Magpies Crusaders have reached the round of 32 for the first time and will face Gold Coast Premier League side Coomera Colts on July 24.

The club was only founded in 2017 after a merger between Magpies Sporting Club and Mackay Crusaders Football Club.

Now they have one eye on the round of 16 after getting through to the last 32 thanks to a penalty shootout win over Brothers Townsville.

"It was certainly very exciting," Magpies Crusaders general manager Darren Smith told FTBL.

"Under the circumtances it happened with the penalty shootout, they’re always very stressful, so the boys were very pleased and recognize it’s a pretty exciting opportunity.

"We were nearly there last year, we were 3-0 up against Cairns and went on to lose 4-3, so that was pretty heart-breaking. We felt like we had one foot in the round of 32. So we were all a bit nervous about this one so it’s nice to get the victory, albeit a tough one.

"It gives the boys an opportunity to play on the next stage."

Smith admits it is a dream to be involved in this late round of the FFA Cup, considering the club's relative youth.

"We were formed through a merger of Crusaders, the junior youth NPL pathway, and they merged with Magpies, which was the senior successful team in the region," he explained.

"Given the introduction of the NPL in Queensland and the QPL, the two bodies decided to get together and form a club. It all hapenned fairly quickly in the end. So far so good.

"Like anything there’s been some teething issues, but we’re certainly happy to be heading into this competition. We would have never thought it would have been a reality a year and a half ago when the club was formed. It was sort of pie in the sky stuff."

Magpies Crusaders, who currently sit in 12th spot in the 15-team NPL Queensland, will take on Coomera, who are sixth on the eight-team Gold Coast Premier League table.

Smith concedes drawing an A-League team to North Queensland was their preferred opponent.

"It’s a tough one. We were probably a little bit torn," he said.

"We were excited to potentially bring an A-League club to Mackay and bring some good, quality football to the region. But by the same token it was a game that if you play an A-League team it’s a pretty tough ask.

"So to get another team that’s outside the A-League it gives us an opportunity to give a strong performance and maybe get a victory and potentially look at the next round. It’s a winnable game, it’s certainly not a given.

"When you get to this level they [Coomera] grow an extra leg. W’re sure they’ll be pretty excited. Our boys aren’t going to underestmate them, but it’s definitely a winnable game."

Magpies Crusaders' key players include striker Michael Lyall and French defender Raffi Krissian.

"Michael's our captain and striker," Smith said.

"He scored plenty of goals last year, he was named in NPL team of the year. He’s critical for us. Our big centre back Rafi Christenan, he came to us early in the season and he’s been a really good pick-up for us.

"We’ve got some good young players coming through as well. We’ve got a nice balanced squad."

Mackay is known primarily as a rugby league town that has produced NRL players such as Daly Cherry-Evans, Dane Gagai, Josh Hoffman and Wendell Sailor. But Smith's club want to help change that perception.

"It is traditionally a rugby league town, but it’s just a sporting town," he said.

"Plenty of good athletes have come out of Mackay in running and athletics like Kathy Freeman, swimming in Geoff Huegill, there’s sort of being every sport has had some strong representation, with the exception of football to be fair.

"Maybe it didn’t have the proper pathway when it was required, so now hopefully we can see someone progress through with Magpies Crusaders."

The NPL Queensland outfit are hoping to draw a crowd of more than 1000 this month to their home ground Sologinkin for their Cup tie.

"Last year we averaged crowds of around 800," Smith said.

"We’re looking for that plus, we’re expecting somewhere in excess of 1000. It’s a mid-week game so it’s always hard to predict. But I’m confident the local community will turn out and support us.

"These boys want to test themselves. This is the next level again. We’re excited to bring football back to Mackay. This round of 32 there’s never been a fixture in Mackay, so I’m pretty confident we’ll get a pretty good crowd."