The Central Coast Mariners are delighted to announce the signing of Coastie local Leia Puxty, with the 21-year-old joining her hometown club ahead of the upcoming Ninja A-League season.
Entering into her second A-League campaign after previously spending a season with our F3 Derby rivals Newcastle, the former Mariners Academy junior adds serious versatility to Emily Husband’s defensive line.
Able to play either as a centre back or a full back, Puxty, who has had regular opportunities within future Matildas and Young Matildas camps throughout her footballing journey so far, is yet another exciting young prospect who will wear Yellow and Navy this season.
The defender was a regular for UNSW this season in the NPL NSW competition, starting every match that she featured in as she helped guide the team to a solid finish in their first season following promotion into the topflight competition.
A Mariners fan from a young age, regularly attending games at Our Paradise as a junior, Puxty is thrilled to have signed with her childhood team this season.
“It is honestly a dream come true to play for my hometown club. One of my biggest ambitions as a kid was to play at this stadium as a Mariner after watching from the stands as a junior and I cannot wait to do that,” Puxty said.
“Mariners fans can expect me to work hard for everything and give everything for the club. I love the hard work and cannot wait to put my all into this season, to work with Emily, to see what she can get out of me and what I can produce to help the team.”
Central Coast Mariners Ninja A-League Head Coach Emily Husband is delighted to sign Puxty ahead of the upcoming campaign.
“Leia has grown up on the Coast and it is great to have another local signed to the team for the upcoming season. She is someone who has a great work ethic, a brilliant engine and a dangerous left foot, and we believe that she will develop nicely as a footballer with us this season,” Husband said.
“Leia is someone who knows what this club means to Coasties, and what it means to represent the Central Coast region in the A-League competition. This is a fantastic opportunity for her, but she is also someone that young kids around the Coast can look up to and see that there is a pathway for them to make it into the A-League team.”
