Happiness, so we're often told, is a fleeting emotion but moments of true "Football Happiness" sometimes seem to make time stand still. Even as they're happening before our eyes, we are conscious these moments will become part of our club's history and that numerous times in the future our warm memories will spark them back to life.
Such a moment happened when the whistle finally blew in the preliminary final at Bluetongue last Saturday. A moment of perfect and long-awaited happiness for players, their families, coaching staff and fans alike. The boys were hugging, Arnie was jumping up and down in a rare display of rampant ecstasy and Yellow Army shirts were ripped off. As we shouted and cheered and clapped we were united in collective pleasure and pride in what this team had achieved.
To have made the Grand Final and the ACL at last after all the boys' hard work this season was more than anything, an incredible relief. Gold Coast had been worthy opponents and I'd felt nauseous with nerves for most of the match but we'd finally done it. As he's done so often in the past, beautiful Kwassie pounced when we needed him to while some sensational saves from Ryan had ensured GCU were kept at bay. It was a tense match but everyone in the team, including young Trent Sainsbury, toughed it out and kept our dream alive.
And what a dream it's been this season. Who can honestly say they predicted we'd make it this far ? Although I've been accused of being a hopelessly biased supporter (yes, that's what fans are for) even I dared not hope we would be getting another shot at the toilet seat this time around.
Season 6 had brought us a new coach and many new players - who could tell how long this "New Improved Mariners" might take to get up steam ? But it happened, almost immediately. There were one or two hiccups but soon each week brought more thrills, more style, more new Bluetongue heroes: Bozanic, Rose, Griffiths, Zwaanswijk (we learned to spell it and sing it very quickly), Musti (an overnight sensation) and finally Patricio, our little touch of Argentinean magic.
McGlinchey and Bojic seemed to raise the bar each week while our fresh-faced 'accidental' keeper amazed everyone with a prize-winning debut season most senior goalies only dream about. As for the old boys, Matty found his scoring boots while Wilko fulfilled his dual roles as leader and defender better than ever before.
Separately, they were all impressive, but together they played like winners.
We fell in love with this team and their unfancied coach in ways we had never thought possible as we watched them become ever more confident. It is difficult to express just how much pleasure The Mariners have given us this season. To quote the charming Marcos Flores after he won the Johnny Warren Medal, there are 'not enough words to tell all the loves in our heart.
Now, this Mariners Pleasure Machine has given us the ultimate opportunity for "Maximum Football Happiness", a chance to prove ourselves against the team who have raised Australian football to unprecedented heights. A chance to finally exorcise The Ghost of Grand Finals Past.
Although the disappointment of Season 1 has faded now, the bitterness of Season 3 is still a source of pain. After playing arguably our most exciting match to date to qualify first, the prize slipped from our grasp in a momentary defensive error from one of Australia's greatest footballers. But it was the 'hand-ball' debacle and the ensuing Vukes saga that truly tainted what should have been a great occasion.
I'll never forget watching the dismayed Mariners collect their runners-up medals in front of about 100 supporters who'd remained. We still had no real idea why the match had ended in a melee and our dreams had turned to dust before our eyes.
In retrospect, perhaps having two weeks to prepare for the biggest match of the year was not necessarily a good thing. This time it's our turn to come to Suncorp honed and match-ready, with the memories of our last encounter enough to scare the lucky underpants off Ange's boys (Matt wears them allegedly).
Anyone who was at Suncorp two weeks ago will have smelt the fear and know just how much pressure hovers like Brisbane River mossies around the heads that wear the crown. They are the undisputed, undefeated, multi award-winning Kings of the A-League and sooner or later the weight of expectation will topple them from a great height.
We on the other hand, like New Zealand at The World Cup, have nothing to lose. After all, there is no shame in losing to an 'unbeatable' team. But to beat them would be the ultimate triumph. Proof that a small town team with confidence and tenacity have the true grit needed to overcome all obstacles and face down any threat.
The glorious day is nearly upon us and I'm ecstatic at the prospect of seeing what this team can do. As they go into battle I hope the boys will be inspired by their enduring team spirit and the unshakeable belief we have in their capacity to succeed.
So FIRE UP, boys! Let's prove that a coach called 'Graham' who's been known to sport an unfashionable moustache can lead his Real Mariners to upset Roarcelona. Do it for yourselves, for your families, for the fans and for the greatest little club in the A-League, bring home that trophy at last for the pride of NSW !
PS : Thanks to CCM for getting the FFA to give us a better Away Bay. Proof than fans can make a difference if they shout loud enough :)
