No such thing as too much football

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As millions around Australia and the world are currently captivated by the Women’s World Cup being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, two local events coming up on the Central Coast will also contribute to the current wave of roundball fever.

By Jacquelene Pearson

The Central Coast’s only professional sporting club, A-League Champions, the Central Coast Mariners FC, will finally be given a civic reception in Gosford this Saturday, August 5.

Central Coast Council is hosting a civic reception for the Mariners at their season kickoff event. This free public event will be open to the whole community and will enable everyone to relive the Mariners’ A-League Men’s Grand Final win, says Council Administrator, Mr Rik Hart.

“Our civic reception will be an opportunity for Council and Mariners fans to properly acknowledge the outstanding success of the mariners and for the Coast to get behind the Mariners as they kick off their next season – I am sure they’ll be aiming for back-to-back wins,” Mr Hart said.

“The Mariners’ Championship win sparked enormous joy and pride across the Coast and I am pleased that Council is supporting the Mariners with an appropriate acknowledgement for their achievement that the whole community can get behind.”

The Civic Reception will be held at Leagues Club Field, Dane Drive from 3pm to 6pm on Saturday, August 5.

In his latest interview with The Point, Mr Hart said the civic reception would be a “Feel good” event.

“It clearly couldn’t be done earlier because players were leaving within 24 hours of the grand final but it will be a great opportunity to launch the new season.

“I want to give them the keys to the city because I believe their achievement is meritorious. It was totally unbelievable.

“It is a feel good thing, the keys to the city and we’ve produced some very nice framed keys to the city so we will make it a public event to coincide with the launch of the Mariners’ A-league women’s team.”

Mr Hart said the event would include food trucks.

The 2023-24 season will be the first for the Mariners to have an A-League Women’s side and if the current Women’s World Cup isn’t enough football for you, the Mariners Women are making a World Record attempt on Wednesday, 9 August.

“We are trying to beat the current record of 634 for most penalty kicks taken in one hour by females! In celebration of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, let’s break the World Record!