The club will conduct expert training sessions, along with community visits, in Orange and Bathurst as the Mariners’ brand continues to grow.
In a move to expand the club-s already extensive community reach, the Central Coast Mariners have today taken to the road, bound for Orange and Bathurst.
Far from being content on the back of an excellent season, the club is actively engaging with the football community during the long Hyundai A-League off-season as part of its commitment to the growth and promotion of the game.
Whilst in the Central Tablelands, the club will conduct expert coaching sessions, guided by National Youth League coach and Development Manager Tony Walmsley and Youth Development Co-ordinator Damien Brown.
The sessions will include youth players between 15 and 18 years of age, and will incorporate one session in Orange, one in Bathurst and a further representative session on Saturday.
“Under the previous structure, we-ve had players visiting some of our Sydney sessions from these western areas, so as part of our new youth development process we-ve made a proactive move to recognise that,” said Walmsley before leaving the club-s Tuggerah base.
“We have a fantastic relationship with the Western NSW Football, so this trip is a part of us refining that link as we move forward.”
“It-s the first time we-ve ventured out that way on this basis and we-re very much looking forward to it,” he explained.
The club has previously visited western NSW to play in a 2009 Pre-Season match against Wellington Phoenix in Dubbo.
This particular journey will see the club working with schools in the region as part of the dynamic community programs which have seen the Mariners visit 21 local schools already in 2011.
“We-ll promote our MarinersACTIVE program while we-re there, so Damien Brown will be running two sessions at West Bathurst Primary School as a continuation of the very successful work already done on the Central Coast this year.”
“We always have an eye out for upcoming talent, so it-s also a positive to broaden that reach and extend the Mariners- network as we implement our youth development processes throughout the wider community,” Walmsley said.
