Michael McGlinchey

Michael sparked the early interest of football talent scouts at Celtic and Manchester United as a gifted-youth midfielder, and built the skills for his future football career before leaving Scotland in 2009 at the age of 22.

He had met his Aberdeen-born wife, Rachel, five years earlier and, together, they followed Michael’s career around the world: the Central Coast (for five years on-and-off), Wellington in New Zealand (the land of his father’s birth) for whom Michael plays as an International, with 55 caps, as well as representing the country at the 2012 Olympic Games), and Japan (for six months, where they discovered Rachel was pregnant with their second child).

They returned to Glasgow and began to prepare for family life while Michael started looking at potential football clubs that were interested in him in Scotland. Then came a call from the assistant manager at the Central Coast Mariners.

‘It was too good an opportunity, a great place to raise our family and put down roots,’ says Michael in an accent that is still heavily Scottish.

Their son (now six years old) was born in Gosford Hospital, but Michael’s subsequent career moves meant their daughter (now five) was born in New Zealand, and their youngest son (18 months) was born in Glasgow. With such a travelled life, where does Michael feel most at home?

‘Glasgow because I grew up there,’ he says. ‘And the Central Coast because I love it here. It’s such a different lifestyle to Glasgow, and every day we’re at the beach somewhere, or doing something outdoors. The Mariners Club is very welcoming, very sociable — we’re often at each other’s places for barbecues.’

The children love the outdoors and although they’ve picked up something of the Scottish accents of their parents, Michael can hear the Aussie in them.

‘The other day, my son wanted to play “soccer” in the back garden. I had to say to him, “you mean football”!’

‘Putting down roots’ has meant buying a home on the Central Coast … and immediately beginning on renovations: pulling up floorboards, renovating the bathroom, and more.

Rachel and the children are regular attendees at the Mariners’ games, and the older kids are beginning to think it’s pretty cool wearing their Mariners’ tops and realising their dad’s work is being a footballer.

‘I’m lucky that Rachel has always been very supportive of the time commitment football needs. We train five to six days a week — core work and on the pitch — and have one day off. It’s more than that though: it’s a lifestyle thing — what you eat, how much you sleep, staying healthy.

‘Rachel is an amazing cook,’ says Michael. ‘She loves to bake cakes for people. She’s now supplying cupcakes to the Surf Café in Terrigal, and I’m hoping that “after football” this may be something she pursues.’ As well as being a capped, international player, Michael is only one of two players to score a hat-trick for the Mariners, as well as having helped win the Mariners’ maiden championship back in 2013. Diehard fans of the ‘yellow and navy’ still talk of the corner he landed on the head of team-mate Patrick Zwaanswijk to score the opening goal in the grand final. As a player, now aged 32, Michael has a massive 225 caps (games) to his credit.

‘Footballers, if they are lucky, have a career-run to around 35 years of age. I’d like to stay involved with the game after my playing days are over. And if there was the (unlikely) chance of a coaching job, I’d definitely want to stay here on the Coast.’

Some of Michael’s favourite places: Beaches: My local, Spoon Bay, but also Pearl Beach for a day out with a picnic on the sand. On the water: The ferry from Ettalong to Palm Beach (and back!) Golf: Kooindah Waters and Magenta Shores Coffee and cakes: Terrigal Surf Café, of course Footwear: flip flops! Football team: Coasties! Coasties! Go the Mariners.