Have you noticed the following comment come up in A-League expansion discussions: “we don’t want another Central Coast Mariners.”
It’s as though any similarity to the Mariners will sink an expansion bid faster than a stone cast into Tuggerah Lake.
Surely the ultimate worth of a club is how it performs on the field. So it might be worth re-capping what the Mariners have achieved.
Central Coast have won the premiership twice and been runners up twice. They have also won one A-League grand final (Championship) and have been runner up three times.
Two of their grand final losses to Brisbane Roar have been among the most exciting domestic club games ever played in Australia.
The Mariners have represented Australia in the Asian Champions League and have performed creditably. All this in just eleven years.
Their last grand final appearance was in 2013, so the current so-called slump is all of three and a bit years – barely a blip on the horizon for most sporting teams in any part of the world. Any expansion club would kill for results like these.
But surely the Mariners have contributed nothing to Australian football in terms of personnel.
Wrong.
Take Mile Jedinak for starters. Australian captain and a regular in the Championship with Aston Villa. Then there is Matt Ryan, the current Socceroo goalkeeper plying his trade in Spain.
Then of course there is Tom Rogic, the Socceroos and Celtic midfielder, and one of the most skilled Australian footballers since the golden generation.
Three current Socceroos (and I may have forgotten others) is not bad in anyone’s language.
On the local scene, Sydney FC have benefited from ex-Central Coast players, in particular the pacy Bernie Ibini and the blond firebrand Matt Simon.
The Mariners have even contributed on the coaching front with one of Australia’s premier coaches, Graham Arnold, being a Central Coast old boy.
And what about expanding the game to new audiences? The Mariners are the only existing Australian club who could be regarded as evangelists for the code.
All the other clubs have some football history and support to draw on. But the Mariners are a football outpost in a rugby league stronghold. And they have made a difference.
I spend a lot of time in the area. Locals know about Australian football because of the Mariners. There is a love for the team that doesn’t always come out in the crowd numbers.
The only A-League grand final I saw live was Mariners versus the Jets in 2008. There was great support that day for both clubs. The Mariners faithful at the northern end of Allianz Stadium were making a hell of a racket.
When the Mariners beat the Wanderers in the 2013 grand final there were stirring celebrations in the local area.
Adding to the club’s standing in the community is its Centre of Excellence and a recent proposal to enter a team into the W-League for season 2017-18.
Attendances are another reason people will disparage the Mariners. Average crowds of around 6,000 just don’t cut it according to some. But as a proportion of the area’s population of 300,000 this is not such a bad figure.
At a ratio of one-in-50 of spectators to population this is equivalent to a 20,000 crowd in a city of one million. And not too many A-League teams average that.
And really, how many of the potential expansion clubs will draw a home crowd of more than 6,000?
Positioned as it is, halfway between Sydney and Newcastle, Central Coast stadium provides for reasonable access for away fans of the NSW clubs. And what a great boutique stadium it is.
It would be the envy of any expansion club. If only the TV cameras could be positioned on the opposite side of the ground to show the faithful in the Western stand!
Central Coast Mariners are a founding club of the A-League. History matters. With each passing year, the Mariners’ history and tradition grows a little more. Given enough time they will feature in stories of the good old days.
None of the proposed bids for expansion teams are perfect. There are no Western Sydney Wanderers among them. Any potential expansion club could do worse than emulate the Central Coast Mariners.
pauly
Guest
They have a brass band. I'm a brassie myself and can respect that far more than pop music blared out of the PA. You also didn't mention the inflatable sauce bottles. Every time I see a Masterfoods bottle I think of the Mariners.
pauly
Guest
And enough about your BBL. BBL this BBL that. Stop bashing our heads with it. It's tiresome. Maybe the BBL should set up a team in Gosford, if only to please you.
pauly
Guest
Anon you talk about the "violence" of the NSL while at the same time advocating for clubs like South Melbourne to be admitted into the A-League. You really are a waste of space.
apaway
Roar Guru
Very well said.
j binnie
Guest
70.s Mo- In your comment you only used 5 home games to arrive at you average figure of 8094. Here are the correct figures Game 1 -7,073,Game 2 -5,497 Game 3- 5,296 Game 4 -11,075,Game 5 - 6,063, Game 6 - 11,184. That gives a 6 home game total of 46,188 for average of 7,968. Now today's crowd,another +11,000 gate, making it the third in 7 games,makes that total 57,586 lifting the average to 8,227 So you see ,there is interest in the area ,it just has to be better "tapped". Cheers jb.
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
Cheers Ben. I guess the people I am referring to are the ones who use CCM as an example as to why an expansion bid should be ruled out. "work towards operating consistently in the black" is a good comment - possibly the most important feature of any new expansion bid. Also, apologies for not replying to your comment on my last piece. All I can say is happy new year to you!
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
jbinnie: I have posted some figures that show an average for this season of 8.094. This would stack up quite well against Newcastle, Wellington, Perth and Melbourne City. If they had a bit better form and perhaps a few more night games they could come close to the 10,000 figure. Go the Mariners!
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
Nemesis: I double-checked. I can't even read Wikipedia properly - you are right - CCM played Brisbane only once. Fantastic game - someone (Mariners?) came back to score twice right at the end. Honestly my medium term memory is not so good these days (which along with my poor short term and long term memory gives me the trifecta I suppose.) I do note that AR has just responded to your comments... Cheers!
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
Understand Waz - I suppose I am glossing over the negatives as a contrast to those who ignore the positives. In the end I think the most important thing about the expansion clubs is the financials. I'm not too concerned where they are from.
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
jbinnie - I have posted some crowd figures below if you are interested (in reply to Forum Phoenix)
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
I think people underestimate the pull of the water sports up there. I mean the beaches are bloody beautiful - particularly around 5:00pm when most of the Mariners games seem to be scheduled. Cheers Midfielder and good luck (sort of) for today.
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
Forum, you made me do some homework. Crowds for this season: 11,184 31/12/16 Central Coast v Melbourne City 6,063 18/12/16 Central Coast v Brisbane 11,075 03/12/16 Central Coast v Western Sydney 5,076 24/11/16 Central Coast v Perth 7,073 22/10/16 Central Coast v Brisbane Average: 8,094 So apologies for the figures however it confirms my point that CCM crowds as a ratio to their population are extremely good. I wonder what crowds a CC NRL team would draw... probably 11k - 12k Thanks for the comments Forum
AR
Guest
"But, for some reason in Australia, crowds & TV ratings have now become the only measuring stick for the football illiterate when they assess the worthiness of football teams." So Gallop and the FFA are "football illiterate"? (See Nix comments)
Jason
Guest
Something that's often overlooked is that the mariners since inception were able to hit the ground running as almost the entire northern spirit playing group and coaching staff from the NSL shifted to the Mariners, this gave them a level of stability from the outset that has gone largely unnoticed.
Midfielder
Guest
JB A combination of thr CEO. n a new stadium deal could mean 8 k or less is what we need..add onselling of players. I concede your concerns are valid however the club has planned since pre hal this method of operation.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
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Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
A nicely composed piece, 70s, though one aspect that is not addressed in this piece is who is the doing the attacking. I have noted that over the years a number of those on social media who attack the Mariners are proponents of either a Northern Sydney A-League franchise or a Central Coast Rugby League side, both of which are crowded out by the existence of the Mariners. There appear to be few supporters of other A-League clubs, or even neutrals, who see many negatives with regards to the Mariners. The main issue that the Mariners face, which is the issue faced by all clubs, is to work towards operating consistently in the black. From what I understand the business model in this regards is on track, something that is greatly assisted by having a local community, and by extension community council, that is invested in the club.
Caltex & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
Anon, I would have to agree, something really needs to be done with the nickname “Socceroos” (The Australian National Men’s Football Team). I like Tony Tannous’s reference “ROOS” or Bob’s use of “Football-Roos”. I’ve sort of played around with nicknames I liked: the “Wombats” maybe “Saltwater Crocs” “Deathadders” “Dingos” “Brown Snakes” “Blake Snakes”. However, one thing for sure—one name that won’t come under consideration and I am so pleased the AFL have chosen it; the "Galahs" for their national team’s nickname (men’s hybrid international game with the Irish). Their choice has ruled it out forever for Football—and the FFA making the gravest mistake of their lives. For now, the “Socceroos” will do for our Australian Football Team—if only, to give you lot, an Australian National Football team you can be proud of.
Caltex & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
Well said Northerner... :)
j binnie
Guest
Mid - Read the last sentence in my comment and you have my complete thoughts on the matter. Cheers jb.