Mon 23rd Apr 2007

The Central Coast Mariners has been granted the honour of opening the Hyundai A-League 2007/08 season away to Sydney FC, in the first of many salivating fixtures that await the yellow and navy throughout their third campaign.

The Mariners will kick off the new season with a replay of the inaugural Hyundai A-League Grand Final against their southern rivals on Friday, 24 August, before returning home to host newcomers the Wellington Phoenix in the first regular season match at Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium on Friday, 31 August.

Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium will host ten Hyundai A-League matches throughout the season, with highlights including three derby encounters against east coast rivals Sydney FC and the Newcastle Jets, as well as the annual New Years Eve fixture, which is to be played against reigning Champions Melbourne Victory.

"Today’s announcement of the draw for the Hyundai A-League 2007/08 season has only served to enhance our excitement and anticipation ahead of what we know will be another enthralling chapter in the history of the Mariners and the Hyundai A-League," said Mariners Executive Chairman Lyall Gorman.

"We’re very much counting the days until we run onto the Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium turf again and it goes without saying that we’re eagerly awaiting the visit of the Wellington Phoenix on Friday, 31 August."

The first derby encounter of the new season at Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium will take place on Sunday, 7 October, when the Mariners host the Newcastle Jets for the first time in over a year.

Following the visit of the Jets, the Mariners will be looking to post their maiden Hyundai A-League victory against the Queensland Roar – who are the only side the Central Coast have yet to beat at their idyllic bayside home in two seasons.

The Champions, Melbourne Victory, will make two visits to Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium, with a match up on Sunday, 4 November preceding their second consecutive New Years Eve sojourn.

Each match day is well represented throughout the season to suit each Central Coast demographic, with the Mariners playing four of their ten home matches on Saturday evenings, as well as four on Sunday afternoons in addition to one Friday night game and one on Monday (New Years Eve).

"We’re quite pleased with the way the draw has panned out and we’re confident that we have been provided with the best possible opportunity to achieve all that we can from a football perspective and also a commercial perspective," said Gorman.

"Although we’re still some months out from kick off, we’re working very hard to ensure that we hit the ground running in season three."

Details regarding membership and ticketing for the Central Coast Mariners’ Hyundai A-League 2007/08 campaign are currently being finalised, with all information set to be released in the near future on www.ccmariners.com.au.

The A-League salary cap has been increased from $1.6 million to $1.8 million for the competition's third season in order to allow increased squad sizes.

Clubs will have to register a squad of between 20 and 23 players for the 2007-2008 season.

The pre-season cup starts on July 14 and the season proper on August 24 with 2006 champions Sydney FC playing Central Coast at Aussie Stadium in the opening match.

Each club will be limited to a maximum of four foreign players and must register at least three under-20 players on their roster.