The Central Coast Mariners are pleased to name its Foxtel National Youth League 2015/16 squad as well as the instalment of new Head Coach Joe Haywood for the upcoming season that kicks off at the Central Coast Mariners Centre of Excellence, Tuggerah this Saturday against Sydney F.C.
Haywood joins the Central Coast Mariners after taking Northbridge FC from the local competition (Kuringai & District Football Association) to the National Premier League 2 level in just five seasons where his team has competed in three of the past five Grand Finals.
The 35-year-old Englishman arrived in Australia after a host of coaching and youth development roles across the U.K. & U.S.A. including time with Manchester City F.C.’s youth department.
Amongst his squad of Mini Mariners is former Everton F.C. Academy player Jake Adelson, and former Leeds F.C. Development Squad member/current Young Socceroo Adam Berry who both featured in first team action through out the Hyundai A-League pre-season.
As a sign of confidence for local talent – no less than five Coasties have been selected in Haywood’s squad that is set compete in the new Foxtel National Youth League format of four home and four away matches.
The 10 clubs have been divided into two conferences; Conference A (Adelaide United, Brisbane Roar FC, Melbourne City FC, Melbourne Victory and Perth Glory) and Conference B (Central Coast Mariners, FFA Centre of Excellence, Newcastle Jets, Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers FC). Within each conference, the teams will play each other twice over 10 rounds (4 home / 4 away – 8 matches and 2 byes per team).
The Mini Mariners’ season kicks off this Saturday at home and Haywood is committed to aligning his squad with the club’s mantra to entertain.
“Entertainment is a club culture, it’s a brand of football that we want to instil within the youth team but we also want that to come right up through the Central Coast Mariners Academy from the under 8s right through to the first team which is fantastic for the club,” Haywood said.
“We’re really happy with the squad that we’ve got, there’s a mix of youth and a couple of the older boys within the system as well as a credit to the Central Coast with a lot more local boys in this year than there has been in previous years.
“First and foremost we need to be playing a good brand of football just like the first team and we will also be judged on the amount of boys who eventually go on to play for the first team but it’s a mixture of both without putting the emphasis on one or the other.
“It’s an exciting youthful team, but if you look at the squad you’ve got Jake Adelson, Adam Berry, Adam Pearce, Tom Bell, Brian Jamba and Ryan Peterson who have been training with the first team on a regular basis so it’s exciting to have them coming back for the season.
“Through out the Hyundai A-League pre-season Tony Walmsley and John Hutchinson have shown that they’re more than willing to give the youth team boys a chance which is a great asset to the Central Coast Mariners brand.
The Central Coast Mariners Foxtel National Youth League team kick-off round one with a home fixture at the Central Coast Mariners Centre of Excellence this Saturday, kick-off is scheduled for 4:00pm and attendance is FREE OF CHARGE!
Central Coast Mariners Foxtel National Youth League: Jake ADELSON, Adam BERRY, Trent BUHAGIAR, Marcus DUNCAN, Josh FORBES, Tom HEWARD-BELLE, (GK) Brian JAMBA, Daniel McFARLANE, Reece PAPADIMITRIOS, Adam PEARCE (GK), Marley PETERSON, Ryan PETERSON, Lachlan WALES, Steve WHYTE
