Central Coast beat Canberra to Asia

The Brumbies have always showcased our city to South Africa, the Raiders to Balmain or Cronulla only football can take us to Asia....

And the Central Coast, the dear old Central Coast, have stolen a march on our Capital...

Powers combine to showcase the Central Coast to the world

The Central Coast Mariners’ maiden AFC Champions League campaign, which kicks off at Central Coast Stadium on Wednesday night, today received an exceptional off-field boost thanks to contributions from the NSW State Government, Gosford City Council and Wyong Shire Council.

Each of the aforementioned organisations have contributed $200,000 – totaling $600,000 – to assist the Mariners with their debut continental quest and Hyundai A-League 2009/10 season, which will see the web address thecoast.cc displayed on the front of the Mariners’ AFC Champions League playing strips.

thecoast.cc, which will be officially launched on the morning of the Mariners’ highly anticipated showdown with Korean FA Cup winners Pohang Steelers at Central Coast Stadium, will contain information for businesses and tourists that are interested in the vast opportunities that exist from a professional, sporting and lifestyle perspective on the Central Coast.

The Mariners’ AFC Champions League campaign will showcase the Mariners club and the Central Coast region to massive television audiences throughout Asia and the world, with future visits to Tianjin in China, Kawasaki in Japan and Pohang in Korea potentially exposing the Mariners to a cumulative local television audience of nearly two-billion people.

"The AFC Champions League represents a chance for regions and clubs to be showcased to Asia and the world that simply does not exist in any other competition of any other code in this country," said Mariners Executive Chairman Lyall Gorman.

"To that end, we are simply delighted that the NSW State Government, Gosford City Council and Wyong Shire Council have identified with the possibilities that exist through avenues such as business and tourism that only the Mariners and the AFC Champions League can offer.

"A commitment to showcasing the Central Coast region to Asia and to the world has been a core belief of our club since our inception and on Wednesday we’ll first have the opportunity to witness the spectacle of an elite Asian sporting event in our own backyard.

"Further to this, we will be taking thecoast.cc with us to each of our visits abroad, with Tianjin in China alone home to over 11,000,000 people."