Brand Mariner
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
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Fom foxsports today.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22947078-23215,00.html
Coast bid to be a powerhouse
December 19, 2007 FIRST they convinced a sceptical Central Coast population of 300,000 - now they want to convince a sceptical country to take them on board.
Central Coast Mariners, who built from the bottom up in a city where football was virtually unheard of three years ago, are kicking goals on and off the park and are now plotting to become Australia's powerhouse club.
In a region where other sports didn't deign to lay roots, the Mariners began a concerted effort to engage with their local community, coaching and forging alliances with thousands of local children and their associations.
Their stability allowed them to sign first Socceroo Tony Vidmar then, audaciously, striker John Aloisi.
Now Lawrie McKinna's team sits at the top of the table and three points at home to Sydney this Saturday would have them almost within touching distance of the minor premiership.
The club doesn't like to boast but executive chairman Lyall Gorman has just returned from a European reconnaissance mission and Australian domination, via Asia, is in their sights.
"We're at least 12 months ahead of our original business plan, which has been accelerated by our year one success, consolidation last year and now this season," Gorman said.
"We told our story to European clubs and there was an incredible affirmation with what we're doing in the A-League and the Mariners, they wanted to know about it.
"Aston Villa have invited us to go and present our grassroots and community program connections to them in the new year - it's something they believe they can do better."
And they tapped into some of the biggest and best-run clubs on the planet - Juventus, Rangers, Aston Villa, Southampton, Sheffield United and Fulham.
Gorman also met with player agents, including WMG's Simon Bayliff, and was pleasantly surprised by the A-League's reputation abroad.
"We've got to keep raising our own benchmarks. It's a global marketplace and we've got to know what's going on out there."
The Mariners' stability has allowed them to strategically stretch their brand beyond the Central Coast region but those tentacles are now reaching towards and beyond the border.
Within a few weeks they could be spreading into Asia - the minor premiership would confirm Central Coast's first foray into the evolving Asian Champions League, with massive tourism and commerce spin-offs.
Business Central Coast, an economic development board, is the Mariners' major sponsor.
"Champions League qualification would have an enormous impact on and off the field," Gorman said.
"As a professional football club we would be playing in one of the biggest markets in the world, which would be a tremendous opportunity for the players and attract new sponsors."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22947078-23215,00.html
Coast bid to be a powerhouse
December 19, 2007 FIRST they convinced a sceptical Central Coast population of 300,000 - now they want to convince a sceptical country to take them on board.
Central Coast Mariners, who built from the bottom up in a city where football was virtually unheard of three years ago, are kicking goals on and off the park and are now plotting to become Australia's powerhouse club.
In a region where other sports didn't deign to lay roots, the Mariners began a concerted effort to engage with their local community, coaching and forging alliances with thousands of local children and their associations.
Their stability allowed them to sign first Socceroo Tony Vidmar then, audaciously, striker John Aloisi.
Now Lawrie McKinna's team sits at the top of the table and three points at home to Sydney this Saturday would have them almost within touching distance of the minor premiership.
The club doesn't like to boast but executive chairman Lyall Gorman has just returned from a European reconnaissance mission and Australian domination, via Asia, is in their sights.
"We're at least 12 months ahead of our original business plan, which has been accelerated by our year one success, consolidation last year and now this season," Gorman said.
"We told our story to European clubs and there was an incredible affirmation with what we're doing in the A-League and the Mariners, they wanted to know about it.
"Aston Villa have invited us to go and present our grassroots and community program connections to them in the new year - it's something they believe they can do better."
And they tapped into some of the biggest and best-run clubs on the planet - Juventus, Rangers, Aston Villa, Southampton, Sheffield United and Fulham.
Gorman also met with player agents, including WMG's Simon Bayliff, and was pleasantly surprised by the A-League's reputation abroad.
"We've got to keep raising our own benchmarks. It's a global marketplace and we've got to know what's going on out there."
The Mariners' stability has allowed them to strategically stretch their brand beyond the Central Coast region but those tentacles are now reaching towards and beyond the border.
Within a few weeks they could be spreading into Asia - the minor premiership would confirm Central Coast's first foray into the evolving Asian Champions League, with massive tourism and commerce spin-offs.
Business Central Coast, an economic development board, is the Mariners' major sponsor.
"Champions League qualification would have an enormous impact on and off the field," Gorman said.
"As a professional football club we would be playing in one of the biggest markets in the world, which would be a tremendous opportunity for the players and attract new sponsors."
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
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