2012 has been a remarkable year for the Central Coast Mariners.
2012 has been a remarkable year for the Central Coast Mariners. It has included a fifth finals campaign in seven seasons, qualification to the AFC Champions League in 2013, a National Youth League title and the Premiers- Plate. In this Year in Review, Jess Norton breaks down the matches and announcements that made 2012 a season to remember.
JANUARY
Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory
Wednesday 4 January at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Simon 1-, 85-)
Melbourne Victory 0
Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners
Sunday 8 January at Allianz Stadium
Sydney FC 0
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Bozanic 9-)
Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets
Saturday 14 January at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Zwaanswijk 60-)
Newcastle Jets 1 (Haliti 17-)
Melbourne Heart v Central Coast Mariners
Wednesday 18 January at AAMI Park
Melbourne Heart 0
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Kwasnik 89-)
Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United
Saturday 21 January at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 3 (McBreen 15-, Kwasnik 74-, Rose 78-)
Adelaide United 2 (Van Dijk 16-, Djite 19-)
• Matt Simon made his final appearance for the yellow and navy in the round 13 clash with Melbourne Victory before joining K-League side Chunnam Dragons.
• Central Coast confirmed the signing of young gun Tomas Rogic on a five-month contract following his time in Nike-s ‘The Chance- competition.
• Former Mariners midfielder Mustafa Amini was named the December nominee for 2011/12 NAB Young Footballer of the Year.
• Josh Rose signed a three-year contract extension, remaining with the yellow and navy until end of the 2014/15 Hyundai A-League season.
• Trent Sainsbury extended his deal with the club for a further two seasons. Attacker Mitchell Duke, utility James Oates and midfielder Anthony Caceres were promoted to the senior squad after a stellar season in the National Youth League.
• Oliver Bozanic, Mat Ryan and Mustafa Amini were selected in Qantas Australian U/23-s squad for AFC Asian qualifiers for London Olympics against Uzbekistan and United Arab Emirates (UAE).
FEBRUARY
Central Coast Mariners v Brisbane Roar
Saturday 4 February at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 0
Brisbane Roar 2 (Paartalu 5-, Berisha 38-)
Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners
Friday 10 February at AAMI Park
Melbourne Victory 2 (Hernandez 16-, Kewell 51-)
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Rogic 9-)
Central Coast Mariners v Wellington Phoenix
Saturday 18 February at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Rogic 52-, Zwaanswijk 83-)
Wellington Phoenix 0
Gold Coast United v Central Coast Mariners
Wednesday 22 February at Skilled Park
Gold Coast United 3 (Harold 9- (pen), Halloran 17-, Cooper 55-)
Central Coast Mariners 3 (Kwasnik 4-, 66-, Ibini 58-)
Melbourne Heart v Central Coast Mariners
Sunday 26 February at AAMI Park
Melbourne Heart 1 (Babalj 50-)
Central Coast Mariners 0
• Bernie Ibini renewed his contact with the yellow and navy for another two seasons.
• Mat Ryan was voted the most outstanding U/21 player for the month of January, the third Mariners nominee for NAB Young Footballer of Year award.
• The Mariners officially confirmed the signing of Scottish striker John Sutton on loan for a four-month period.
• Central Coast announced Brad McDonald had extended his contract with the club for a further season.
• Mat Ryan received his first full call up for the Qantas Socceroos World Cup Qualifier against Saudi Arabia in Melbourne.
• Trent McClenahan added to Graham Arnold-s squad for the AFC Asian Champions League.
• Central Coast Mariners confirmed that the Club had agreed to terms with Chinese Super League team Guangzhou R&F to transfer midfielder Rostyn Griffiths.
MARCH
Central Coast Mariners v Sydney FC
Saturday 3 March at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Hearfield 90+1-)
Sydney FC 1 (Chianese 56-)
Tianjin Teda v Central Coast Mariners – AFC Champions League Matchday 1
Wednesday 7 March at Tianjin Teda Football Stadium
Tianjin Teda 0
Central Coast Mariners 0
Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners
Sunday 11 March at nib Stadium
Perth Glory 1 (Dodd 25-)
Central Coast Mariners 0
Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United
Saturday 17 March at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Ibini 47-)
Adelaide United 0
Central Coast Mariners v Nagoya Grampus – AFC Champions League Matchday 2
Wednesday 21 March at Central Coast Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Zwaanswijk 28-)
Nagoya Grampus 1 (Tulio Tanaka 21-)
Wellington Phoenix v Central Coast Mariners
Sunday 25 March at Westpac Stadium
Wellington Phoenix 1 (Bertos 80-)
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Sutton 44-, Ibini 51-)
Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners – Hyundai A-League Major Semi Final Leg 1
Saturday 31 March at Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane Roar 2 (Henrique 8-, Paartalu 86-)
Central Coast Mariners 0
• Tomas Rogic was named as the fifth nominee & fourth Mariner nominated for NAB Young Footballer of the Year Award for his performances in the month of February.
• Central Coast Mariners Youth win National Youth League title.
• Tomas Rogic, Bernie Ibini and Sam Gallagher selected for Qantas Australian U23s squad for match against Iraq.
• The Mariners claimed their second Hyundai A-League Premiers- Plate courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Wellington Phoenix at Westpac Stadium.
• Mathew Ryan, Josh Rose, Patrick Zwaanswijk and Graham Arnold recognised by Professional Footballers Australia-s (PFA) Hyundai A-League Team of the Season.
APRIL
Central Coast Mariners v Seongnam IIhwa Chunma – AFC Champions League Matchday 3
Tuesday 3 April at Central Coast Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Kwasnik 50-)
Seongnam IIhwa Chunma 1 (Everton 57-)
Central Coast Mariners v Brisbane Roar – Hyundai A-League Major Semi Final Leg 2
Sunday 8 April at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Zwaanswijk 29-, Kwasnik 32-)
Brisbane Roar 3 (Broich 2-, Nichols 25-, Henrique 67-)
Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory – Hyundai A-League Preliminary Final
Saturday 14 April at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Kwasnik 33-)
Perth Glory 1 (Smeltz 34-)
*Perth Glory won 5-3 on penalties after extra time
Seongnam IIhwa Chunma v Central Coast Mariners – AFC Champions League – Matchday 4
Wednesday 18 April at Tancheon Sports Complex
Seongnam IIhwa Chunma 5 (Changhoon 39-, Everton 43-, 73-, Sunghwan 69-, Jovancic 83-)
Central Coast Mariners 0
• Mat Ryan and Graham Arnold honoured at Hyundai A-League Awards Gala in Sydney, named Goalkeeper of the Year and Coach of the Year respectively.
• Marauding right-back Pedj Bojic reached the milestone of 100 competitive appearances for the yellow and navy.
• Daniel McBreen extended his contract with the Club for another year.
MAY
Central Coast Mariners v Tianjin Teda – AFC Champions League – Matchday 5
Tuesday 1 May at Central Coast Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 5 (McBreen 10-, 20-, Rose 48-, McGlinchey 71-, Amini 85-)
Tianjin Teda 1 (Bochao 73-)
Central Coast Mariners v Nagoya Grampus – AFC Champions League – Matchday 6
Tuesday 15 May at Mizuho Athletic Stadium
Nagoya Grampus 3 (Tamada 19-, Fujimoto 36-, Tulio Tanaka 87-)
Central Coast Mariners 0
• Mat Ryan named 2011/12 Mariners Medal winner at a gala dinner held at Kooindah Waters Golf Resort, Wyong.
• Graham Arnold agreed to extend his deal with the yellow and navy, which will see him remain at the Club until the end of the 2013/14 Hyundai A-League season.
• Fan favourite Mustafa Amini departed for German heavyweights Borussia Dortmund.
• Pedj Bojic re-signed for another two seasons, former Gold Coast United young gun Zac Anderson also joined Central Coast on a two-season deal.
• Tomas Rogic and Patrick Zwaanswijk both signed on for the 2012/13 season.
JUNE
• New Zealand international Michael McGlinchey was over in the Solomon Islands representing the All Whites at the OFC Nations Cup.
JULY
• The Mariners confirmed former Qantas Socceroo Mile Sterjovski had agreed to terms with the Club on an initial one-season contract.
• Long-serving Mariner Brad Porter confirmed his retirement from professional football due to injury.
• The Club announced Mat Ryan would spend a week training with Barclays Premier League giant Tottenham Hotspur in early August.
• Central Coast Mariners Development Trust announced the signing of a 25 year lease for the soon to be built Hotel at the Centre of Excellence, Tuggerah.
• Captain Alex Wilkinson joined K-League heavyweight Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC on a two-and-a-half year deal.
• Central Coast secured the services of Brent Griffiths, younger brother of former Mariner Rostyn on a one-season contract.
AUGUST
New Caledonia v Central Coast Mariners (Pre-season friendly match)
Friday 17 August at Stade Numa Daly, Noumea
New Caledonia 1
Central Coast Mariners 1
New Caledonia v Central Coast Mariners (Pre-season friendly match)
Saturday 18 August at Stade Numa Daly, Noumea
New Caledonia 2
Central Coast Mariners 4
Bankstown City Lions v Central Coast Mariners (Doug Turnbull Cup)
Wednesday 29 August at Jensen Park, Sefton
Bankstown City Lions 0
Central Coast Mariners 4 (McBreen (pen) 28-, Hearfield 29-, 72-, Rogic 85-)
• Central Coast announced Mathew Ryan would extend his stay over in the UK, also spending time training with West Bromwich Albion.
• The yellow and navy headed to New Caledonia for a two-match tour of the Pacific Island.
• National Youth League star Hayden Morton was added to the Qantas Young Socceroos squad to tour Hong Kong and Vietnam.
SEPTEMBER
Central Coast Mariners v Central Coast Football Select (Pre-season friendly match)
Thursday 6 September at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 7 (Duke 9-, 37-, Hutchinson 30-, Kwasnik 42-, Hearfield 45+1-, Sainsbury 48-, Gibbs 84-)
CCF Select 0
Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United (Pre-season friendly match)
Wednesday 12 September at Hindmarsh Stadium
Adelaide United 2
Central Coast Mariners 1
Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory (Pre-season friendly match)
Sunday 16 September at Knox Grammar School, Wahroonga
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Zwaanswijk 3-)
Melbourne Victory 1 (Thompson 61-)
Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners (Pre-season friendly match)
Sunday 23 September at Stockland Stadium, Sunshine Coast
Brisbane Roar 0
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Rogic 80-)
• Defensive midfielder Nick Montgomery joined the Mariners for the 2012/13 Hyundai A-League season from Sheffield United.
• The Mariners confirmed Kappa would be the club-s official apparel supplier for the next two seasons.
• Central Coast confirmed NYL Coach Tony Walmsley to leave the club in October, after being appointed as Head of Academy Recruitment at Sheffield United.
• John Hutchinson named as captain of the Mariners following the departure of Alex Wilkinson.
OCTOBER
Western Sydney Wanderers v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday 6 October at Parramatta Stadium
Western Sydney Wanderers 0
Central Coast Mariners 0
Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory
Sunday 14 October at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 1 (McBreen 70-)
Perth Glory 0
Newcastle Jets v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday 20 October at Hunter Stadium
Newcastle Jets 2 (Griffiths 5-, Heskey 61-)
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Ibini 71-)
Melbourne Heart v Central Coast Mariners
Sunday 28 October at AAMI Park
Melbourne Heart 0
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Bojic 51-)
• John Hutchinson became just the second player in Mariners history to reach the 150-game milestone against Perth Glory in the first home match of the campaign.
• Central Coast Mariners confirmed John McLafferty to be promoted to National Youth League Head Coach following the departure of Tony Walmsley.
• Hayden Morton was selected in the Qantas Young Socceroos squad for AFC U-19 Championship held in United Arab Emirates (UAE).
NOVEMBER
Central Coast Mariners v Sydney FC
Saturday 3 November at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 7 (Rogic 16-, 62-, McBreen (pen) 39-, 65-, 67-, Ryall (og) 30-, McGlinchey 56-)
Sydney FC 2 (Yau 8-, Abbas 55-)
Wellington Phoenix v Central Coast Mariners
Sunday 11 November at Westpac Stadium
Wellington Phoenix 0
Central Coast Mariners 1 (McBreen 68-)
Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday 17 November at Etihad Stadium
Melbourne Victory 2 (Nabbout 10-, Milligan 40-)
Central Coast Mariners 2 (McBreen 4-, 22-)
Central Coast Mariners v Brisbane Roar
Sunday 25 November at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Ibini 4-, Rogic 81-)
Brisbane Roar 1 (Murdocca 32-)
• Mariners duo Mat Ryan and Tomas Rogic were selected in Qantas Socceroos squad for international friendly against Korea Republic in Hwaseong.
• Graham Arnold was named as Coach of the Year at the 2012 Central Coast Sports Federation Awards.
• Mat Ryan claimed the U/20 Male Footballer of the Year Award for a second year in a row.
• Ryan and Rogic were included in Holger Osieck-s squad for 2013 East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) East Asia Cup qualifying tournament held in Hong Kong.
DECEMBER
Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United
Saturday 1 December at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Rose 45, Montgomery 76-)
Adelaide United 1 (Djite 17-)
Newcastle Jets v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday 8 December at Hunter Stadium
Newcastle Jets 0
Central Coast Mariners 2 (McBreen 49-, 67-)
Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Heart
Friday 14 December at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Bojic 49-, 69-)
Melbourne Heart 0
Wellington Phoenix v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday 22 December at Westpac Stadium
Wellington Phoenix 1 (Sanchez 84-)
Central Coast Mariners 1 (McBreen 45-)
Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners
Thursday 27 December at Allianz Stadium
Sydney FC 1 (Emerton 89-)
Central Coast Mariners 0
Central Coast Mariners vs. Perth Glory
Monday 31 December at Bluetongue Stadium
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Ibini 68′)
Perth Glory 0
• Central Coast Mariners drew Chinese Super League (CSL) side Guizhou Renhe, K-League outfit Suwon Bluewings and the yet to be determined Japanese Emperor-s Cup winner in the group stage of the 2013 AFC Champions League.
• Young midfielder Anthony Caceres signed a new deal with the club, which will keep him in yellow and navy until 2015.
• In cooperation with Central Coast Tourism, Destination NSW and Onion TV, the Club announced details of an exclusive six-part documentary series entitled ‘The Code: Life with the Mariners- to be launched on Fox Sports next year.
