Josh Nisbet embodies everything about the Central Coast Mariners. He is a representation of the club’s incredible transformation into Isuzu UTE A-League champions.
He could not wipe the smile off his face on Wednesday night. After winning the Championship last season, Nisbet stood in the heavy Gosford rain with a Premiership medal around his neck.
All this in the space of 11 months at Industree Group Stadium, where the Mariners had gone 12 years without a Premiers Plate before their final-round triumph over Adelaide United midweek.
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“It’s pretty heavy,” Nisbet – who debuted for the Mariners in 2018 – told aleagues.com.au as he reflected on Central Coast’s transformation. “Starting debut, wasn’t the best.
“Things have turned around and look at us. We have the fans turning out in great numbers in poor weather. We’re champions of the A-League at the minute.”
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There is still so much for the Mariners to play for.
Not only are the defending champions preparing for a two-legged A-Leagues Semi-Final, but they will contest the AFC Cup decider on Monday (AEST).
“It’s just family. Everyone fights for each other and everyone wants to win,” Nisbet said.
“You see it, not only in the A-League but AFC Cup. It’s the culture we have. All the boys get along, the staff get along. Everyone enjoys going to training.”
While Nisbet is a fan favourite, Matt Simon is an iconic figure on the Central Coast.
A Mariners legend, Simon is sporting director of a club where he scored 66 goals across 238 appearances.
He was there in the good times and the bad.
Asked if the club’s transformation over the past 18 months had sunk in, Simon told aleagues.com.au: “It has. It just comes down to hard work and good decision making.
“In this league with the amount of teams and salary cap, once you start making a few bad decisions it takes a couple of seasons to bounce back and reserve it.
“There’s always pressure on to make those decisions. You’re not going to get every decision right but it’s how you deal with the decisions that don’t work and how you move on.
“This year has been absolutely amazing. Credit to Jacko, Danny (Schofield), Andres (Clavijo), they have come from the other side of the world and been amazing.
“No one works harder than these boys and the staff.”
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Pipping Wellington Phoenix to the Premiership made history in more ways than one.
Not only did it clinch a club-record 17th win of the season for the Mariners, but it saw Central Coast become the first team in A-League Men history to win the Premiership after losing their opening four matches of the season.
“(It’s) fairly emotional to be fair. It’s a massive achievement for everybody at the club. Everyone contributes to what we do on the field – players, staff and everyone else, the supporters,” head coach Mark Jackson told aleagues.com.au.
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“When I got here, I was full of excitement.
“Even in those periods where we lost games at the start of the season, I was full of belief because I knew I had someone alongside me like Danny and Andres too, who knew what we were about. I inherited a staff who had full belief in what we were doing.
“Then I saw the players everyday an they we were all in. I knew it was only a matter of time before we could make it turn. To have that belief from a set of players and staff is fantastic.
“Over time we’ve started to build that and build that belief that we can compete.”
