CENTRAL Coast Mariners will look to stretch their unbeaten start at Bluetongue Stadium this season to four matches against an improving Melbourne Heart outfit on Saturday.
CENTRAL Coast Mariners will look to stretch their unbeaten start at Bluetongue Stadium this season to four matches against an improving Melbourne Heart outfit on Saturday.
The round 8 Hyundai A-League encounter pits Graham Arnold-s yellow and navy chargers against John van-t Schip-s red and white brigade, with the winner consolidating their place among the competition-s top six.
On and off the field there will be action aplenty as the second place Mariners take on Heart, who currently occupy fifth spot in a largely congested league.
Mariners’ skipper Alex Wilkinson is set to feature in his 150th Hyundai A-League match, with the Yellow Army planning a special pre-match tribute to the player who has already well and truly written himself into Mariners folklore.
In making his 150th Hyundai A-League appearance for the club, Wilkinson becomes only the second player in the league-s history – behind Melbourne Heart-s Matt Thompson – to notch up the milestone figure.
Crucially, Wilkinson becomes the first player ever to achieve the feat having stayed loyal to just one Hyundai A-League team.
Aiding the 90 minutes of first-class football are a number of off-field activities designed to enhance the matchday experience of Mariners supporters.
Especially, Central Coast will continue their support of the White Ribbon initiative.
White Ribbon is Australia-s campaign to stop violence against women, and in and around the Bluetongue Stadium precinct White Ribbon-s will be for sale by local police officers. Additionally, on Friday, Mariners players John Hutchinson, Mustafa Amini and Adam Kwasnik will attend the Mayor-s Breakfast in Gosford in support of the cause.
Also on match day, the popular Pelé-Sports Panna Cage will be available for footballers young and old eager to test their skills in a one-on-one battle.
Mariners’ Major Partner Soccer5s will continue their presence, with the ‘Soccer5s Soccerettes- liaising with fans pre-match, while the increasingly popular skills challenge will take place before kick-off.
At half-time, Mitchell Fish from Woy Woy will take aim as he attempts to pass a ball cleanly through a target in order to win himself – and the Mariners – $50,000.
And finally, after the overwhelming success of the Mariners pre-match Members function last game, the exclusive Mariners Members Marquee returns this match. Please note, the Members function for the game against Melbourne Heart will commence after the full-time whistle on the warm-up field behind the Western Stand.
Match Facts
• In three games against Melbourne Heart, the Mariners are yet to lose.
• The Heart will be looking to tie the club record six matches unbeaten this weekend.
• The goalscorer in head-to-head matches against Melbourne Heart is Mariners number 2, Daniel McBreen. He has scored twice against the men from the Victorian capital.
Match Details
Central Coast Mariners vs. Melbourne Heart
Saturday 26 November, 2011
Kick-off: 5:30pm
Tickets: Please CLICK HERE to purchase tickets to the match.
