Tauranga Pre Season

Sunday
 25 Sep

Max 16�C
MIN 7�C

A period or rain then showers. Southwest change.

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Alex Wilkinson models the Mariners' new home kit

� John Dewberry / Central Coast Mariners

Central Coast Mariners today officially launched the club�s playing kit for the 2011/12 Hyundai A-League season.

Designed and produced by hummel Australia, the unveiling included a number of star players modelling the new merchandise for media prior to the teams� final training session before their one-week tour of New Zealand.

The much anticipated release caps another milestone for the club in their preparation for the forthcoming Hyundai A-League season, kicking-off in just over a fortnight.

Modelling the Mariners' fresh home kit emblazoned with hummel�s unique chevrons down either sleeve and distinctive yellow stitching was inspirational captain Alex Wilkinson.

�I think the fans liked the stripes from last season so I am glad that we stuck with that,� Wilkinson said. �I think these kits will prove to be pretty successful with supporters, and to be fair, hummel have got some decent strips and gear.�

Rostyn Griffiths dons the away kit

� John Dewberry / Central Coast Mariners

Strapping defensive midfielder Rostyn Griffiths donned the Mariners new away kit, which first featured when the Yellow and Navy defeated Glasgow Celtic 1-nil at ANZ Stadium in early July.

�The material of the kits feels better than in previous years,� Griffiths said. �As a player, it is important to feel comfortable on the pitch in order to play to your full capacity.�

NAB Young Player of the Year Mathew Ryan and new Mariners shot-stopper Justin Pasfield wore the club�s contemporary pink and green goalkeeping attire, while young-guns Mustafa Amini (home) and Bernie Ibini-Isei (away) added their youthful exuberance to the launch.

hummel Australia National Brand Manager, Nathan Russell, was on hand at the unveiling and said the company is ecstatic to have formed a solid partnership with the Central Coast Mariners.

�We�re proud to be involved with the Mariners,� Russell said. �Obviously my opinion is a little biased but in my reckoning we have the best kits in the Hyundai A-League.�

With supporters undoubtedly eager to snap up some new Mariners merchandise, the Club can confirm that the release of a new online supporter store will be live before kick-off of Hyundai A-League season seven.

Mat Ryan sports his new goalkeeping attire

� John Dewberry / Central Coast Mariners

Addtionally, the Club is hopeful of concluding a deal with a new major partner to adorn the front of the new hummel kit.

Meanwhile, Mariners Head Coach Graham Arnold said his teams two-match tour of New Zealand will provide a fantastic opportunity for his side to gel in the lead up to their Hyundai A-League opener against Brisbane Roar on Saturday 8 October.

�Tours are always good because it gives everyone the opportunity to bond as a group. As coaches, we�ll have the opportunity to sit down with the players and work on things we perhaps wouldn�t have time to when we are at home.�

The first stop on the Mariners tour of New Zealand�s North Island will be Tauranga � the biggest city in the Bay of Plenty region. There, Central Coast will face their second Hyundai A-League rivals within a week, this time in the form of Wellington Phoenix.

A match-up against 2011 O-League Champions, Auckland City, will round out the Mariners pre-season match preparations.

About hummel:
hummel has its roots firmly planted in rich football culture, having previously supplied apparel for European heavyweights such as Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur as well as the Danish national team.

The company was established in Germany in 1923 and currently kits out over 60 professional football clubs across Europe, Asia and Africa including ADO Den Haag, RC Strasbourg, AFC Champions League 2006 winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC and Scottish Premier League side St. Mirren. Domestically, the manufacturer has a long lasting affiliation with Football NSW as well as all of the Westfield W-League sides.

The concept of �character� has been instrumental in defining the direction for hummel. The importance of having character saturates the way in which all of their products are made. Each product is meant to express its own story and unique character and the same goes for every team and individual wearing hummel in Australia and across the world.