The 2005–06 season was the first for both the Central Coast Mariners and the A-League
Compared with its Sydney rival, the Central Coast Mariners had a far more low-key buildup to the inaugural A-League season. The majority of its squad were experienced players from the defunct National Soccer League. They generally exceeded most expectations, having a very successful season, culminating in two solid displays in the preliminary competitions and reaching the grand final in the A-League.
Players
First team squad
Short term cover Short term cover Short term cover Short term cover Short term cover
Matches
2005-06 Pre-season fixtures
Round Date Home team Score Away team Crowd 1 30 March 2005 Central Coast 3-0 Gladesville Spirit Unknown 2 14 April 2005 Central Coast 9-0 Wyoming FC Unknown 3 19 April 2005 Central Coast 3-3 Manly United Unknown 4 25 April 2005 Central Coast 3-0 Blacktown City No public access 5 27 April 2005 Central Coast 2-0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles Unknown 6 8 July 2005 Central Coast 6-0 Townsville Unknown 7 9 July 2005 Central Coast 1-2 Queensland Roar Unknown 8 12 July 2005 Central Coast 3-0 Central Coast Select XI 1500 9 16 July 2005 Central Coast 2-0 New Zealand Knights Unknown
Phillips International Soccer Sevens The Mariners competed in Phillips International soccer sevens tournament played in Hong Kong. Their group featured three of the biggest teams in the world, PSV, Manchester United and Celtic. The Mariners caused one of the upsets of the tournament by defeating a somewhat understrength Manchester United 2–1.
Round Date Home team Score Away team Crowd 1 28 May 2005 HKF Association Chairman's Select 2-1 Central Coast Unknown 2 28 May 2005 Central Coast 2-0 Hong Kong Football Club 2 Unknown 3 28 May 2005 Central Coast 0-0 Celtic Unknown Quarter Final 29 May 2005 Central Coast 2-1 Manchester United Unknown Semi Final 29 May 2005 Central Coast 0-1 PSV Unknown
Club World Cup Qualification Competition The Mariners were runners-up to Sydney FC in the qualifying tournament held to determine Australia's entry in the FIFA Club World Cup, losing in the grand final 1–0.
2005 Pre-Season Cup Group B
TeamPtsPldWDLGFGASydney FC7321051Central Coast6320143Queensland Roar FC4311163New Zealand Knights FC0300319
2005-06 A-League fixtures
2005-06 Finals series
Ladder
Finals
Statistics
Goal scorers PlayerGoalsStewart Petrie8Dean Heffernan7John Hutchinson6Noel Spencer6Andre Gumprecht2Adam Kwasnik2
End of Year Awards Mariners Medallist - player of the year, as voted by Club members: Michael Beauchamp Chairman's Award - awarded for outstanding service to the club: John Hutchinson and Ben Coonan (Mariners' media officer) (shared) Golden Boot (top goalscorer): Stewart Petrie Jesters' Pies Marinators' Goal of the Year: Noel Spencer, round 1 vs Perth Glory Central Coast Mariners Members Player of the Year Award: Andre Gumprecht
References
External links Official website