Former Socceroo and minder to David Beckham, Andy Bernal, was sitting at home contemplating what to do next when a phone call from a stranger prompted his next football move. It was Richard Peil, Co-Founder of Anytime Fitness, wanting Bernals thoughts on moving into the football business after reading Andys best-selling autobiography, Riding Shotgun. From there, sprung a friendship which led to Peil buying into the A-Leagues Central Coast Mariners. With limited resources as the A-Leagues smallest club and smallest population, the pair went about building a club, appointing a coach, and assembling resources, that would see Central Coast Mariners win the 2023 A-League championship under the direction of new coach, Nick Montgomery. With an official title of Director of Athletic Development, and an unofficial one of Vibe Manager, Bernal was integral to the camaraderie and teamwork that characterised the Central Coast Mariners successful season.This is the first book written by an A-League insider about the day-to-day issues faced by a club within a 30-week season.
