James Brown

After a career blighted by injuries, 27-year-old James Brown is now plying his trade in Division 2 of the National Premier League Victoria, with new club Nunawading City.

Brown signed for Gold Coast United in December 2008 but had to wait almost a year to make his debut after breaking his right fibula in training.

He gradually worked his way into the first team and was one of Gold Coast’s standout players in their forgettable 2011/12 campaign - in which Brown made 17 appearances and scored six goals.

The attacking player-maker then moved to Newcastle Jets where, despite more spells on the treatment table, he featured 28 times.

Brown was handed another lifeline when he was signed by Melbourne City at the start of the 2014/15 season. He made an immediate impact, scoring an 81st minute winner in City’s 1-0 away win at Sydney FC in March 2015.

However, a serious foot injury weeks later kept Brown sidelined for the next 11 months. When he returned to action he made just one league appearance for City from the bench.

Maceo Rigters

Striker Maceo Rigters scored just four goals in 22 games in his only season at Gold Coast United. Maybe that explains why they finished bottom of the table with the second lowest goals tally.  

Gold Coast was Rigters last professional club after fruitless spells with Heerenveen and NAC Breda in the Dutch Eredivisie.

In 2007 the forward tried his luck in England with Blackburn Rovers, however he played just 14 minutes in the Premier League despite spending four years at the club.

Rigters failed to score on loan at Norwich City or Barnsley in the English Championship before he moved to Gold Coast in 2011.

He finished his career at amatuer side ZSGO in the Netherlands before retiring in 2014.

Mike Mulvey (Manager)

Well-travelled coach Mike Mulvey is currently managing Malaysia Premier League side Terengganu.

The Englishman began his managerial career at Gold Coast United, stepping up from assistant to caretaker manager at the end of the 2011/12 season when Head Coach Miron Bleiberg left the club.

Mulvey guided Brisbane Roar to the A-League title in 2014 but a slow start to the following campaign cost him his job.

A few months later Mulvey was appointed head coach at Malaysian side Sabah FA, however he stayed for just one season.

Mulvey was then named assistant manager at Terengganu in 2016 but has since been promoted to first team manager after the club put head coach Ahmad Yusof “on leave.”

Clive Palmer (former owner)

Palmer ran United when the mining industry was at its peak and was also the main shirt sponsor of fellow expansion club North Queensland Fury.

He launched the club in a blaze of glory, promising to win the title in their debut season with a star-studden squad.

But despite a promising start which saw them finish third, his patience with the sport soon ran out when it tested his wallet and crowds continued to stay away.

To cut costs he famously closed half the stadium and sparked his ongoing dispute with the FFA which ultimately led to him losing his licence.

During the fallout, he insisted then coach Miron Bleiberg appoint 17 year old Mitch Cooper as club captain...which subsequently led to Bleiberg's exit from the club.

When he tried to team up with fellow mining tycoon and then-Newcastle Jets boss Nathan Tinkler against the FFA, it proved the final straw for and the FFA soon reclaimed ownership of the side.

Since then Palmer was elected to Parliament...only to see his party crumble around him. Likewise his mining concerns have dwindled during the resources crash, including the closure of his Queensland Nickel company in controversial circumstances.

He now mainly writes odd poetry on Twitter.