Central Coast Mariners will play their 500th men’s A-League match on Saturday, January 27, against Brisbane Roar in Gosford, and Coast-FM 963 will broadcast it – as they have every match since the Mariners began their A-League journey.
The Coast-FM football team is the most experienced A-League commentary team in the land, with 19 consecutive seasons of coverage.
The first broadcast was on May 15, 2005, with the final of the World Club Championships Australian qualifiers, and since that time, every single competitive Mariners men’s match has been broadcast across the Central Coast.
That includes all matches in the A-League, The Australia (FFA) Cup, AFC Champion League and AFC Cup, whether the Mariners have been home or away.
The original team of Trent Dickeson, Michael Kmet and Shane Derham has had a few changes over the years with current team members Luke Byrne (2007) and Dan McCamley (2018) joining original team member Trent Dickeson (2005) to bring the Mariners to the Central Coast community whenever and wherever they play.
Chairman Chayne Cleary said Coast-FM 963 was incredibly proud of its support of the Mariners on the national and international stage through its match-day coverage.
“What Trent, Luke and Dan have achieved is nothing short of amazing; the experience they bring to covering football on radio is second to none in Australia,” Cleary said.
“Coast-FM is a not-for-profit station, a small but proud player, broadcasting for the benefit of the local community and we continue to punch above our weight, just like the Mariners have done so successfully over their entire history.”
Trent Dickeson said it had been a privilege to cover the Mariners for so long.
“It feels like only yesterday I entered the commentary box at Central Coast Stadium to cover the Mariners and Sydney FC in 2005,” he said.
“Now 19 A-League seasons later, Coast-FM continues to send us all over the country and throughout Asia to provide coverage.
“It’s a very special feeling when you think back over a such a long time and realise the privilege we have been given, not only to witness but to share so many wonderful moments throughout the Mariners history.
“There are too many to count, but they don’t get much bigger than the two grand final wins.
“Mind you, being able to cover games from stadiums in places like China and Japan has been equally unforgettable.
“And it’s wonderful to share the commentary booth with Luke and Dan.
“Their commitment to the Mariners and the Central Coast community through the Coast-FM 963 coverage is second to none.”
This season Coast-FM 963 extended its coverage by committing to home matches for the Mariners women’s side competing in the A-League Women’s competition.
Dan McCamley is leading the commentary team with Katrina Ashleigh and Gabrielle Blanch, as Coast-FM continues with its commitment to develop local broadcasters.