Not just because the NSW outfit gave a then 18-year-old Mat Ryan his chance to play regular first-team A-League football nine years ago.

One which years later helped the Seagulls remain in the English Premier League after two impressive seasons by their Aussie custodian. 

But back at the Mariners, Ryan made a valuable contact during their A-League golden years from 2011-2013.

That contact? Former Northampton Town defender Pedj Bojic.

The powerful Aussie defender would fit in personal training with clients in Sydney before driving up the coast for first-team sessions with Ryan and the Mariners.  

He would then return to the Harbour City later in the day to complete even more sessions with fitness-obsessed corporate clients.

Super-fit Bojic, who played five years at the Gosford-based club, was always going to be a strength and fitness coach after his playing career ended.

So while they played at the Mariners, Bojic, now 35, found a kindred spirit in Ryan who is known for his meticulous approach to strength and conditioning.

Bojic (right) with Ryan in Sydney lat month

Bojic worked with Ryan during his successful spells with Club Brugge, in Spain with Valencia and now with EPL outfit Brighton.

In fact, while Ryan was on his post-season break in Sydney last month, the Socceroo would get up before sunlight to meet with Bojic for a series of bespoke strength and conditioning sessions to help the keeper find an edge ahead of the new EPL season.

“It’s a joy to work with Maty. He always wants to improve and he won’t settle for eight out of 10, he wants 10 out of 10," Bojic told FTBL today.

“He will keep pushing to learn and improve. When he was in Sydney he was the one driving it, asking when can we train.

“Maty is a true professional. And I’m simply there to guide and find out how he can improve.

“That shows you the mindset of a true professional."

The pair go back but push each other.

“I think I proved myself to be one of the fittest in the A-League at the time.

"I still can’t dribble," Bojic added with a smile, "but I can run!”

It’s obviously helping Ryan, whose career has continued to go from strength to strength.

“We just bonded at the Mariners and Maty always wanted to learn and ask questions about diet, mindset, and training.

“We’d set out programs understanding his strengths and weaknesses, all the way through his Belgian career and in Valencia and Brighton." 

With the help of Ryan, Bojic simply identifies where the keeper needs to improve. Learning certain functionality concepts in football to improve his game.

“It may be a certain part of your body that needs strengthening or improving. Or criteria around what a player needs.

“It could just weaknesses in push-offs on the left or right foot, or if there are weaknesses between ankles hips and knees in a forward motion versus a lateral movement.

“It’s breaking down the player’s technique on the field to make it better. Stronger faster and being more functional to your actual position on the field," explained Bojic. 

Bojic, a former Sydney FC defender, says his mantra is about helping more than just an EPL star and former teammate. 

He wants to help Australia’s youth, to give them the opportunity to train like a pro athlete. But it's not that simple. 

“Mindset is another key area. Fear of failure, for instance, with a lot of people fearing what people will think. That’s what scares them off.

"We create an illusion before something has even happened.

“When you maintain a certain level, you’re not going forward," he explained further. "You’re actually going backward. So you always want to raise your game."

Want professional training by Pedj? Find him on Facebook.