Australian football fans can be proud of the Mariners

The smallest football club in Australia are off to Asia and Australian football fans from all clubs will support them.

The Central Coast Mariners won the first spot in Asia, also the Minor Premiership last weekend.

Despite limping over the line, from behind, after leading the competition for most of the season by miles, don't be fooled, this win was hard-earned, deserved and planned for...three years ago.


When The Mariners went to Adelaide in the semi-final in the first A-League season few expected them to win. They did. 1-0. And marched into Sydney for the final with the support of over 8,000 fans dressed in yellow.

It was a marvellous sight for football in Australia. A true final played before two sets of opposing fans.

And Steve Corica scored the goal, but few neutrals could understand how the Mariners weren't four or five up by half-time. It really was one way traffic.

The Mariners have built a supporter base in an area that many Australians hadn't even heard of. Central Coast, NSW's.

And this season 19,0000 turned up to watch football in Gosford.

How did this happen?

Well Lawrie McKinna walks his dog along the local beach, he invites fans for bar-be-cues at his house, the players are expected to do the community development stuff, the schools, the local teams etc. They are spreading their wings into North Sydney and even Canberra. Truth or legend it matters not.

The Central Coast are now known as the club who has done the most and best work to link with their community.

Planning has been done to raise the supporter base from zero three years ago to it's current level with average crowds over 13,000.

But planning has also taken part with the team.

The Mariners never spent their salary cap in the first year or even the second year. They've kept many, many of the players from season 1. They've built slowly and wisely.

Compared to Sydney FC who have had to rebuild since beating the Mariners in that historic Grand Final win in season 1 Why? Because they overspent to gain success in season 1, massively. And Sydney started top down with expensive signings(Dwight Yorke) when the Mariners went from the grassroots up and have grown each season.

The Mariners management is restrained, realistic and flexible.

They proved that you don't have to buy a big star to get to a final (season 1) but maybe now the squads are bigger (23) and the standard higher you do. Enter John Aloisi half-way through season 3. And his goals have pushed them over the line. No doubt.

Season 2 the Coast struggled as injuries decimated them. Goalscorers in Dean Heffernan and Nik Mrdja had left or were injured. Damien Mori came and went. And a finals berth was missed. Mckinna knew the problem. And he fixed it for season three.

Enter fit again Mrdja, goalscorers Dean Heffernan returned, Sasho Petrovski, Greg Owen, John Alosi. In season three goals would not be the problem.

And so it proved.

This season the Central Coast thrashed Sydney FC 3-0 in Canberra in a pre-season game. While Sydney FC Coach Branko Culina complained of too many games The Mariners were fit and destroyed Sydney physically across the park. Canberran neutrals were stunned in the difference between the two sides.

It looked like men against boys.

And they came out of the blocks, winning game after game.

When Mrdja got injured, financial backer John Singleton, a Rugby League man who owns a stadium without a Rugby League team, enabled John Aloisi to sign. More goals flowed.

The table topping Mariners eventually got thrashed a few times at home in front of record crowds. As players had tired, got injured, maybe even the ealy fitness program was hurting them now.

They went into the final round in third place. Their lowest spot in the season. It was hard to see. A team with record crowds, a huge lead early, now stuggling to get a place in the top two.

Against Wellington injured Aloisi struggled on for sixty minutes, and he got his goal.

And Adam Kwasnik the guy who has missed more chances than any other forward in the A-League scored a beauty in the last, very last minute.

This was important as Sydney FC leading 2-1 against Melbourne now needed a third goal to top the Mariners. Tony Popovic charged upfield. Alex Brosque failed to find him. And Archie Thompson and co played the ball into Poppa's space. Melbourne scored.

Adelaide beat Queensland and off the title went to the Mariners.

Key Lessons
Player recruitment was well targeted. Player loyalty and club loyalty have been rewarded. A fitness regime second to none under player physio Andrew Clark ensured a title building lead was gained early. In a short season you must start fast, just look at Melbourne for proof.

And connection with the community and fans is important. Not just in non-traditional football areas but to all clubs in a fledgling league.

They are helped by a lack of competition from other codes, and local tv and newspapers desperate for local sport at a national level to cover.

Where can the Mariners go?

Well Singleton may have to add another stand in years to come. I'm joking? Only half.

In a growing area, if this team continues to punch above it's weight in five years or so who knows how many people will be watching?

A true team. On and off the field. A model club raised from nothing.

They can pull 19,000 plus on a good day. They've already been to Asia to play the likes of Aston Villa and Celtic in the Hong Kong Five's. Next time they are off for real in the Asian Champions League.

Can they win the Grand Final?

I think they have their prize. And it maybe a relief to the whole club to get that prize. Tired and injured they were struggling to get over the line, but they did it...just.

Danny Vukovic hasn't he grown in three seasons. Nigel Boogard the find of the season? Matthew Simon a hassle for any defender, Mile Jedinak, the guy no other club wanted, added to Aloisi, Tony Vidmar, Tom Podeljak, Andre Gumprecht, Dean Heffernan, Alvin Ceccoli, Sasho Petrovski, Greg Owens and John Hutchison. No shortage of quality and experience there.

Mckinna has done a fantastic job. Mariners fans and all football fans can be proud of the club from the Coast.