Socceroos at CC Stadium

[CCMariners]

Hello everyone!

Below is a release from the Mariners encouraging Central Coast fans to petition for the Socceroos March 1 Asian Cup qualifier to be held at Central Coast Stadium.

We'll be collating all the emails we recieve (the link is on http://www.ccmariners.com.au) into one document and present it to the FFA in the coming weeks.

Any support you're able to give us would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for all of your help this season already, have a fantastic Christmas and I look forward to seeing you all on NYE!

Cheers,

BJC


The Central Coast Mariners have called upon the Central Coast public to push for the Qantas Socceroos’ Asian Cup qualifier, scheduled for March 2006, to be held at Central Coast Stadium.

The Qantas Socceroos are due to play a yet to be named Asian opponent for a spot at the 2007 Asian Cup in South East Asia on March 1, their first match in Australia since achieving World Cup qualification at Telstra Stadium in November.

The match will also be Australia’s first on home soil since being accepted into the Asian Football Confederation on January 1, 2006.

Qantas Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink is expected to name a near full strength lineup for the clash, including many of November’s World Cup heroes.

Mariners Executive Chairman Lyall Gorman believes the Central Coast Stadium is an appropriate venue to host Hiddink’s charges, pointing to the success of the Hyundai A-League and the Mariners as a key factor.

"We’ve got a fantastic stadium here on the Central Coast, arguably the best suited to football in the Hyundai A-League and stadium management are also working hard to secure the match," said Gorman.

"Since the introduction of the Mariners, football has established a strong presence in this area and I can think of nothing more fitting than to see our national team kick off their new era in Asia at one of Australia’s emerging football regions."

The last Asian Cup, for which Australia will be attempting to qualify for in March, attracted unprecedented television viewing audiences, with 300 million watching the final match in the host country, China, alone.

The Qantas Socceroos will begin their inaugural quest for an Asian Cup berth with an away fixture on February 22, before returning home, hopefully to Central Coast Stadium, on March 1.

"We’re encouraging all sports lovers on the Central Coast to make their voices heard in getting our national team to Central Coast Stadium," said Gorman.

"Get on our website, call up the local radio and write to the local paper!

"We have a genuine opportunity to see a sporting event of the highest quality in March and further entrench the Central Coast as one of Australia’s sporting and tourism hotspots."

The Central Coast is competing with Adelaide, Perth and Sydney for the right to host the fixture, so local fans hoping to see the Qantas Socceroos at Central Coast Stadium should voice their opinion on www.ccmariners.com.au or write to the Central Coast Express Advocate at The Editor, Locked Bag 13, Gosford 2250.

To join the Mariners online petition, click here and tell us just how much you want to see the Qantas Socceroos at Central Coast Stadium on March 1.

All emails will be presented as one document to Football Federation Australia in the coming weeks and featured on the Mariners website.

[DJ]

Done mine - people should take 10 minutes of their time to support this

Think what wonders it would do for football on the coast! and more importantly the Mariners!

[brett]

Tell everyone...this would be the greatest thing ever! Football would be guaranteed success here surely!

[DJ]

wyomingtiger said:

Tell everyone...this would be the greatest thing ever! Football would be guaranteed success here surely!

Providing Central Coast Residents go to the game, I'm sure plenty from Sydney would travel up!

But it would certainly raise the games profile!

[Farthing]

This will be unbelieveable if we get the match down here, i can see it selling out the stadium. I know i will be trying to get a ticket if they do get the match down here, It is going to be just awesome.

[offtheball]

I agree it would be wonderful.

Can't see it happening though. 20 000 at Central Coast Stadium opposed 40 000 at SFS.
$400 000 shortfall if tickets are $20 each. Depends how much clout Singo has, the good thing is he has plenty.

[roarmeat]

Reading this article kinda annoyed the shite out of me.

Firstly, Gorman appears to be more interested in raising the profile of Central Coast Mariners than the match itself.

Also, I think that in saying Central Coast Stadium is arguably the best stadium to host this fixture is a load of bollocks. The fixture is an international for god sake!

Central Coast Stadium can not hold half of what Suncorp can, or provide services like Suncorp can.

Furthermore, Gorman is speaking complete nonsense when he tries to glorify the Central Coast fans. They average something along the lines of 10,000 - which is 6000 or so short of QLD Roar's average attendance.

And regards to this comment by Gorman:

"We've got a fantastic stadium here on the Central Coast, arguably the best suited to football in the Hyundai A-League".

Your kidding right? Palm trees behind one goal, and 13 yr olds behind the other???

[Farthing]

Your just dissapointed Suncorp hasnt put in a bid for the game yet and one of the main reasons that Queensland have a higher average crowd than the Mariners do is because there is more people in Queensland than there is down here

[omni]

Roarmeat - If I was going to schedule an International I certainly wouldn't put it at Suncorp - clubs would murder you for playing a game on such a patchy surface. The Central Coast deserves this game as much as any of the other 6 Australian A-League clubs, don't get angry at CCMFC for wanting a match played here especially if Queensland haven't asked for it. (and OF COURSE it'll raise the Mariners profile, as it would for the Roar if it was played at the sand trap you call a stadium)!

I certainly think everyone with an interest in Central Coast Football, and the Mariners should definatley give up the tiny ammount of time it takes to write this email. Who knows it may be Beauchamp's debut in Australia.

[kevrenor]

roarmeat said:

Reading this article kinda annoyed the shite out of me.

Firstly, Gorman appears to be more interested in raising the profile of Central Coast Mariners than the match itself.

He is our CEO so that is not surprising!

roarmeat said:

Also, I think that in saying Central Coast Stadium is arguably the best stadium to host this fixture is a load of bollocks. The fixture is an international for god sake!

It depends on:
1. Who we are playing - someone like Laos may not be the biggest draw card - 20K may be just the right size.
2. Who is coming back from overseas to play
3. Whether the surface at CCS is kept in good condition

roarmeat said:

Central Coast Stadium can not hold half of what Suncorp can, or provide services like Suncorp can.

If it is Korea or Japan or Iran etc. and we had our best players back, I'd have to agree that Suncorp would be good. After Feb 4 we will know the way there! lol It needs to not have been chopped up by Thugby at that stage though.

I'd certainly think that another international at Gosford wouldn't go astray! It will be good practice for when we are in the Asian Champions League!