There will be a distinctly Glaswegian feel to the Central Coast Mariners’ Hyundai A-League match up against the Queensland Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, with three of Rangers’ finest spearheading a quest for three points.
There will be a distinctly Glaswegian feel to the Central Coast Mariners- Hyundai A-League match up against the Queensland Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, with three of Rangers- finest spearheading a quest for three points.
Mariners Head Coach Ian Ferguson will be reacquainted with two former team-mates, with Queensland Roar captain Craig Moore and playmaker Charlie Miller each members of Rangers- Scottish Premier League charges during Ferguson-s twelve season stay at Ibrox.
Ferguson, Miller and Moore were last at Rangers simultaneously throughout the 1998/99 Scottish Premier League season.
The last match to feature all three players was Rangers- visit to Aberdeen in September 1998, when Ferguson replaced Miller with half an hour to play, while Moore completed a full game.
By the 2000/01 Scottish Premier League season, Ferguson had moved to Dunfermline while Miller had secured a transfer to Dundee United, with the pair opposing each other in central midfield on three occasions throughout the 2000/01 campaign.
These encounters resulted in two wins to Miller-s Dundee United and one to Ferguson-s Dunfermline, with Miller netting the match winner in a 3-2 triumph at Tannadice Park in November 2000.
“Craig was a no nonsense centre half and he-s one of these boys that just loves the game, he was enthusiastic and had the will to win and he showed that at an early age,” said Ferguson.
“Charlie was a young boy up-and-coming who did very well at Ibrox – he had a lot of skill.
“Charlie is different, he-s one of these players that can see things and make things happen out of nothing.”
Though Ferguson won-t be taking part in a playing sense on Sunday, he will be sitting alongside Football Manager Lawrie McKinna and Development Manager Alex Tobin as the Mariners brains trust try to mastermind the clubs breakthrough win of the campaign.
The Mariners need not be disheartened by their winless start to season four, should Hyundai A-League history be anything to go by.
The Mariners were indeed the only team to win a match over the first two rounds of the Hyundai A-League 2007/08 season, with every other Finals Series qualifier waiting until as late as Round 5 to register their breakthrough triumph of the campaign.
The Mariners- current one point return from the opening fortnight of season four is not their worst start to a Hyundai A-League season, with the Mariners registering zero points after Rounds 1 and 2 in the Hyundai A-League 2006/07 season.
Goal scoring has certainly not been a problem for the Mariners, with three goals from their two recent Hyundai A-League matches translating to the clubs second greatest goal scoring return for the opening rounds of a new season.
“I-m looking forward to it, it-s always a very hard game for us and the boys compete and do very well,” said Ferguson.
“The boys have trained really hard and they-re working really hard just now and we all know that three games gone and only one point to show wouldn-t be good enough and our backs are to the wall already.
“We need to pull out a result and it-s very important, we know what we have to do and let-s hope that we can do that.”
The Mariners- Hyundai A-League 2008/09 campaign continues at Brisbane-s Suncorp Stadium this Sunday, 31 August, when the Mariners face the Queensland Roar. Kick off is at 5pm.
The Mariners are next at their Bluetongue Stadium home on Saturday, 20 September, when they host season two Champions and Premiers the Melbourne Victory in Round 5. Kick off is at 7pm.
Tickets for this match are now on sale from 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.
