25-year old Dylan Fox said he is already feeling right at home with the Central Coast Mariners after a whirlwind first two weeks with the club.
The defender was thrown into the mix last week in his first competitive match with the club, playing 120 minutes at Dolphin Stadium as the Mariners progressed to the FFA Cup quarterfinals for the first time in five years.
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Tuesday training. ✅
Full focus on @FFACup Quarter Finals! ? #CCMFC #FFACup #MagicOfTheCup pic.twitter.com/YXtbCemuiC
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) September 3, 2019
Speaking to media before training on Wednesday, the former Phoenix man said he’s slotted right into the group.
“[After the game] there’s been a really good feeling here around the club,” he said.
“I’m just new, I’ve only been here two weeks and there’s been a great vibe that whole time.
“I already feel so comfortable with the boys and the coaching staff have been so good to me, I’m feeling right at home and I’m sure the other boys feel the same.”
Both teams locked at 2-2 after 120 minutes. The @FFACup Quarter Finalist could only be decided by a penalty shoot out.
Enter @MarkBirraz ? https://t.co/qLEcp9IT0x #CCMFC #FFACup #MagicOfTheCup pic.twitter.com/ZSLODGIioj
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) August 29, 2019
Fox will head to Tasmania with the Mariners squad for a pre-season trip this coming weekend, with games against South Hobart FC and a Tasmanian State Team penciled in, and said the tour will be a good opportunity for the squad.
“I have never been to Tassie, and it will be good for the boys to get down there and have a game against a couple of teams,” he said.
“A trip like that is always good for the team camaraderie, and we’re all looking forward to it.”
“Going into a camp is really good for the team, and it’s all about performing well down there, having the right sessions and doing the right things to prepare for our FFA Cup game against Hume.”
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After what he called a ‘long debut’, having played the entire game, Fox said the importance of the FFA Cup and its impact on the squad can’t be overstated.
Good morning, Mariners fans.
We’re taking the badge to the quarters. ? #BRIvCCM #CCMFC #FFACup #MagicOfTheCup pic.twitter.com/TnNLPZcJVo
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) August 28, 2019
“Definitely it was a long debut, but we stuck in there and ultimately penalties can go either way,” he said.
“I hadn’t played 90 minutes for a week or two before the game, but I’m keeping the body right now and hopefully I’ll play in that next FFA Cup game.”
“It was a performance we can work on, I’m really proud of the boys and how hard they worked in the game and we’ll build on it for the next one.”
“If you do well in the FFA Cup it brings a lot of confidence to the squad going into the season proper and even just that one win last week is bringing a lot of confidence in already,” Fox said.
