CENTRAL Coast Mariners players, officials, staff and supporters gathered as one on Friday to celebrate the Club’s success over the past 12 months at a gala dinner held at Kooindah Waters, Wyong.
CENTRAL Coast Mariners players, officials, staff and supporters gathered as one on Friday to celebrate the Club-s success over the past 12 months at a gala dinner held at Kooindah Waters, Wyong.
Youngster Trent Sainsbury took home the most prestigious award of the evening, the 2013 Mariners Medal, joining Michael Beauchamp, Danny Vukovic, Mile Jedinak, Matt Simon, Joshua Rose and Mathew Ryan as recipients of the honour.
The Mariners Medal is voted for by the players of the Central Coast Mariners on a 3-2-1 basis, and is a reflection of an individual-s consistency and contribution to the team throughout the entire campaign.
Sainsbury enjoyed a breakout year for the Club this season, earning admiration from media, fans and his peers for his sterling efforts in the heart of the Mariners backline.
Indeed, Friday 3 May will be a day Sainsbury recalls with fondness in the future, with the 21-year-old also selected for Holger Osieck-s latest Qantas Socceroos training squad for a camp on the Central Coast next week.
After being presented the 2013 Mariners Medal by the Club-s new majority owner, Michael Charlesworth, Sainsbury said he was humbled to have received the award.
“I am lucky to play in a team with a number of good players, and any one of my team mates could have won the award tonight,” he said.
“We’ve achieved a lot this season and to be voted by my team mates to receive this honour makes me immensely proud.”
The evening kicked off with Central Coast Mariners Chairman, Mr Peter Turnbull, presenting the Club-s Football Operations Manager, Sharon Pearce, with the 2013 Chairman-s Award.
The Chairman-s Award is presented to an individual involved with the Club who exemplifies the spirit and character of the organisation.
Pearce has gone above and beyond her call of duty for the Club over the past 12 months, coupling Hyundai A-League and National Youth League commitments with 2013 AFC Champions League responsibilities.
Pearce is also active at the grassroots level, volunteering her time as the President of Terrigal United Football Club.
Nimble New Zealand international Michael McGlinchey picked up the next award of the evening, the 2012/13 Fans- Player of the Year. The crafty Kiwi received 26 per cent of the vote in a poll on the Club-s website, CCMariners.com.au to ensure he won the supporters- selection for a second consecutive campaign.
Daniel McBreen-s epic goalscoring run this term was also recognised with the evergreen marksman receiving the Central Coast Mariners Golden Boot prize. McBreen netted an A-League leading 19 times in Australia-s top flight this season.
Meanwhile, McBreen and McGlinchey were both recognised for their hat tricks in the Hyundai A-League this term. Up until season eight of Australia-s top flight no Mariners player had ever managed to bulge the back of the neat three times in a single match.
In round 5, McBreen helped the Mariners put Sydney FC to the sword with a trio of strikes in the team-s 7-2 triumph at Gosford-s Bluetongue Stadium.
Meanwhile in round 22, the Mariners thumped Melbourne Victory 6-2 with McGlinchey scoring half the team-s goals.
Each member of the Club-s football squad and staff was presented with a framed memento recognising the Club-s achievements in winning the 2013 Hyundai A-League Championship.
2013 Central Coast Mariners Medal Dinner – Award Winners
• Mariners Medal Winner – Trent Sainsbury
• Fans- Player of the Year – Michael McGlinchey
• Central Coast Mariners Golden Boot – Daniel McBreen
• Chairman-s Award – Sharon Pearce
