ZAC Anderson had a taste of playing in front of more than 15,000 people when the Mariners crushed Sydney FC 7-2 at Bluetongue Stadium. Now he can’t wait to feel that rush again.
ZAC Anderson had a taste of playing in front of more than 15,000 people when the Mariners crushed Sydney FC 7-2 at Bluetongue Stadium. Now he can-t wait to feel that rush again.
Anderson previously played with Gold Coast United, a club scrutinised for poor crowds. But since arriving at the Mariners he has experienced some impressive home attendances combined with the community feel of a club committed to their local market.
Anderson has featured as a substitute in several games but he wants a full bite of the 90 minutes this weekend as a replacement for the suspended Patrick Zwaanswijk. He also wants to shake off his nickname of ‘The Warm Up King- that has resulted from teammate banter.
When questioned on Central Coast Mariners radio partner Sea FM about the time he has spent warming up while his teammates have been on the field, Anderson joked but also spoke of how excited and serious he is about the opportunity to feature in the starting 11.
“The boys do give me a little bit of stick and call me The Warm Up King,” he said. “But as a centre back I-m not really used to sitting on the bench … this season has been a good experience for me and a real eye opener.”
Anderson understands the importance of big crowds and knows how crucial it will be in assisting the Mariners in claiming a win over Brisbane Roar at Bluetongue Stadium.
“In our last home game against Sydney we had a fantastic crowd and you saw the result of it, the boys did really well and it really does inspire the players and does give you that 12th man,” he said.
This weekend is a crucial clash for the Mariners who currently sit in second place on the Hyundai A-League ladder. But, the Mariners have found the going tough against the Roar over the past few seasons – something they will be looking to put right this weekend.
“I urge the Central Coast to get down on Sunday to watch the boys play against Brisbane,” he said. “It will be a massive game because we-ve got a little bit of history with Brisbane so I-m really looking forward to this one and we love playing at Bluetongue.”
On top of Anderson-s belief that the crowd will have a massive impact on this weekend-s match, he also wants to play a major role and if given the nod he is confident that he is ready to go.
“It is one of those games that you put in your calendar,” he said. “I have spent a few weeks on the bench and been itching to play.”
In the historic 7-2 win over Sydney there were 15,686 fans in attendance and the players could not have responded in a more spectacular manner than by slamming seven past Sydney. The game also saw the first ever hat-trick scored by a Mariner in the Hyundai A-League – Daniel McBreen netting three as the yellow and navy crushed their southern foes.
This weekend is shaping up to be just as exciting and deserves a similar crowd. Kick-off is scheduled for 5pm and the boys have the chance to consolidate their place in the upper echelons of the Hyundai A-League ladder.
Be there!
Central Coast Mariners vs. Brisbane Roar – 2012/13 Hyundai A-League Round 8
Sunday 25 November, 2012
Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
Kick-off: 5:00pm (local)
Tickets: Please CLICK HERE to purchase tickets to the match
Twitter: Join the match conversation on Twitter! The official match hash-tag for Sunday-s game is #CCMvROAR
