Mariners Community to Benefit From $10m Worth of Funding

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Club to broaden the horizons of  Indigenous  footballers

Central Coast Mariners have received $10m of Government funding, which will go towards creating a Centre of Excellence specifically for Indigenous Australians.

The money for the next phase of the Project comes from the Regional Development Australia Fund.

The Elite Indigenous Football Academy will enable some of Australia’s talented Aboriginal footballers to hone their skills.

Speaking to Football Australia ,Mariners Group General Manager Peter Turnball, said: We feel the Mariners already make a tremendous difference to the lives of many people on the Central Coast, but with our Elite Indigenous Football Academy we hope to bring forward the days when the Socceroos can boast a strong number of Australia’s first people.

“Moreover, this funding will enable us to start work on Stage 2 of the project within weeks. Without this commitment, it would have taken several years for us to have been able to deliver the extra facilities.”

As Well as the Academy, the next stage of the project includes a 1500 seat grandstand, training pitch lighting and a public Hydrotherapy and Aquatic Centre.

Central Coasts Mariners Owner Michael Charlesworth said: “Our Elite Indigenous Football Academy will be the first of its kind in Australia and will provide talented but disadvantaged indigenous kids the best possible opportunity to realise their dreams of becoming professional footballers.”

The Aboriginal people of the Central Coast of New South Wales first arrived between 20-30,000 years ago.

 

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