Hyundai A-League Club, the Central Coast Mariners are coming to Hobart as part of their pre-season preparation.
The Mariners will be in the State for four days as guests of South Hobart FC, and will play two pre-season trial matches in preparation for the Hyundai A-League 2019/20 season.
The first match will be on Sunday, 8 September 2019 and see the Mariners take on a Tasmanian State Team at Darcy Street. NPL coaches Ken Morton, David Smith and Rick Coghlan will be joined by Football Tasmania Technical Director Michael Edwards, in selecting and coaching the Tasmanian State team.
The second match will be between the Mariners and South Hobart, two days later on Tuesday, 10 September 2019 at Lightwood Park, Kingston.
The Mariners players and coaching staff will also be promoting football in the local community with two Central Region Junior Football Association events.
South Hobart coach Ken Morton said that opportunity had come about via club President, Victoria Morton's involvement with the Women in Football Board, where she had discussions with current Mariners coach, Alen Stajic.
"There were plenty of discussions around it being a possibility and they were certainly eager to come down here. So with the help of Women in Football, Central Region,Football Tasmania, and ourselves it's now become possible and so they will be arriving here for these two matches."
He said the games would provide local youngsters with a great chance to test themselves.
"This is a wonderful opportunity and gives us the ability to showcase our young players up against A-League quality opposition.
Football Tasmania CEO Matt Bulkeley said whilst it didn't make up for missing out on an A-League fixture, it was a positive for the game in the State.
"Whilst we are obviously disappointed to not have received the funding for an A-League game for points to be played, and this doesn't make up for it, we are glad to see an A-League presence in the state. We encourage any initiative that helps brings more top level football to the state and South have done that by getting the Mariners down here for their pre-season. The two games should be good spectacles for supporters and provide great opportunities for local youngsters."
Football Tasmania Technical Director, Michael Edwards said whilst the ideal situation was a Tasmanian side in the A-League, this was a step towards achieving that.
It helps grow and develop the game, optimally we would have our own A-League team and we are continually working towards that. But we need to take steps along the way to getting that, and having CCM down here in September is going to be brilliant for the game. It gives some of the talented young players in the NPL Tasmania the chance to play at a higher level and get that experience of what A-League quality opposition can provide."
Central Coast Mariners CEO, Shaun Mielekamp thanked South Hobart FC for inviting the club to Tasmania for pre-season.
“On behalf of everyone at the Mariners I would like to thank South Hobart FC for organising two high quality pre-season matches and hosting us in Tasmania,” Mielekamp said. “Having the opportunity to go into camp and come up against the best players in the state is a fantastic addition to our pre-season.“Whilst the team is in Tasmania we have committed to a range of community activities in Hobart to help promote football, and we can’t wait to get down there,” Mielekamp said.