2007–08 Central Coast Mariners FC season

Central Coast Mariners 2007–08 football season

Central Coast Mariners2007–08 season

Chairman| Lyall Gorman
Manager| Lawrie McKinna
Stadium| Bluetongue Stadium
A-League regular season| Premiers
A-League finals| Runners-up
Pre-Season Cup| 4th
Top goalscorer| League:
John Aloisi (7)
All:
Sasho Petrovski (9)
Highest home attendance| 36,354 vs Newcastle Jets
(24 February 2008)

<- 2006–07

2008–09 ->

The 2007–08 season was the 3rd season of competitive football played by Central Coast Mariners. The Mariners ended the season as A-League Premiers after topping the table in the regular season, but runners-up in the Championship after losing to local rivals Newcastle Jets in the 2008 A-League Grand Final.

In the transfer window the club signed experienced striker Sasho Petrovski and former Adelaide United midfielder Greg Owens. Left back Dean Heffernan also returned to the club after completing a loan spell with 1\. FC Nürnberg. Club captain Noel Spencer was released, joining Sydney FC.

After a mixed pre-season, finishing fourth in the 2007 A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup, the Mariners began the 2007–08 A-League in good form, undefeated for their first five games. Winless runs in October and January saw a number of clubs threaten Central Coast at the top of the table. This included a 5–4 loss to Sydney FC in December, breaking the record for goals in an A-League match. The mid-season addition of Socceroo John Aloisi proved successful, with the striker scoring a team-high seven league goals. A win over Wellington Phoenix in the final game of the regular season secured a first Premiership for the club, ahead of Newcastle Jets on goal difference. In the Finals Series, the Mariners advanced to the Grand Final by defeating the Jets 3–2 over two legs. The Jets, however, claimed the Championship with a 1–0 win in controversial circumstances at the Sydney Football Stadium.

## Background

[edit]

See also: 2006-07 Central Coast Mariners FC season

The Mariners ended the previous season in sixth, missing out on the Finals Series.

### Transfers

[edit]

No.  | Position  | Player  | Transferred from  | Fee  | Date  | Ref

|
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|
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22  | FW  | Sasho Petrovski | Sydney FC | Free  | 12 February 2007  | [1]
23  | MF  | Mile Jedinak | Sydney United | Free  | 26 February 2007  | [2]
12  | MF  | Greg Owens | Adelaide United | Free  | 12 March 2007  | [3]
8  | DF  | Dean Heffernan | 1\. FC Nürnberg | Loan return  | 6 June 2007  | [4]
30  | GK  | Andrew Redmayne | Australian Institute of Sport | Free  | 19 June 2007  | [5]
4  | MF  | Ian McAndrew | Central Coast Lightning | Free  | 1 August 2007  | [6]
24  | FW  | Damian Mori | Adelaide City | Free  | 21 September 2007  | [7]
25  | FW  | John Aloisi | Free agent | N/A  | 19 October 2007  | [8]
26  | DF  | Alvin Ceccoli | Free agent | N/A  | 3 January 2008  | [9]

Out
No.  | Position  | Player  | Transferred to  | Fee  | Date  | Ref

|
|
|
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|
|

14  | DF  | Vuko Tomasevic | Free agent | N/A  | 25 January 2007  | [10]
2  | DF  | Wayne O'Sullivan | Free agent | N/A  | 25 January 2007  | [10]
4  | MF  | Noel Spencer | Sydney FC | Free  | 16 February 2007  | [11]
8  | MF  | Jamie McMaster | Free agent | N/A  | 18 April 2007  | [12]
12  | FW  | Stewart Petrie | Free agent | N/A  | 18 April 2007  | [12]
1  | GK  | John Crawley | Retired | N/A  | 19 June 2007  | [5]
24  | FW  | Damian Mori | Free agent | N/A  | 13 October 2007  | [13]

## Pre-season

[edit]

Central Coast Mariners v Malaysia 22 May 2007 Friendly|  Central Coast Mariners | 3–0|  Malaysia | Lisarow

|
|
|
|

| Hutchinson 55'
Woodcock 78'
Owens 86' | Report |  | Stadium: Pluim Park
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: James Lewis

## A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup

[edit]

Main article: 2007 A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup

### Group stage

[edit]

Group B  Team  | Pld  | W  | D  | L  | GF  | GA  | BP  | Pts

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Central Coast Mariners | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 10
Queensland Roar | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6
Wellington Phoenix | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5
Sydney FC | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1

Central Coast Mariners v Wellington Phoenix 14 July 2007 1|  Central Coast Mariners | 2–0|  Wellington Phoenix | Gosford

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18:00 | Wilkinson 3'
Kwasnik 32' | Report |  | Stadium: Bluetongue Stadium
Attendance: 8,136
Referee: Strebre Delovski

Central Coast Mariners v Queensland Roar 21 July 2007 2|  Central Coast Mariners | 1–1|  Queensland Roar | Orange

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15:00 | Boogaard 6' | Report | Lynch 60' | Stadium: Wade Park
Attendance: 3,531
Referee: James Lewis

Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners 29 July 2007 3|  Sydney FC | 0–3|  Central Coast Mariners | Canberra

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15:00 |  | Report | Osman 36'
Kwasnik 44'
Gumprecht 51' | Stadium: Canberra Stadium
Attendance: 5,735
Referee: Ben Williams

### Playoffs

[edit]

Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory 4 August 2007 Semi-final|  Central Coast Mariners | 2–3|  Perth Glory | Gosford

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18:00 | Mrdja 43'
Petrovski 90' | Report | Dragičević 23'
Bertos 55'
Tarka 78' | Stadium: Bluetongue Stadium
Attendance: 5,967
Referee: Ben Williams

Central Coast Mariners v Queensland Roar 12 August 2007 3rd place playoff|  Central Coast Mariners | 1–3|  Queensland Roar | Gosford

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16:00 | Simon 9' | Report | Milicic 30'
Marchinho 48'
Reinaldo 86' | Stadium: Bluetongue Stadium
Attendance: 3,500
Referee: James Lewis

## 2007–08 Hyundai A-League fixtures

[edit]

Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners 24 August 2007 |  Sydney FC | 0–1|  Central Coast Mariners | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney

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20:00 UTC+10 |  | Report
Summary | Petrovski 7' | Attendance: 18,457
Referee:  Peter Green

Central Coast Mariners v Wellington Phoenix 31 August 2007 |  Central Coast Mariners | 3–0|  Wellington Phoenix | Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford

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20:00 UTC+10 | Mrdja 9', 35'
Kwasnik 13' | Report
Summary |  | Attendance: 9,052
Referee:  Peter Green

Queensland Roar v Central Coast Mariners 6 September 2007 |  Queensland Roar | 0–1|  Central Coast Mariners | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

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20:00 UTC+10 |  | Report
Summary | Kwasnik 55' | Attendance: 8,815
Referee:  Mark Shield

Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners 16 September 2007 |  Melbourne Victory | 0–0|  Central Coast Mariners | Telstra Dome, Melbourne

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17:00 UTC+10 |  | Report
Summary | Vidmar 90+2' | Attendance: 27,351
Referee:  Mark Shield

Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory 23 September 2007 |  Central Coast Mariners | 1–0|  Perth Glory | Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford

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19:00 UTC+10 | Petrovski 80' | Report
Summary |  | Attendance: 9,274
Referee:  Craig Zetter

Adelaide United v Central Coast Mariners 30 September 2007 |  Adelaide United | 2–1|  Central Coast Mariners | Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide

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16:30 UTC+9:30 | Djite 19', 88' | Report
Summary | Petrovski 37'
Vidmar 65' 79' | Attendance: 11,019
Referee:  Matthew Breeze

Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets 7 October 2007 |  Central Coast Mariners | 1–1|  Newcastle Jets | Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford

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17:00 UTC+10 | Pondeljak 62' | Report
Summary | Bridge 82' | Attendance: 12,622
Referee:  Matthew Breeze

Central Coast Mariners v Queensland Roar 14 October 2007 |  Central Coast Mariners | 0–1|  Queensland Roar | Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford

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17:00 UTC+10 | Porter 31' | Report
Summary | McCloughan 5' | Attendance: 8,113
Referee:  Peter O'Leary

Wellington Phoenix v Central Coast Mariners 21 October 2007 |  Wellington Phoenix | 1–2|  Central Coast Mariners | Westpac Stadium, Wellington

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17:00 UTC+12 | Elrich 24' | Report
Summary | Heffernan 16'
Petrovski 90+1' | Attendance: 10,560
Referee:  Peter Green

Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners 28 October 2007 |  Sydney FC | 3–2|  Central Coast Mariners | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney

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15:00 UTC+10 | Brosque 16', 26'
Popovic 32' | Report
Summary | Hutchinson 27', 56' | Attendance: 17,652
Referee:  Mark Shield

Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory 4 November 2007 |  Central Coast Mariners | 2–1|  Melbourne Victory | Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford

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17:00 UTC+11 | Petrovski 83',  73' 90'
Pondeljak 88' | Report
Summary | Keenan 22'
Hernández 77'
Vargas 90' | Attendance: 11,354
Referee:  Mark Shield

Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United 10 November 2007 |  Central Coast Mariners | 2–0|  Adelaide United | Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford

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17:00 UTC+11 | J.Aloisi 48' (pen.), 59' | Report
Summary |  | Attendance: 11,680
Referee:  Simon Przydacz

Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners 18 November 2007 |  Perth Glory | 0–1|  Central Coast Mariners | Members Equity Stadium, Perth

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19:00 UTC+9 |  | Summary | Owens 13'
Jedinak 83' 88' | Attendance: 7,310
Referee:  Craig Zetter

Newcastle Jets v Central Coast Mariners 25 November 2007 |  Newcastle Jets | 0–0|  Central Coast Mariners | EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle

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17:00 UTC+11 |  | Report
Summary |  | Attendance: 14,169
Referee:  Mark Shield

Queensland Roar v Central Coast Mariners 9 December 2007 |  Queensland Roar | 2–1|  Central Coast Mariners | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

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18:00 UTC+10 | Vidmar 21' (o.g.)
McKay 28' | Report
Summary | J.Aloisi 13' | Attendance: 16,442
Referee:  Ben Williams

Adelaide United v Central Coast Mariners 14 December 2007 |  Adelaide United | 1–2|  Central Coast Mariners | Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide

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19:30 UTC+10:30 | Agostino 70' | Report
Summary | J.Aloisi 24'
Petrovski 48' | Attendance: 11,123
Referee:  Peter Green

Central Coast Mariners v Sydney FC 22 December 2007[14] |  Central Coast Mariners | 4–5|  Sydney FC | Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford

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19:00 UTC+11 | Jedinak 3'
J.Aloisi 16'
Vukovic 17'
Owens 63' (pen.)
Kwasnik 86' 90+4' | Report
Summary | Fyfe 33'
McFlynn 50'
Biddle 71'
Santalab 76'
Talay 90+5' (pen.) | Attendance: 17,514
Referee:  Matthew Breeze

Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory 31 December 2007 |  Central Coast Mariners | 2–5|  Melbourne Victory | Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford

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18:00 UTC+11 | Jedinak 32'
J.Aloisi 63' | Report
Summary | Caceres 4'
Allsopp 23', 61'
Thompson 36'
Muscat 43' (pen.) | Attendance: 18,686
Referee:  Mark Shield

Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners 6 January 2008 |  Perth Glory | 1–1|  Central Coast Mariners | Members Equity Stadium, Perth

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19:00 UTC+9 | Rukavytsya 69' | Report
Summary | Hutchinson 38' | Attendance: 6,727
Referee:  Strebre Delovski

Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets 12 January 2008 |  Central Coast Mariners | 1–2|  Newcastle Jets | Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford

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19:00 UTC+11 | Kwasnik 9' | Report
Summary | Holland 6'
J. Griffiths 52' | Attendance: 19,238
Referee:  Matthew Breeze

Central Coast Mariners v Wellington Phoenix 19 January 2008 |  Central Coast Mariners | 2–0|  Wellington Phoenix | Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford

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19:00 UTC+11 | Aloisi 52'
Kwasnik 90+4' | Report
Summary |  | Attendance: 9,849
Referee:  Kevin Docherty

### 2007–08 Finals series

[edit]

Newcastle Jets v Central Coast Mariners 27 January 2008 Major SF Leg 1|  Newcastle Jets | 2–0|  Central Coast Mariners | EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle

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18:00 UTC+11 | A. Griffiths 22'
J. Griffiths 85' (pen.) | Report
Summary |  | Attendance: 22,960
Referee:  Matthew Breeze

Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets 10 February 2008 Major SF Leg 2|  Central Coast Mariners | 3 – 0 (a.e.t.)|  Newcastle Jets | Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford

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18:00 UTC+11 | Kwasnik 37'
Petrovski 74', 95' | Summary |  | Attendance: 19,112
Referee:  Ben Williams

Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets 24 February 2008 Grand Final|  Central Coast Mariners | 0–1|  Newcastle Jets | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney

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17:00 UTC+11 | Vukovic 90+5' | Summary | Bridge 64' | Attendance: 36,354
Referee:  Mark Shield

## Home-and-Away Season

[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
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|
|
|
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|

1  | Central Coast Mariners | 21  | 10  | 4  | 7  | 30  | 25  | +5  | 34  | Qualification for 2009 AFC Champions League group stage and Finals series[a]
2  | Newcastle Jets (C) | 21  | 9  | 7  | 5  | 25  | 21  | +4  | 34
3  | Sydney FC | 21  | 8  | 8  | 5  | 28  | 24  | +4  | 32  | Qualification for 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship and Finals series
4  | Queensland Roar | 21  | 8  | 7  | 6  | 25  | 21  | +4  | 31  | Qualification for Finals series
5  | Melbourne Victory | 21  | 6  | 9  | 6  | 29  | 29  | 0  | 27  |
6  | Adelaide United | 21  | 6  | 8  | 7  | 31  | 29  | +2  | 26
7  | Perth Glory | 21  | 4  | 8  | 9  | 27  | 34  | −7  | 20
8  | Wellington Phoenix[b] | 21  | 5  | 5  | 11  | 25  | 37  | −12  | 20

Source: ultimatealeague.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions
Notes:

1. ^ First place qualifies for the 2009 AFC Champions League group stage.
Winning the 2008 A-League Grand Final earns qualification for the 2009 AFC Champions League group stage, unless the Grand Final winners are also first place, in which case the Grand Final runner up qualifies.
2. ^ Wellington Phoenix cannot qualify for the AFC Champions League as they are not recognised as an AFC club.

## Player statistics

[edit]

Key

No. = Squad number

Pos = Playing position

Nat. = Nationality

Apps = Appearances

GK = Goalkeeper

DF = Defender

MF = Midfielder

FW = Forward

= Yellow cards

= Red cards

|
|

Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute. Players with number struck through and marked † left the club during the playing season.

No.  | Pos.  | Nat.  | Name  | A-League | A-League finals | Pre-Season Cup | Total  | Discipline

|
|
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|
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|
|

Apps  | Goals  | Apps  | Goals  | Apps  | Goals  | Apps  | Goals  |  |
1  | GK  |  AUS | Matthew Trott | 4 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0
2  | FW  |  AUS | Matt Simon | 4 (14) | 0 | 0 (2) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 (16) | 1 | 0 | 0
3  | DF  |  AUS | Paul O'Grady | 2 (4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 2 (5) | 0 | 2 | 0
4  | MF  |  AUS | Ian McAndrew | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0
5  | MF  |  AUS | Brad Porter | 5 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (4) | 0 | 5 (7) | 0 | 0 | 1
6  | MF  |  GER | André Gumprecht | 8 (6) | 0 | 0 (3) | 0 | 5 | 1 | 13 (9) | 1 | 3 | 0
7  | MF  |  AUS | John Hutchinson | 18 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 25 | 3 | 7 | 0
8  | DF  |  AUS | Dean Heffernan | 15 (1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 (1) | 0 | 17 (2) | 1 | 7 | 0
9  | FW  |  AUS | Nik Mrdja | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 (2) | 1 | 6 (2) | 3 | 1 | 0
10  | MF  |  AUS | Tom Pondeljak | 13 (5) | 2 | 2 (1) | 0 | 2 (2) | 0 | 17 (8) | 2 | 0 | 0
11  | DF  |  AUS | Damien Brown | 7 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 (1) | 0 | 2 | 0
12  | MF  |  AUS | Greg Owens | 10 (2) | 2 | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 11 (4) | 2 | 2 | 0
13  | DF  |  AUS | Tony Vidmar | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 (2) | 0 | 19 (2) | 0 | 6 | 2
15  | DF  |  AUS | Andrew Clark | 12 (5) | 0 | 0 (2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 (7) | 0 | 5 | 0
16  | DF  |  AUS | Nigel Boogaard | 13 (1) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 (1) | 1 | 20 (2) | 1 | 5 | 0
17  | MF  |  AUS | Matthew Osman | 6 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 11 (1) | 1 | 0 | 0
18  | DF  |  AUS | Alex Wilkinson | 12 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0
19  | FW  |  AUS | Adam Kwasnik | 12 (7) | 5 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 20 (7) | 8 | 2 | 0
20  | GK  |  AUS | Danny Vukovic | 17 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 1 | 2
22  | FW  |  AUS | Sasho Petrovski | 18 (1) | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 25 (1) | 9 | 11 | 1
23  | MF  |  AUS | Mile Jedinak | 19 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 8 | 1
~~24~~ | FW  |  AUS | Damian Mori †  | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0
25  | DF  |  AUS | John Aloisi | 12 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 0
26  | DF  |  AUS | Alvin Ceccoli | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0
30  | GK  |  AUS | Andrew Redmayne | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Petrovski signs with Mariners". News.com.au. 12 February 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
2. ^ "Jedi signs permanent deal for 2007–08" (Press release). Central Coast Mariners FC. 26 February 2007.
3. ^ "Mariners snap up Owens". The World Game. 12 March 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
4. ^ "Heffernan returns to the Central Coast". ESPN FC. 6 June 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
5. ^ a b "Out with the old, in with the new" (Press release). Central Coast Mariners FC. 19 June 2007.
6. ^ "Mariners sign teenage defender". Fox Sports. 1 August 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
7. ^ Smithies, Tom (21 September 2007). "Mariners land old boy Mori". Fox Sports. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
8. ^ Henderson, Philip (19 October 2007). "Mariners confirm signing John Aloisi". ESPN FC. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
9. ^ "Ceccoli back as 'ancient mariner'". Fox Sports. 3 January 2008. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
10. ^ a b "Mariners axe A-League skipper Spencer". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 January 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
11. ^ Cockerill, Mike (16 February 2007). "Mariner finds his way to Sydney for the Asian experience". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
12. ^ a b "New deals for Mariners duo". The World Game. 18 April 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
13. ^ "Pacesetters Central Coast Mariners are "down to the bare bones"". The Daily Telegraph. 13 October 2007.
14. ^ Match postponed due to heavy rain affecting pitch conditions.

## External links

[edit]

* v
* t
* e

Central Coast Mariners Football Club

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Training grounds|

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Rivalries|

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* Website
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* v
* t
* e

2007–08 in Australian soccer

« 2006–07

2008–09 »

| Domestic leagues|

* A-League (Pre-Season Challenge Cup, Grand Final)

|

International competitions|

* AFC Champions League ('07, '08)
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National team|

| Men's|

* Results ('07, '08)
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|

Women's|

* 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup

Club seasons

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*[Pos]: Position
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points