CENTRAL Coast Mariners will score a huge goal today when their $100 million Centre of Excellence at Tuggerah is officially opened by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Mariners chief executive officer Shaun Mielekamp said the club would also ­reveal a masterplan for the site which they intend to be the business and sporting hub of the Central Coast.

“We’re very excited about the project and about $35 million is being spent on the current development,’’ Mr Mielekamp said.

“Stages two and three represent about $50 million and, when finished, it will cost $100 million to build the Centre of Excellence.

“It is great to see cranes in the sky, which is a real symbol of progress.

“We have a lot of confidence in the community and we are very proud to be able to develop this centre for the whole community.”

media_camera An artist's impression how the Central Coast Mariners Centre of Excellence will look when it’s completed.

media_camera Construction is well underway at the Mariners Centre of Excellence at Tuggerah.

Located on the corner of Bryant Drive and Wyong Rd, the centre currently has a Soccer5s facility, YMCA Swim School, Mariners coaching and players’ quarters with a gym and office space, and 10 all-weather synthetic pitches used by community sporting clubs.

Gosford-based company North Construction is deep into stage two of the five stage development of the Centre of Excellence which is also the club’s training headquarters.

Stage two comprises a six-storey office block with two levels of medical suites and four storeys of leased office space, including the Mariners’ headquarters.

media_camera Shaun Mielekamp, Central Coast Mariners CEO, at Central Coast Stadium. Picture: Peter Clark

The remaining stages, subject to development ­approval, include an 80-room hotel and conference centre, a Mariners Pub, a 1200-seat grandstand over the main pitch, lighting for all playing fields, extra car parking and a gym and fitness centre.

Mr Mielekamp said the ­vision is that one day the venue would become the home of Australia’s men’s and women’s national football teams.

“We hope it will be home to the Socceroos,” Mr Mielekamp said.

“It would be a real coup getting the Socceroos to Tuggerah and we want to attract local, national and international teams, such as the All Blacks, to train here.”

media_camera Peter Storrie.

Mariners executive vice chairman Peter Storrie, who is former chief executive officer at English clubs West Ham and Portsmouth, said the centre was the brainchild of Mariners owner and chairman Mike Charlesworth, who has invested $20 million into the project.

“It is exactly what Mike wants at the site and he is delighted,’’ Mr Storrie said.

“This will be fantastic and we will have something here that no other A-League club will have.

“It’s exciting times.”

media_camera Luis Garcia.

SPANISH STAR NETS TRIPLE THE INTEREST

EARLIER this year, the Mariners took on Spanish superstar and marquee signing Luis Garcia and club CEO Shaun Mielekamp said it was already paying dividends­.

“Since the arrival of Luis Garcia, our community ­appearances on the Central Coast have tripled,’’ he said.

“Everyone wants to meet him and we expect our ­appearances will increase again this month with our two schools programs kicking off.’’

The school programs ­include Munch and Move, a joint initiative between the Mariners and Central Coast Health, to help children ­improve nutrition.

“Then Roy O’Donovan, our marquee striker, will be mentoring young kids,’’ Mr Mielekamp said.

“When our academy kicks off, we will have about 250 kids from around the Central Coast training at the Centre of Excellence.’’

Mariners owner Mike Charlesworth said he was excited to watch the Centre of Excellence grow on land he bought as a symbol of his long-term commitment to the Central Coast.

“The Centre of Excellence is on its way to becoming one of Australia’s finest sporting centres,” he said.