CENTRAL Coast Mariners will commence their Hyundai A-League Championship defence with a blockbuster match at Gosford’s Bluetongue Stadium against Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday 12 October, 2013.
CENTRAL Coast Mariners will commence their Hyundai A-League Championship defence with a blockbuster match at Gosford-s Bluetongue Stadium against Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday 12 October, 2013.
The Mariners and Wanderers developed a fierce rivalry throughout the latter-s inaugural campaign in Australia-s top flight last season.
The competition between the two Clubs culminated and climaxed in April this year when Graham Arnold-s men defeated Tony Popovic-s team 2-0 in the Hyundai A-League Grand Final played at Sydney-s Allianz Stadium.
Now, Bluetongue Stadium is expected to bulge in the opening round of season nine of the Hyundai A-League with the two teams going head-to-head once again.
The Round 1 fixture against the Wanderers is one of six matches the Mariners will host against New South Wales based opponents next term.
Indeed, Shinji Ono-s Western Sydney Wanderers, Alessandro Del Piero-s Sydney FC, and Emile Heskey-s Newcastle Jets will all visit the reigning Hyundai A-League winners at their idyllic home base twice next season.
In fact, Bluetongue Stadium is set to be the top entertainment destination on the Coast next term, with the Mariners having a good spread of high profile fixtures at the 20,059-capacity complex.
Like last season the Club will play Perth Glory for its annual New Year-s Eve event. The corresponding fixture last year drew an impressive crowd of 14,591 people.
The Mariners will also welcome Ange Postecoglou-s Melbourne Victory to Gosford in both November and February.
Central Coast Mariners Group General Manager, Mr Peter Turnbull, said the Club is expecting a rise in attendances, membership numbers and general interest in the Club next season, with fans able to see the Champions hosting a number of important A-League games.
“As a Club we are delighted that we will be hosting Western Sydney Wanderers, Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets on two occasions next season,” Turnbull said. “These are big games that our fans love to watch in Gosford.”
“Like previous seasons we have a range of Membership option for fans to choose from including full season, as well as three and six game Memberships.”
“There has never been a better time to take up Membership in the Club as with the enormity of some matches in Gosford next season, it is the only way supporters can guarantee their seat at the Stadium.”
Central Coast Mariners will play 13 games at Gosford-s Bluetongue Stadium next season.
