The Central Coast Mariners will look to proven derby game breaker John Hutchinson when the yellow and navy battle with southern rivals Sydney FC in the second east coast derby in as many weeks at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday.
The Central Coast Mariners will look to proven derby game breaker John Hutchinson when the yellow and navy battle with southern rivals Sydney FC in the second east coast derby in as many weeks at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday.
Few players have as prolific a record in Hyundai A-League derby fixtures than the 28-year-old, who since joining the Mariners as one of their foundation squad members has been a constant menace in derby fixtures both north and south of the Central Coast.
Most memorably, in matches against Saturday-s opponents Sydney FC, Hutchinson netted two of the candidates of the goal of the Hyundai A-League 2007/08 season when the Mariners suffered a nail biting 3-2 defeat to their southern rivals in October of last year.
Responsibility for the Mariners- only goal in a record breaking 5-1 loss at Bluetongue Stadium in season one and the three Hyundai A-League strikes Hutchinson has slotted past the Newcastle Jets is proof that the Mariners have the go to man on of east coast derbies on their books.
Hutchinson has the chance to add to his enviable record in such fixtures at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday, when the Mariners will open their Hyundai A-League 2008/09 home match account against their southern rivals and inaugural Hyundai A-League Grand Final adversaries.
“They bring their supporters and our supporters come out in their masses and it-s always a fiery derby,” said Hutchinson.
“No one wants to lose and we want to be the best team in the Hyundai A-League and in New South Wales, that-s what always makes these games big ones and Saturday will be much of the same.”
Hutchinson is one of the Mariners- eleven foundation players that will potentially line up for the yellow navy at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday, with the Mariners able to boast the greatest number of season one survivors at this stage of season four.
Nigel Boogaard, Andrew Clark, Andre Gumprecht, Dean Heffernan, Hutchinson, Nik Mrdja, Paul O-Grady, Matthew Osman, Bradley Porter, Danny Vukovic and Alex Wilkinson were each part of the Mariners- season one charge, with all bar Porter on board in time for the Mariners- first official fixture on 7 May, 2005.
Of the Mariners- Hyundai A-League rivals, Adelaide United have the second greatest amount of foundation players still on their books, with seven inaugural Reds squad members set to run out at Hindmarsh Stadium throughout 2008/09.
Such squad solidarity will surely hold the Mariners in good stead throughout season four, which began with a hard earned point away to the Newcastle Jets last Friday.
“We got the point against Newcastle at the weekend, which was a good start, we had a lot of players out and did very well, but this week we-re at home and we-re expected to win,” said Hutchinson.
“If we can win each of our home games, that will put us in a great position come the end of the season and hopefully our Members and supporters can come out in big numbers and cheers us on to some big wins.”
The Mariners- Hyundai A-League 2008/09 campaign continues at their Bluetongue Stadium home this Saturday, 23 August, when they host southern rivals Sydney FC. Kick off is at 7pm.
Tickets for this match are on sale now from all Ticketek outlets, from the Ticketek website – www.ticketek.com.au, or via phone on 132 849.
Mariners Memberships for the Hyundai A-League 2008/09 season are now on sale at www.ccmariners.com.au.
