Statement from CCU General Manager - Matthew Crowell

Over the past week, the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Central Coast Mariners Academy has left many young footballers and their families unsure about the immediate future of their training and development. With the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) currently overseeing the club’s operations during this transition period, we understand how unsettling this situation has been for our football community. We have been inundated with calls and emails to our office from parents asking if we have a spot available for their child or if their child can train and join sessions at CCU.

Since the inception of Central Coast United, our club has proudly supported the Central Coast Mariners Academy pathway. Over 250 boys and girls have progressed from CCU into CCMA programs. This reflects our long‑held belief in strong local pathways and collaboration between Central Coast football organisations.

We are incredibly proud to see former CCU players such as Jesse Mantell achieving national recognition at Under 20s Australia level and Shumba Mutokoyi (16 years old) breaking into the Mariners Academy 1st grade and scoring his 1st NPL goal. This is real proof of what Central Coast juniors can achieve. While this is a very concerning time for many young players, we remain ready and willing to help them stay on track, stay positive and keep developing.

Central Coast United has always been a club built for Central Coast people. Our purpose is simple: to ensure that young footballers can play,  grow, and thrive on the Central Coast. Our commitment does not change, especially during difficult moments like this.

I have personally reached out to Shaun Mielenkamp and Greg Brownlow to offer our full support as they work tirelessly to champion a positive future for the Mariners Academy. Their efforts in navigating this period deserve acknowledgement and community backing.

We have also been in communication with Football NSW (FNSW) and Central Coast Football (CCF) as part of our responsibility to ensure football continuity across our region. While we have not yet spoken directly with the APL, we are happy to assist them in any way that supports our young players and the broader football community. We are a standalone club and will continue to act in the best interests of players from the Central Coast, as such we are offering players direct training support (more info below).

To our CCU players and families, we want to reassure you that our focus remains firmly on the season ahead. All training, preparation, and planning continue as scheduled, and nothing changes in our commitment to your development and performance. While we are supporting the wider football community during this period, our internal programs and priorities remain exactly as planned.

The Central Coast football community is strongest when its clubs work together, particularly during challenging periods. Central Coast United is committed to ensuring young players remain engaged, active, and connected to the game they love. We will continue to support all parties involved and provide any assistance we can so that players across the region have every opportunity to train and play this season. Our focus remains on keeping young footballers on the pitch, motivated, and supported while the broader situation becomes clearer.

Matthew Crowell
General Manager, Central Coast United

Interim Training Support for Mariners Academy Players

For players and families seeking immediate training continuity, Central Coast United invites Mariners Academy players to join our training sessions for the next one to two weeks, or until further clarity is provided regarding the Academy’s future. This offer is solely to support players during this uncertain period.

We are aware that some players are considering trials elsewhere. We encourage them to wait for more information before making decisions. To help them continue training locally in the meantime, we are pleased to provide this temporary opportunity.

To keep sessions organised and safe, players must contact us before attending.
📧 info@ccutd.com

Please do not arrive without confirmation, as we must manage numbers appropriately.