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Opinion: Chris Dunkerley looks at developments on the Central Coast ..
Central Coast Mariners surge ahead - never mind a few bumps along the way
While there are those who moan about the once-off length of this year's HAL off-season at least one club has not let time stand still and have used the time not only to defeat Celtic FC on the park but to surge ahead off it.
Central Coast Mariners together with the Central Coast Football Association (CCF) have recently penned an historic agreement that will help bolster the club's A-League playing stocks for generations to come.
In an Australian football first, the Heads of Agreement signed ensures that from October 1 this year, CCF’s representative Youth League programs in the FNSW competitions will be integrated into and form a key component of the Mariners ambitious Academy initiatives.
Under the Central Coast Mariners branding the program will be the sole elite football Academy operating in the Central Coast region, providing high-level training and playing opportunities to both male and female footballers.
In its initial stages the Academy will consist of Under 11 to Under 18 male teams, and Under 12 to senior female sides competing at the highest level permitted by Football New South Wales, plus with the NYL side hopefully playing in the NSWPL as indicated last month.
The agreement is subject to relevant approvals from Football Federation Australia and Football New South Wales.
According to CCF Chairman, Mr Darren Sprod, the agreement is a mutually beneficial one. “This agreement provides a clear pathway for the development of elite youth players on the Coast, which follows the national curriculum sponsored by both Football New South Wales and FFA,” Sprod said. “Elite players of the region will no longer be confused over which path to take. “The agreement allows CCF to concentrate its resources on community football and our 23 member clubs, while ensuring we support the Mariners in developing the elite footballers of the future"
Not everyone on the Coast agrees with the Chairman's bold statements, as semi-professional and representative senior football on the Coast which has been in place through FNSW for 20 years has been killed as an outcome of this move. After having been shamefully told before a league game, NSWSL club Central Coast FC will play their last game in 3 weeks, leaving not only some very handy players to drop back to amateurs or to drift from north to the NBN League or south to Sydney. Worse, the many promising players over 16 who had a chance to shine later than the official pathways will have the same dilemma.
Nevertheless in another major move the Central Coast Mariners on Thursday last welcomed a host of national and local dignitaries and guests to an event celebrating the commencement of work on the clubs’ Centre of Excellence at Tuggerah.
Led by Minister for Sport, the Honourable Senator Mark Arbib, the event involved a ceremonial breaking of the ground at what will soon be the clubs’ state-of-the-art training and recovery base.
The Minister, aka 'the spy', looked sheepish as he was offered a Mariners scarf. When photographed the Mariners scarf was kept low as he dug his spade into ground to officially mark the 'sod-turning' on the club's $40 million centre of excellence at Tuggerah, to which the Commonwealth government have provided $10 million as an election promise.
A number of other dignitaries were also present, including Central Coast Mariners Chairman, Mr Peter Turnbull, Federal Member for the seat of Dobell, Mr Craig Thomson, Mayor of Wyong Shire Council, Mr Doug Eaton, and Managing Director of North Construction, Mr Tim Cornish.
While Stage One of construction on the site actually began in early July with demolition of some of Tuggerahs tennis courts, the event nevertheless proved that work was underwaym with Senator Arbib telling the media gathered of the access the local community will have and the “powerful force” sport can have within the Central Coast region.
“The best thing about this facility is that it’s not just going to be a facility for the Mariners, it’s going to be a facility for the people of the Central Coast,” Senator Arbib said.
“The thing I love about the Mariners most, and the thing they are renowned for is the way since their inception that they have embraced their local community. The Mariners, I think more than any other club in the A-League, has gone into the community and has spent countless hours and time partnering with organisations to ensure that everyone gets the chance to play football.”
“Sport is such a powerful social force. The Mariners are using it on the Central Coast and it’s inspired people here to play sport and get involved.”
Mariners Chairman Turnbull paid tribute to one of the club’s founding shareholders, Mr David King, before elaborating on the benefits the complex will afford not only the Mariners, but also all young, ambitious Australian footballers.
“Today is a day that we’ve been waiting so long to happen, it’s a day that many people thought might not arrive, but it has arrived,” Turnbull said.
“I’d like to pay tribute to one of our founding shareholders, Mr David King, who had the vision that the Central Coast could support a national sporting team, and took the great leap when not many other people around the country did do.”
“This is part of the Mariners vision to be the football club of choice in Australia, where we’ll be providing our opportunities and facilities for the best use of the region and also the best use in the country. We expect that any talented footballer will be aspiring to play for the Central Coast Mariners because we’ll have the best facilities, we’ll have the best coaching, and we’ll have the best development pathway of any club in the country”.
Development of Stage One of the Central Coast Mariners Centre of Excellence includes the construction of a ten court 5-a-side Soccer Centre, an Aquatic and Hydrotherapy Centre, a tournament sized football field, an Amenities Block, as well as associated infrastructure. All these facilities will be made available for public use, but revenue from them will be crucial to the on-going viability of the project. A lot of water under the bridge yet.
When fully finished, the Central Coast Mariners Centre of Excellence will feature:
Two full-size football field and a grandstand for up to 3,000 fans;
A function, event and reception centre for club and community use;
Up to ten all-weather sports courts for 5-a-side soccer and other sports use;
A heated aquatic and hydrotherapy centre for community use;
A gym and fitness centre for community use;
Facilities for delivering educational learning programs;
A sports medicine centre; and
Amenities and car parking facilities and an upgrade to the Wyong Road Roundabout
Central Coast Mariners Developments Ltd - a company that not only has a 65 per cent stakeholding in the club itself, but also owns the $7.5 million 22-acre property at Tuggerah. They are buying the property from Wyong RSL, including Club Tuggerah (a licensed club on the site).
In related news it was reported over the weekend that Craig Johnston is ready to return home from his business interests overseas and that he will be connected with the Academy (to be confirmed).
Central Coast Mariners will rev-up their 2011/12 Membership campaign this week, with the clubs’ players lending their star power to the recruitment drive. Mariners players and coaching staff mingled with the community at Westfield Tuggerah, and Erina Fair this weekeend, signing autographs and posing for photos with fans. The club's ticketing and membership team was out providing information on the clubs’ wide variety of membership and ticketing options. The Mariners opened the early bird price period for new Members on the day, offering enormous discounts on match day ticket prices as well as a host of other benefits.
This seasons packages appear to be a winner, and renewals so far are strong, with expectations of many old members coming back and new members to come on board. No figures are yet available as new memberships come on-line from Monday 1st August, 2011.
Central Coast Mariners have agreed to an official partnership with Central Coast Radio for the 2011/12 Hyundai A-League season.
Incorporating 2GO (107.7FM) and SEA FM (101.3FM), Central Coast Radio were an official partner of the Mariners for the clubs’ inaugural Hyundai A-League campaign in 2005/06. It is expected that community radio station Coast FM 96.3 will also again have its 'A-Team' providing live and streamed home and away commentary.
Central Coast Mariners players and staff are reported as overwhelmed with positive feedback from the Central Coast public regarding the varied community initiatives they have been engaged in this off season.
Earlier this week, strikers Matt Simon and Michael Baird, defender Josh Rose and Assistant Coach Phil Moss ventured to Geoff Wright Respite Cottage in Gosford to spend time with some of the Central Coast’s elderly residents. After the visit, support staff member Sharon Nicholls contacted the club singing the quartets praises. “They were awesome,” Nicholls said. “They all came in, shook everyone’s hand and instantly started to chat with everyone.” “Some of our clients (at Geoff Wright Cottage) are very elderly and the visit truly brightened their day. In fact, this was the best day a lot of them have had in a long time,” she said.
The Mariners ‘Club Nights’ have proven to be especially popular throughout the region as well, with the entire squad spending an evening teaching skills, signing autographs and immersing themselves with budding football stars.
As a Mariners fan myself, I have to say that the club is trying to rebuild community, sponsor, and fan confidence off the park that was squandered in part during seasons 4 and 5. Season 6 made strides and season 7 looks to b going on with it!
By Chris Dunkerley 31 July, 2011- thanks for various CCMFC media releases fpr some of the information.
