I've had to 'support' my wife's love for the Mariners 'A' league.
Not my favourite game but you do what you've got to do.
my son got an internship there 4 years ago (after also doing school work experience for Mariners)
You would not believe their premises- A reception desk, a small board room a couple of offices and a container out back with team gear and supporter packs.
Not that long ago they were the A-League joke, commentators were calling for them to be axed, Council rejected all their development proposals, they had bugger all money and rarely won.
They won the grand final last year. This year they started with many of their stars gone, a new coach and 4 straight losses. Last night they won the minor premiership and are on their way to Muscat, Oman, to play Al Ahed, the reigning Lebanese Premier League champions for the AFC champions tag.
Ted Lasso story?
Sort of, but it was all underpinned by bolstering their academy, developing the youth & giving them opportunity. Every soccer kid now strives to be a part of the Mariner's academy.
Mind you, they now make huge transfer money selling their bright new stars internationally, which we cant do, but their success is their investment in juniors
I'm sure there is a lesson there for the Dragons
P.S. Did I mention Gosford the same distance from Sydney as Wollongong?