The little club that can
The Central Coast Mariners have built their foundation on being the ‘’little club that can’’, the ‘’underdogs’’, and the ‘’perennial overachievers’’. The turnover of players and coaches at the club this season has been remarkable, but what’s been more remarkable is the club currently sit second on the A-League ladder.
The fairytale story of the Western Sydney Wanderers dominated the press and culminated in winning the premiers plate in their inaugural season, but what many people underestimated was the quality of the team that occupy the area two hours North-East of Parramatta.
The Central Coast Mariners boasted players such as current No.1 Socceroos keeper Mat Ryan, the experience of Patrick Zwaanswijk next to another future Socceroo and recently departed Trent Sainsbury. In midfield Tom Rogic was an incredible find, the futsal specialist adapted to the field instantly and became one of Australia’s most promising players for years. Daniel McBreen, the old striker who flourished last season at the ripe old age of 35 where he won the golden boot. Then the announcement of Graham Arnold’s departure to Japan who also took Andrew Clark, fitness coach extraordinaire and arguably the Mariners best player, New Zealand international Michael McGlinchey.
The season before, Alex Wilkinson the captain and foundation player left for Korea, Mustafa Amini, a man yet to crack Dortmund’s starting team also departed. The most remarkable of players to come through the Mariners ranks was the now Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak who now captains Crystal Palace in the English Premier League and will captain our country at the biggest dance of them all: The World Cup later on this year. These are just examples of some of the players who have left to go onto big and better things from the small little club in this small regional area called Gosford.
Onto this season now. The Mariners with ‘Arnie’s’ departure saw Phil Moss the former assistant jump into the chair with mixed results. The club’s recruitment saw another Dutch international Marcel Seip come into the fold at the start of the season. Exciting Argentinean and now club favourite Marcos Flores came in, but who unfortunately suffered an injury in January and won’t be with the club next season. Young Kiwi international Storm Roux was also recruited for Pedj Bojic who signed with Sydney. Eddy Bosnar and South Korean international Kim Seung-Yong joined in January.
The Mariners are almost unrecognisable from last season with only a few exceptions. The always hard worker John Hutchinson who’s been with the Mariners since day one has given 10 years of his life and service to this club. The Mariners may lose half of their starting squad, but there is always a young kid, or a recruit to the club who can come in and fill the place vacated adequately.
Only a few weeks ago, the club went into a dry patch, losing 5 out of 7 games, a spell the Mariners have certainly not been used to. At this time CCM were battling to make the finals just to have a chance at defending their crown. The electric form of Bernie Ibini has also helped the club, scoring winners against the Melbourne Heart and the Western Sydney Wanderers in consecutive weeks. Now top of their group in the ACL and 2nd on the table, the Mariners destiny is in their own hands.
Win their last 2 games, they are guaranteed a home final, lose and they could be as low as 5th after the last game of the regular season has concluded. With away trips to Perth and Brisbane to finish their season, it’s not an easy run home but a perfect lead up to the finals. What can the Gosford establishment achieve in the finals? It’s so unpredictable but they can go all the way. Phil Moss’ team will face stiff opposition in favourites Brisbane Roar and dark horses Adelaide United, but they can do it, after all, they’ve been proving many wrong for 10 years.
Another aspect of the Mariners talked about often is a sense of community and mateship displayed by players and officials, the team have a special aura about them. It’s this special feeling that makes the establishment unique and a pleasure to work your absolute hardest for. I’m only a fan, so l can only speculate on this but it’s an often talked about and very important part of the club that deserves attention.
I and many other supporters have run out of superlatives for this club. Gritty, determinant, passionate are three words that come to mind, but there are so many others that could also sum up the club perfectly. I cannot wait to see how this unpredictable A-League season will end. The Mariners will go in as underdogs to defend their crown, but when have we ever been the favourites?
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