Sporting Highlights

Central Coast gets serious about the NRL

Many local businesses and residents will be well aware the NRL is looking seriously at inviting a team representing the Central Coast into the competition from 2013. Commenting on the possibility of the Central Coast having its own team, Greg Florimo, Chief Executive Officer of the Central Coast Bears said, “The timing is perfect for the Central Coast to have its own team in league’s top tier. About eight to ten months ago Perry Lopez, the bid director for the Central Coast Bears, and I saw an opportunity with the television rights for the NRL to be renegotiated. We met with NRL Chief Operating Officer, Graham Annesley, who indicated the milestones the Central Coast Bears must meet to get a licence.

“We must present our proposal by October to the NRL and have a strategy in place to engage with the Central Coast community,” said Mr Florimo. “As part of this strategy we have established our corporate office in the Fortunity Building at Erina. Central Coast Bears Head Coach, David Fairleigh and I also presented our case to local businesses in Terrigal in June. It was an extremely vocal and passionate meeting and many of the business people made it clear we will have their support as long as the organisation is 100% committed to centralising the team on the Coast," he said. “This is absolutely the objective, and we will be meeting with more local businesses as we approach the October deadline to seek their support,” said Mr Florimo.

There are many compelling reasons for a Central Coast team to a win a place in the NRL. The team will represent a population catchment of over one million people and the third largest junior league in NSW, plus a purpose-built playing arena in Gosford – Bluetongue Stadium. Mr Florimo said, “To be admitted into the NRL we need to prove the Central Coast is an established rugby league heartland, with an existing and dedicated fan base, and an established junior rugby league competition. We tick these boxes, and the Central Coast Bears also require the support of TV networks and Gosford and Wyong councils – which we have.”

On the financial side, it will cost $12-15 million to win a place in league’s top tier. On top of the NRL grants of more than $4 million per year, the Central Coast needs to raise at least $8 million through sponsorship, membership, ticket sales, stadium revenue and merchandising. “This sounds like serious coin, but these figures are nothing out of the ordinary. And given the size of the Central Coast and northern Sydney and the great opportunities we have, we believe this is an achievable goal,” said Mr Florimo.

“I would also like to report that the Central Coast Bears has already received interest from potential backers after releasing an investor document in July. We have held preliminary talks with interested parties, including a number of major Australian and Central Coast-based corporations, as we ramp up the bid. We've had a positive response since going to the market and are pleased to report people want to talk to us,” he said. Greg Florimo can be contacted at greg@centralcoastbears.com.au

Gosford Sailing Club to host National Championships

Gosford Sailing Club will host the Endeavour Yachting Association’s National Championships in Gosford on 8-10 January 2010.
Currently there are eight Endeavour 26 and three Endeavour 24 class yachts racing with the Gosford Sailing Club who are undergoing major refurbishment as preparations for the regatta begin in earnest. Endeavour Class yachts were one of Australia’s most successful production yachts during the 1960s and through to the mid 1980s when some five-hundred were built. Because they an easy yacht to sail they are now sought after for racing and cruising. They range in size from 19ft to 32ft.

Outrigger regatta and festival to rival Hamilton Island

The Ettalong Beach Business Group (EBBG) and the Te Iku Nui Outrigger Canoe Club are to host an Annual Outrigger Regatta and Community Festival during the weekend of 13-14 March 2010. Event Co-ordinator, Lindy Wilson from the EBBG said the two organisations are planning to create an event that will rival the Hamilton Island event – the biggest in Australia.

“This has the potential to grow into a major regional event and even a national event if we can attract the sponsors to allow us to offer substantial prize money and gain a television viewing audience,” said Ms Wilson. “Our plan is for the race to be a relay change race that will start at Ettalong Beach and run through to Gosford where the crews would change and race back. In this way we can involve all of the communities along the race route.”

“The course would allow unprecedented waterfront viewing by many different communities and would attract a large number of visitors to the Coast. It is a spectacular and exciting relay where teams change in the water giving it a unique format seen in few Australian outrigger regattas,” said Ms Wilson.

The EBBG’s strategy is for the regatta to be a sustainable event and develop over a period of five years to become a major sporting and tourism event. Ms Wilson said, “Our aim is to attract local and overseas competitors, particularly from the Pacific Islands and New Zealand.”

Around the event would be a Community Festival for South Sea Island and Aboriginal cultures, local artisans to display and sell their products, and for environmental groups to get involved. “We are presently talking to the Gosford BID people and Iguanas to get them involved. This is something for everyone around the Brisbane Water,” said Ms Wilson. The EBBG is seeking sponsors including naming rights sponsors. For more information phone Lindy Wilson on 0417 210 674.

Sheffield United Owner Joins Central Coast Mariners Board

The Central Coast Mariners' relationship with English Championship club Sheffield United has taken its most significant step to date, with the appointment of Sheffield United owner and chairman Kevin McCabe to the Mariners board. Mr McCabe’s appointment is a landmark moment for the two clubs and in particular for the Mariners.

"It is exciting to have a businessman of Kevin’s calibre, with a proven dedication and commitment to football, to come on board with the Mariners,” said the Mariners' deputy chairman, Peter Turnbull. “We look forward to utilising his immense knowledge on the business of football and his experience in property development. We also look forward keenly to his input with the new Centre of Excellence development at Tuggerah, as Kevin has already been heavily involved in building world class centres in several cities around the world."

“The Centre of Excellence project is close to commencement and Kevin’s experience in being involved with these types of projects will be invaluable as we continue our quest to make the development the hub of football excellence in this country,” said Central Coast Mariners's executive chairman, Lyall Gorman.

“The Mariners and Sheffield United have worked incredibly hard to get our partnership to the exciting levels it is at today, and we believe Kevin’s influence has significantly helped our club move forward in many areas of its operation and thinking, buoyed by the Sheffield philosophy of thinking globally and acting locally, said Mr Gorman. “We feel very much part of the 'Blades Family', and welcome Kevin with open arms to our board. We look forward to his involvement with great anticipation and know that his passion and involvement will produce many significant positives and mutual benefits in the future.”

Mr McCabe is Chairman of Sheffield United , and in a partnership with his company, Scarborough Holdings, he has turned the football club into a diversified property and leisure services enterprise. The company has subsequently branched out into Asia, amassing a property portfolio valued at over AU$1 billion. He also has a ninety per cent stake in  the Chinese club  Chengdu Blades.  Since then, the Mariners, along with Hungarian side Ferencvaros, have been welcomed into the 'Blades World' family. Last year, Mr McCabe finalised an agreement to buy Ferencvaros, and to purchase and develop the ground around Stadion Albert Florian. The development of a new all-seater stadium with a capacity of 25,000 has already begun.

Mars July Inspirational Athletes

Central Coast Academy of Sport netball scholarship athlete, Stevie Larsen is this month’s Mars Inspirational Athlete along with basketball scholarship athlete, Fin Neaves.

Stevie is another of the outstanding young netballers that abound on the Central Coast. At just 16 years of age, she has now been playing netball for ten years. In 2004, Stevie was selected to play in the Gosford representative netball competition – a level she has continued with ever since. In 2007 she was named the Gosford Representative under-14 Player’s Player of the Year, and in 2008 Stevie was chosen to play in the Gosford State League Division 6 team.

Fifteen-year-old Fin currently plays basketball with the Gosford City Rebels and Terrigal-Avoca Panthers AFL team. The Wamberal local has so far had a basketball career highlighted by many achievements including playing in the Gosford City Rebels’ under-14 team at the National Titles in Townsville in 2007. He also competed in the 2008 School Junior Basketball Championships held in Newcastle, and was in victorious teams in the 2009 under-16 Country Tour Championships, and 2007 and 2009 Country Championships.

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