IT WAS a great week for Central Coast football, I nearly feel sorry for Sydney...nearly.

Let's start with the establishment of the Mariners Trust, involving businessmen Kevin McCabe, Peter Turnbull and existing Executive Chairman Lyall Gorman. In effect this Trust now becomes the controlling stakeholder in the Mariners operation.

Kevin McCabe, as owner of a growing network of football clubs around the world, most notably Sheffield United, in the English Championship, is apparently committed to the expansion and development of the game in Australia, and more particularly on the Central Coast of NSW.

As has been reported in the media last week, this Trust has recapitalised Central Coast Mariners to the tune of some $1M, and really now provides the basis for a major development of the club, with the most remarkable aspect of this being the construction of a world class headquarters at Tuggerah.

Those who watched Fox FC on Tuesday night could not fail to be impressed by the graphic presentation of these facilities, that include 6 international class football playing fields (including a main field with grandstand), several futsal playing fields, 120 accomodation units, training facilities (indoor heated swimming pool, gym) sports science centre, and administration offices.

According to the Marinators' forum, the existing site includes licensed Club Tuggerah operations, and as part of a joint venture arrangement it appears that the this club premises will be doubled in size, and also provide another important alternate revenue stream for the football club.

Given the initial investment made by McCabe in this new Trust, it will be interesting to see how the affiliation in the McCabe ‘stable’ of clubs actually works over the medium term.

Loaning of players is the obvious example (again Keith Gillespie has been mentioned), however I noticed one Mariner supporter speculate in the Marinators Forums that we could see some pressure to align the team name under the “Blades” banner. Currently three of McCabe’s teams carry this moniker of course.

Personally, I don’t mind it. It actually sounds better than Mariners in my view, however it creates problems for the ‘Marinators’. I guess they could call themselves ‘Cutlery’ or just simply the ‘Forkers’.

The other sensational part of the week was of course the great victory over Smurfs FC (again credit to the Marinators here). Good crowd at Bluetongue, although a bomb scare on Cityrail stranded many Sydney travellers, which would have affected the final attendance numbers.

The Mariners at last played for the whole 90 minutes, whilst Sydney again looked lacklustre and somewhat impotent offensively.

Caceres was always looking to run at defenders, D-Mac was very strong, and his touch was excellent, Bojic (apart from his penalty eagerness) was like a jack in the box, and Jedinak has to be the best ball winning midfielder in Australia at the moment.

Despite the need for a bit of luck in getting the 3 points, football is a game where you make your luck. Although it can be a cruel game from time to time, if you apply enough pressure over ninety minutes usually you will prevail. Like the current Barcelona team, it is better to court fortune than spit in her face.

Demonstrating this point, the weekend was capped off with the El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Barca enjoyed near total domination over a struggling Madrid side that were playing their first league game under new manager Juande Ramos.

The Catalans maintained a remarkable 66% of possession despite Leo Messi being mercilessly kicked throughout the game, and managed 18 shots to Madrid’s 6. Barca employed imagination, a sense of adventure, and a keenness of spirit for which Madrid simply had no answer.

However, it was not until the 83rd minute that Samuel Eto'o finally scored for Barca with a goal that was both scrappy and fortunate. The game was already over as contest when Leo Messi scored with a top class finish in the 90th minute, and in the end, justice was served.

It was truly inspirational stuff – what a great week it was!!

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