A Night at the Footy (February 11)

There hasn't been that much in the way of opportunities for me to go out and have a bite to eat around here recently. I had felt that I could start comparing Chinese takeaways for their Singapore Noodles (seeing I had sampled several places recently for that particular dish) but last night I finally managed to do one that I should've done a long time ago, considering how many times I've been there.
Yesterday I once again found myself at the Central Coast Stadium right on the edge of the Brisbane Water. It's well over 250 visits to the stadium for three football codes since 2000 and I've never gotten tired of the view. Unlike the previous post, which was a rather wet day for the opening matches of the 2024-25 A-League season (womens then mens), here I was at what was going to be the last home match of the Mariners' Champions League Elite 2024-25 campaign against the ten time Malaysian Super League champions Johor Drul Ta'zim. It was a reasonable night weatherwise, a little balmy but otherwise fine.

One cheeseburger a la mode in Bay 27.
Carefully balanced on my knee for the shot.

On the menu tonight, well, the only thing I really could rate was the cheeseburger meal. Honestly, there's not much to a cheeseburger meal so you'd have to do something really bad to stuff it up. With a 600ml drink and a large bucket of chips, you're looking at $26 all up. To be honest, the burger wasn't that great. It was a simple, slightly thick meat pattie, combined with a small dollop of sauce, a slice of cheese and a couple of slivers of gherkin inside a plain white bun. Oddly enough, it was very similar in taste and content to the cheeseburger you could get across the road at the Central Coast Leagues Club. The drink's producer was covered by a sticky white label (no doubt for sponsorship purposes) with the chips being quite tasty with a hint of being beer battered. By themselves you're looking at $8 for the (slightly) bigger bucket. There are other options on the menu, like fish and chips, hot dogs, sausage rolls and pies. I've pretty much tried everything else and to be honest you're better off bringing your own food in (which a mate of mine does whenever he visits), maybe your own non-alcoholic drinks as well. Still, it's okay once in a while, which I'll have to adhere to. Last Friday (8 Feb) I ventured into the city to see Kate Miller-Heidke at the Recital Hall in Wynard and forked out $16 for a can of cider and a packet of potato crisps. No sandwiches on offer, at best a selection of cheese and crackers, though I bought cheaper ones at the kiosk at Central Station on the way back home. It really is hardly worth buying food or drink at the venue these days.
Anyway, I can take or leave the stadium burger and chips. I'd suggest eating at the club first before attending a match but seeing it gets quite busy over there before the game you'll have to get there at least an hour before the gates open, or take your chances elsewhere, depending what day the match is on and what time the game starts and finish. Friday and Saturday nights aren't too bad, with several dining places of various sorts open in the main street, including the Hotel Gosford, which I reviewed on 2 November 2024, where I've been going once a month for the Tuesday night trivia.
By the way, in what was a busy night for officials with a send off, yellow cards, players being stretchered off and plenty of referrals to the VAR, the visitors won 2-1. The Mariners' final match in this campaign will be overseas on Feb 18. My next game there could well be the women's fixture against the Wanderers on Feb 22, though there will be a couple of rugby league trials there this month as well.
Cheers!

Like I said, never get tired of the view. :)

Updated 12 April, 2025.

All links correct at time of posting.

Photographs taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2025.