by a seemingly innocuous tackle, only for later scans to reveal the severity of the damage. Foundation member Adam Lipinski was brought in to replace him as the team made their push for the premiership. Substitutes would drop their only game in the first week of the playoffs, losing 9-4 to eventual runners up, Ball Breakers. The two teams would again meet in the Grand Final, which Substitutes won 10-8.
2009 Jun-Oct
editReturning with a premiership title under their belts, Substitutes were seeded in the B-division for the Jun-Oct season. They opened their campaign against defending division champions Perfect Pair, a tight contest that, despite the end result – a loss for Substitutes – inspired confidence that they could hold their own in the higher grade. This was followed by a resounding victory against newcomers Cascade Cougars and a hard-fought tie against relegated A-division side Crusty Crew. Despite this strong start to the season, however, Substitutes season swiftly spiralled out of control. Unable to field a full-strength squad for over 90% of the season, and lacking the direction provided by John Kennedy in the mid-field, the team finished with a 3-10-1 record, their worst showing since their inaugural season.
2009/10 Oct-Feb
edit- See also:
Current season
Hoping to put a horror season behind them, Substitutes recruited heavily for the new season. Sporting a full roster for the first time since their inception, the addition of forward, Markus Kosten, and playmaker, Tristan Birrell, saw a renewed confidence permeate the squad. Despite losing their first match of the season – largely due to incompetent officiating – the team rallied to win their next two games back-to-back, the first time the side had secured successive victories since their premiership-winning season.
Squad
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Former Players
edit
Adam Lipinski
John Kennedy- Brent Wilkinson
- Andrew Menon
Honours
edit- Club
- OZSPORTS Men's Soccer Division C:
- Premiers (1): 2009 Feb-Jun
- Finalists (2): 2008/09 Oct-Feb, 2009 Feb-Jun
- Individual
List of Individual award winners who won awards while playing for Substitutes.
- OZSPORTS Player of the Season
- 2009 Feb-Jun: Nick Whitbread
Rivalries
editMultiple Scorgasms - Opponents in Substitutes' first ever match, the two teams have met on more than a dozen occasions. MS held the wood for the entirety of the first two seasons, inflicting heavy losses during the Missed Calls Era and holding on for a tight one-goal victory during Substitutes sophomore season. Their most recent match saw Substitutes claim honours, and a strong friendship has grown from the rivalry with players from both teams substituting for each other in times of need.
Sub Baby - The first team defeated by Substitutes, they would go on to meet again in the finals for two successive seasons. Having met four times, twice each in regular season and finals play, Substitutes have won all four encounters thus far.
Ball Breakers - Runners up for the minor premiership in the Feb-Jun season, the two teams met for the first time in the final round of regular play. The match would grow heated as elbows flew and cards were shown, with Substitutes' Nick Whitbread receiving a yellow card in a game Substitutes would rally to win. The rivalry would take root as the teams met again in the first round of the finals, Ball Breakers this time taking the honours in a 9-4 victory, inflicting Substitutes first defeat in twenty matches. Cementing the rivalry, the teams met again in the Grand Final, the match again proving particularly physical as the Ball Breakers were assigned a red card for foul play. Substitutes would eventually hold on for a 10-8 victory.