Central Coast Mariners are set to become the Liberty A-League’s newest side when they re-enter the competition next season and coach Emily Husband joined Dub Zone to give an insight into what we can expect from them.
Husband was announced as the Mariners head coach on Thursday, with the club set to field an A-League Women’s side for the first time since 2009.
The new Central Coast boss has had a distinguished career coaching in New South Wales’ Women’s NPL with Sydney University, where she won the NSW NPL 1 Coach of the Year and secured both the first-grade premiership and reserve grade championship.
But the adjustment into life in the competition as an expansion side can have varying results, as seen with Wellington Phoenix and Western United. The ‘Nix are on track for consecutive wooden spoons in their first two seasons while Western are remarkably sitting top of the table after 14 games in their first campaign.
Husband was asked by Dub Zone commentator Teo Pellizzeri as to what “building blocks” the Mariners have put in place for next season to ensure they can get the best out of themselves from the onset.
And the new Mariners coach hinted at following a similar philosophy to that of Western coach Marc Torcaso, finding success by bringing in a host of players from within the NPL system who had initially been overlooked by other Liberty A-League sides.
READ: Mariners announce head coach ahead of Liberty A-League return
“I think building it with internationals in there, three in (the) spine and sort of complementing that with good from players from not just the NPL in New South Wales, but across the country,” she said.
There’s a lot of players that sort of get overlooked and I think there’s a lot of potential out there to build a really, really strong team.
“We want to be competitive from the very beginning and ultimately I want to build a squad around players that are ready to compete and want to be part of that process.”
The Mariners played two seasons in the Liberty A-League, competing in 2008 and 2009 before disbanding due to a lack of funding.
In their second and final season, they finished second on the table and were knocked out in the elimination final by Brisbane Roar 1-0.
But the appetite for women’s football in the region is set to peak just in time for the Mariners’ re-entry into the competition, given the fact England’s women’s national team will be based in Terrigal for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“I’m going to look to immerse myself in the culture at Central Coast as soon as I can do,” Husband said.
“Obviously, once I’m finished in the NPL, with Sydney I will be looking to move myself up there. They’re really a community based club and football is one of the biggest sports of there.
“I can only imagine that will continue to grow, especially with kids being able to aspire… with he Women’s World Cup earlier this year and it is a really exciting time to be, not just in Central Coast but in Australia.”
