Central Coast Mariners team up with PCYC and NSW Government to inspire youth

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Image provided by Central Coast Community News

Central Coast Mariners are aiming to spread positivity in the community during the pre-season by engaging Australian football legend Andy Bernal to deepen the connections within and between the club and the community.

Bernal, one of the original Australian born English League and Spanish League players was at the PCYC in Umina to give a crew of youth a session of football, boxing and motivational talks.

“I’ve had a tough yet incredibly rewarding career in football and I’m passionate about helping young people build resistance and opportunities through sport,” the former Socceroo said via Central Coast Community News.

The Umina session was part of a new collaboration between the Mariners, The A-Leagues, PCYC and the NSW Government to motivate young people to find direction and follow their ambitions.

Bernal was born in Canberra to Spanish parents and found fellowship in football among other immigrant families. He quickly rose through the ranks and was scouted to the Spanish Albacete Balompié at the age of 18. He went on to play for both Reading, Sydney Olympic and Ipsitch Town among others. Post football he became a football agent and the personal manager of David Beckham.

The 21-time Socceroo (13 ‘A’ international caps, 8 ‘B’ international caps) Bernal has recently been engaged by the Central Coast Mariners.

New Mariners’ owner Richard Peil convinced him to join the coaching staff in a motivational role that head coach Nick Montgomery has dubbed the ‘Vibe Manager’.

“I brought Andy into the club for the same reason I brought Luke Wilshire (8th most capped Socceroo) and why I’m backing Monty,” Peil said via Central Coast Community News.

“Between them, they have over 1100 professional games, in England, Spain, Holland, Russia and Australia.

“In my view, there has been too little respect given to greats of the Australian game, especially the golden generation that Andy and Luke were part of.”

Peil is on a mission and has a plan to reconnect the Mariners with the community and to further build the Mariners Academy to become one of the best in the Southern Hemisphere.

“Over the next few years you will see more of our past best [players] be given opportunities to be involved and influence the development of our academy players at the Mariners.” Peil stated via Central Coast Community News.

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Victory unites with Roasting Warehouse in culture-led partnership

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Image credit: Melbourne Victory

The Melbourne-based anf family-owned business will join the Victory family, uniting two institutions which represent the city’s culture and identity.

A partnership with local roots

As the newest partner of Melbourne Victory, Roasting Warehouse joins forces with a vital part of the city’s sporting landscape.

The club’s Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, outlined why the partnership bears so much value to both parties.

“We are excited to collaborate with Roasting Warehouse, a community-oriented destination for high-quality coffee, proud of its foundations in Melbourne,” said Carnegie via official media release.

“Football and coffee sit at the epicentre of Melbourne’s culture. The two go hand-in-hand, consistently at the centre of the conversation that stirs Melburnians, which is no different to the conversation sport and Melbourne Victory stir in the State.”

Indeed, this is a partnership which combines the identity, passions and culture of an entire city, therefore giving it the foundations required for long-term, mutual success.

Representing the best of Melbourne

Both Victory and Roasting Warehouse are hugely successful in their respective industries. They are institutions with community-oriented philosphies, who pride themselves on craft and quality.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with Melbourne Victory, a club that represents the heart, passion, and ambition of Melbourne,” revealed Roasting Warehouse Head of Brand, Alexander Paraskevopoulos.

“As a Melbourne-founded, family-run business, supporting a team that means so much to the local community feels very natural for us.”

Furthermore, through their high-quality blends, Roasting Warehouse will look to prepare Victory’s players and staff for high performances on the pitch as the seasons nears completion.

But this is about far more than just fueling athletes.

This is a partnership which embodies and unites two of Melbourne’s greatest strengths and cultural markers – a connection forged from the city’s very own DNA.

 

For more information about Roasting Warehouse, click here.

Marie-Louise Eta makes history as new Union Berlin head coach

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Image credit: FC Union Berlin

In an historic appointment, Eta will take over as head coach of Union Berlin until the end of the season.

History in the making

Previously the first female assistant coach in Bundesliga history with Union Berlin, Eta will now take the reigns of the men’s first team on an interim basis.

Currently, the club sit in 11th place in the Bundesliga table, but with only two wins so far in 2026, relegation appears an all-too-real prospect, and one which the club is desperate to avoid.

“Given the points gap in the lower half of the table, our place in the Bundesliga is not yet secure,” said Eta via official media release.

‘I am delighted that the club has entrusted me with this challenging task. One of Union’s strengths has always been, and remains, the ability to pull together in such situations.”

Eta will begin as Union’s new head coach with immediate effect, and will be in the dugout for the club’s matchup against Wolfsburg this weekend.

 

A step into an equal future

Eta’s appointment signals a major step towards a more level playing field in the football landscape.

Furthermore, Eta joins other coaches including Sabrinna Wittmann, Hannah Dingley and Corinne Diacre who, in recent years, have blazed a trail for female coaches to step into the men’s game.

Wittmann currently manages FC Ingolstadt in Germany’s third division, and was the first female head coach in Germany’s top three divisions.

In 2023, Dingley became caretaker manager of Forest Green Rovers, and thus the first woman to lead a men’s professional team in England.

Diacre, now head coach of France’s women’s national team, managed Ligue 2’s Clerment Foot between 2014 and 2017.

 

Final thoughts

The impact therefore, is that Eta’s appointment will show future generations of aspiring female coaches that men’s football is an equally viable and possible pathway as the women’s game.

The time is now to level the playing field.

And while it may be a short-term role, its effect on attitudes towards equality and fair opportunities in the game will hopefully resonate long after the season ends.

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