How the Central Coast Mariners are busting Australian football's biggest myths, one trophy at a time

In 2019, when the Central Coast Mariners were handed their third consecutive wooden spoon for finishing last in the A-League Men, it felt like the death-knell of one of Australia 's most important and successful professional football clubs.

The Central Coast Mariners are one of the only regional teams in the A-Leagues, which has been both a blessing and a curse.Led by inaugural head coach Lawrie McKinna, engaging with their regional base was at the heart of everything the Mariners did. Their first ever signing was a local boy, Damien Brown, who helped steer the club towards a core of young Australian talent, while a cash injection from local businessman John Singleton eased some of the club's financial anxieties.

But the 10 years that followed were not much better.

Born in Leeds, and on the books with both Huddersfield and Luton Town in his early 20s, Peil's playing career ended early through injury, so he moved back to Australia and immediately bought a gym, which has now turned into the multi-million-dollar franchise, Anytime Fitness. "Then there's securing the coaches that are there for the long-term. I'm not a fan of this year-by-year situation.

Instead of big-name, sugar-hit marquee players , Peil has instead poured more resources into the club's youth academy, producing players that can then help the senior side win titles and, ideally, be sold to overseas clubs. The only player he said he'd ever make an exception for, apparently, is Leeds legend James Milner.

The Central Coast Mariners are the first Australian club to win the AFC Cup, for which they received over $2 million in prize money.And their coaches, from Nick Montgomery to Mark Jackson, have got them playing a brand of exciting, creative, attacking football that not only brings out the best in their players, but also connects with and excites their fans.

Soccer Central Coast Mariners Australia A-League AFC Cup Gosford Mark Jackson Youth Development Premiership Championship

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