Mariners name Polytec as front shirt sponsor for next five seasons

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Central Coast Mariners and Anytime Fitness
Image credit: IOIO IMAGES / Shutterstock.com

The Central Coast Mariners announced a groundbreaking collaboration with Polytec, take on the role of front-of-shirt sponsor for the Mariners’ A-League Men’s team for the next five seasons.

The five-year agreement, set to begin from the upcoming season, marks the most significant commercial deal in the club’s history.

Polytec, which started on the Central Coast, has grown into a prominent name in Australian manufacturing and distribution of decorative surfaces, celebrated for its commitment to quality and sustainability.

This partnership reflects the shared values of excellence, innovation, and community engagement that both polytec and the Mariners hold dear.

The new partnership will soon be visible to fans, as polytec’s branding will be featured on the Mariners’ kits for the 2024/25 A-League Men’s season, with the unveiling of the new design expected in the coming weeks.

In addition to the sponsorship, the Mariners’ academies will now carry the Borg name, further reinforcing the company’s commitment to community development and local talent support.

This initiative underscores both organisations’ dedication to nurturing the next generation of football stars and making a lasting impact in the Central Coast region.

The recently appointed CEO of Central Coast Mariners, Alyssar Narey, discussed the many benefits of this collaboration.

“We are thrilled to welcome polytec to the Mariners’ family. As a National Australian brand with founders who are from the Central Coast, their dedication to innovation and excellence aligns perfectly with our club’s values,” Narey said in a statement.

“This partnership not only strengthens our team’s presence on the field but also highlights our commitment to forging strong relationships with leading businesses in our community.

“The direction and new initiatives we are undertaking as a club are greatly supported by this partnership. Naming rights to our academies align perfectly with our community pillar, enhancing our ability to nurture local talent and contribute positively to the community.”

Managing Director of the Borg Group, John Borg, shared his pride in the collaboration.

“We are proud to partner with the Central Coast Mariners, a club that embodies the spirit of our community and excellence.” Borg said in a statement.

“At Borg, we strive to be leaders in our industry, and this partnership with the Mariners allows us to support a team that shares our passion for community, success and innovation. We look forward to a strong collaboration over the next five years.”

This partnership is one that presents fantastic opportunities for both parties on and off the field. The goal for them is to deepen community engagement and enhance the prospects of the Central Coast region, which will be fantastic for the local community.

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Football Australia Expands Mental Skills Program for Match Officials Amid Sustained Focus on Referee Retention

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Image Credit: Football NSW

Football Australia has confirmed a second national webinar for match officials, led by sports psychologist Dr Liam Slack, extending a referee development series introduced after strong engagement with an initial session on managing match-day pressure.

The upcoming session, themed “parking with purpose,” will focus on decision-making strategies designed to help referees process on-field calls and reset attention quickly across a match that can present hundreds of individual decisions. Dr Slack, who also consults with The Football Association and the AFC Referee Academy and previously spent over a decade as a performance psychologist with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited in England, brings substantial elite-level experience to a program open to officials at every level, from grassroots to professional.

The theme builds on work Dr Slack has already delivered within Australian officiating. He recently led a session with Football Australia’s National Referee Academy on the same concept, framing the ability to consciously park a decision and refocus on the next phase of play as a trainable skill rather than an innate trait, one that separates officials who reset quickly under pressure from those who don’t. He has also addressed more than 100 Football Australia elite match officials and staff on developing a stronger match-day mentality, an indication of how embedded this psychological framework has become across the officiating pathway rather than remaining a one-off intervention.

The expansion of the webinar series reflects a broader shift in how football administrators are approaching referee attrition. Rather than treating retention purely as a recruitment or pay problem, the program signals an institutional acknowledgment that the psychological demands of officiating, particularly the compounding pressure of split-second decisions under public scrutiny, are a material factor in whether officials remain in the game.

It rests alongside other measures adopted across Australian football in recent years, including visible identification programs for junior referees and structural reviews of referee departments at state federation level, all aimed at the same underlying issue: a shrinking pool of match officials relative to demand.

Football Australia has not detailed metrics for assessing the program’s impact on referee numbers, though the recurring engagement of an internationally credentialed specialist across multiple tiers of the officiating pathway suggests sustained institutional investment in the approach.

Football Victoria elevates fan enjoyment with Streets partnership

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Image credit: Prostock-studio / Shutterstock.com

Football Victoria (FV) revealed last week a new partnership with ice cream giants, Streets. The brand will become an exclusive ice cream partner for the next three years.

 

An iconic brand for joyful experiences

As a well-known and popular ice cream brand with people all around the nation, Streets will now look to support the fan experience in Victoria through its products.

It reflects FV’s commitment to delivering a family-friendly and memorable experience for spectators. Both on and off the pitch, the organisation is striving to elevate the experience for fans and families alike.

“Football Victoria is always looking for ways to elevate the experience at The Home of The Matildas, and this partnership does exactly that,” explained FV Executive Manager of Commercial and Facilities, Chris Speldewinde.

“It’s a fantastic fit for our community and we’re looking forward to what the next three years will bring.”

Furthermore, Senior Brand Manager at Streets, Ryan Katz, emphasised the brand’s role in community sport and in creating memories beyond the action on the pitch.

“Streets is proud to join Football Victoria as its exclusive ice cream partner,” Katz said.

“There’s nothing better than enjoying a great game with a classic ice cream in-hand, and we’re excited to be part of those moments across the state.”

 

Understanding community football

Community football is all about these moments. Sunny days, the family together, and a sweet treat in-hand while supporting a local team alongside friends and neighbours.

This is why a partnership between FV and Streets is particularly important.

Not for its commercial value, but for what it tells us about both parties’ understanding of what matters to fans. From young fans to experienced matchday-goers, everyone wants to find enjoyment while watching the game.

And while the 90 minutes of action is the focus, the experience of a local matchday is truly defined by interactions with fellow supporters and smaller – but no less significant – moments of happiness during the day.

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