2011 Year In ReviewJess Norton, Saturday, 31 December 2011
2011 has been a remarkable year for the Central Coast Mariners. It has included a fourth finals campaign in six series, qualification to the Asian Champions League in 2012 and ending last season as Grand Finalists. In this year in review, Jess Norton breaks down the matches and the announcements that made 2011 memorable.
January
Central Coast Mariners v Wellington Phoenix
Sunday 9 January at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 1 (McGlinchey 41’)
Wellington Phoenix 0
Central Coast Mariners v Brisbane Roar
Wednesday 12 January at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 3 (Kwasnik 37’, Simon 47’, Perez 74’)
Brisbane Roar 3 (Paartalu 23’, Broich 65’, Meyer 79’)
Newcastle Jets v Central Coast Mariners
Sunday 16 January at EnergyAustralia Stadium
Newcastle Jets 0
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Simon 14’, Hutchinson 87’)
Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners
Thursday 20 January at nib Stadium
Perth Glory 1 (Howarth 38’)
Central Coast Mariners 2 (McBreen 22’, Simon 23’)
Central Coast Mariners v Sydney FC
Sunday 23 January at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Perez 49’, Simon 57’)
Sydney FC 2 (Petratos 17’, 27’)
Adelaide United v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday 29 January at Hindmarsh Stadium
Adelaide United 1 (Dodd 90+1’)
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Perez 11’, Rose 30’)
Announcements
• Teen custodian Mathew Ryan was named December nominee for the NAB Young Footballer of the Year award.
• Mariners boss Graham Arnold added former Perth Glory Striker Michael Baird to the Central Coast club.
February
Melbourne Heart v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday 5 February at AAMI Park
Melbourne Heart 1 (Thompson 49’)
Central Coast Mariners 1 (McBreen 50’)
Gold Coast United v Central Coast Mariners
Wednesday 9 February at Skilled Park
Gold Coast 1 (Smeltz 83’)
Central Coast Mariners 3 (Ibini-Isei 13’, Amini 40’, Duke 68’)
Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets
Sunday 13 February at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Perez 90’)
Newcastle Jets 0
Central Coast Mariners v Brisbane Roar
Saturday 19 February at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 0
Brisbane Roar 2 (Barbarouses 52’, McKay 73’)
Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday 26 February at Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane Roar 2 (Broich 63’, Henrique 90+1’)
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Smith 39’ (og), Bozanic 40’)
March
Central Coast Mariners v Gold Coast United
Saturday 5 March at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Kwasnik 75’)
Gold Coast United 0
Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners
Sunday 13 March at Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane Roar 2 (4) (Henrique 117’, Paartalu 120’)
Central Coast Mariners 2 (2) (Kwasnik 96’, Bozanic 103’)
Announcements
• Goalkeeper Mat Ryan was awarded NAB Young Footballer of the Year at the Hyundai A-League awards in Sydney.
• The Mariners announced that fan favourite Mustafa Amini was heading to train with German giants Borussia Dortmund for a fortnight.
• Skipper Alex Wilkinson would get a taste of Asia as he signed a short-term deal with Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Sainty.
• Patricio Perez was released from the final year of his contract on compassionate grounds to return to his home country of Argentina.
April
Announcements
• The Mariners signed attacking midfielder Adriano Pellegrino from Perth Glory and former North Queensland Fury utility Brad McDonald.
May
Announcements
• Scottish heavyweights Glasgow Celtic confirmed their schedule for a three-match tour of Australia in July, opening with a clash with the Yellow and Navy in Sydney on Saturday 2 July.
June
Announcements
• It was revealed that local building firm North Construction had won the first contract for the development of the Centre of Excellence.
• Young gun Mustafa Amini was officially transferred to Bundesliga heavyweights Borussia Dortmund. The deal sees the fan favourite remain on loan with Central Coast until the end of the 2012 Asian Champions League Group Stage before he heads to Germany.
July
International Friendly: Central Coast Mariners v Glasgow Celtic FC
Saturday 2 July at ANZ Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Hearfield 86’)
Glasgow Celtic 0
Announcements
• Yellow and Navy midfielder John Hutchinson was loaned to Chengdu Blades of the Chinese Super League (CSL) until October 31. He joined teammate Adam Kwasnik and former boss Lawrie McKinna in China.
• The Mariners welcomed local and national dignitaries and guests to the ceremonial breaking of ground, celebrating the commencement of work on the Centre of Excellence at Tuggerah.
• Former Newcastle Jets and Sky Blues player Stuart Musialik signed a deal with Graham Arnold’s men after three years at Sydney FC. The two-time premiership winner worked with the Head Coach in the Olyroos squad at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
August
• Youngsters Mustafa Amini, Bernie Ibini, Trent Sainsbury and Sam Gallagher were in Colombia at the FIFA Under 20 World Cup.
September
Pre-Season: Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory
Sunday 18 September at Knox Grammar School, Wahroonga
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Pellegrino 45’)
Perth Glory 0
Pre-Season: Wellington Phoenix v Central Coast Mariners
Sunday 25 September at Baypark Stadium
Wellington Phoenix 0
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Zwaanswijk 40’, Ibini-Isei 79’)
October
Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday 8 October at Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane Roar 1 (Nichols 72’)
Central Coast Mariners 0
Central Coast Mariners v Gold Coast United
Saturday 15 October at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Zwaanswijk 87’)
Gold Coast United 1 (Brown 46’)
Newcastle Jets v Central Coast Mariners
Sunday 23 October at Ausgrid Stadium
Newcastle Jets 1 (Brockie 24’)
Central Coast Mariners 0
Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory
Saturday 29 October at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Ibini-Isei 26’, Simon 45’)
Perth Glory 1 (Dodd 5’)
November
Wellington Phoenix v Central Coast Mariners
Friday 4 November at Westpac Stadium
Wellington Phoenix 1 (Greenacre 68’)
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Ibini-Isei 47’, Simon 80’)
Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory
Saturday 12 November at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 0
Melbourne Victory 0
Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday 19 November at Sydney Football Stadium
Sydney FC 2 (Carle 76’, Emerton 88’)
Central Coast Mariners 3 (Zwaanswijk 40’, McGlinchey 65’, Hearfield 81’)
Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Heart
Saturday 26 November at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 3 (Zwaanswijk 45’, McBreen 81’, Simon 86’)
Melbourne Heart 1 (Babalj 77’)
Announcements
• Central Coast Mariners confirmed that Michael Baird had been released to join Malaysian Super League side Sabah FA effective immediately.
December
Adelaide United v Central Coast Mariners
Friday 2 December at Hindmarsh Stadium
Adelaide United 0
Central Coast Mariners 4 (Amini 29’, Ibini-Isei 32’, Zwaanswijk 38’, Griffiths 65’)
Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets
Saturday 10 December at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Griffiths 24’, Simon 58’)
Newcastle Jets 0
Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday 17 December at Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane Roar 1 (Danning 82’)
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Amini 5’, Bojic 45’)
Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners
Friday 23 December at nib Stadium
Perth Glory 1 (McGarry 83’)
Central Coast Mariners 3 (Ibini-Isei 49’, Bojic 59’, Simon 64’)
Announcements
• Young striker Bernie Ibini was the November nominee for the 2011/12 NAB Young Footballer of the Year.
• Foundation Head Coach Lawrie McKinna signed a one year deal at Chongqing Lifan FC in China’s League One.
• The 2012 AFC Asian Champions League Group Stage draw was made with Central Coast placed in Group G alongside China’s Tianjin Teda, Seongnam IIhwa Chunma of Korea Republic and J-League side Nagoya Grampus.
• Former Westfield W-League coach Stephen Roche was assigned Mariners Elite Female Development Pathway Coordinator. His role includes the offering of guidance to mentors of the women’s teams in the NSW Premier League as well as Head Coach of the senior side.
• Matt Simon was transferred for an undisclosed fee to Korean K-League club Chunnam Dragons on a three-year contract. Simon will play his final match for his beloved Mariners against Melbourne Victory on Wednesday.
***
With the Mariners leading the Hyundai A-League on the back of six consecutive victories and an unbeaten run of nine matches, 2012 is looking bright for the Yellow and Navy.
What will the New Year bring for Graham Arnold and his men? The club will represent the Central Coast region for the second time in the Asian Champions League. Closer to home, Central Coast Mariners remain committed to helping the local area prosper through effective community engagement.
We would love to see you at Bluetongue Stadium on New Year’s Eve as the Yellow and Navy aim to consolidate their place at the head of the Hyundai A-League ladder with three points against Gold Coast United.
http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/centralcoastmariners/news-display/2011-Year-In-Review/43985