Local boy is signed by Mariners

Trent Buhagiar started playing soccer with the Umina Eagles when he was four years old.

Now 17, Trent has been signed by the Central Coast Mariners to play in the A-League.

Buhagiar is an attacker who has developed his game at Kariong's International Football School and was presented his CCMFC jersey by inaugural Mariners signing, Damien Brown.

The club has regarded Trent as one of the standout performers of the National Youth League squad this season and appeared last season as an injury replacement in the Mariners' youth team.

He said he was delighted to be signed by the club.

"Last night I was watching a movie and (head coach) Tony Walmsley called me up and said that there was an opportunity for me to get a contract and start training with first team full time, I told mum and dad straight away who were stoked with it as well."

The whole of Buhagiar's soccer career has been played on the Central Coast.

The Umina junior climbed the tiers of Peninsula clubs before making the progression to representative level.

"For my whole life I've been playing on the Coast, it started at under-5s with Umina Eagles through to the 13s where I played with Southern Ettalong, then onto the Mariners Academy," Buhagiar said.

"It's going to be hard training full time.

"The International Football School has been great and given me the opportunity to kick a football every day.

"From what I've been told, I will be on the wing or anywhere up front."

He is expected to be the first of many players to sign a professional contract from the International Football School.

The signing is head coach Tony Walmsley's third January window recruit in the wake of both Alastair Bray and Francesco Stella also joining his squad.

Walmsley spoke of the attributes Buhagiar brings to his squad.

"Trent Buhagiar fits a number of profiles.

"We're a community-based club.

"We look for outstanding attributes and we give youth a chance.

"Trent's got incredible pace.

"He's done very well in his two seasons with the NYL and he's a lifelong Coastie.

"He's never played football anywhere else," Walmsley said.

"Thankfully the IFS has given him the extra technical skills he was lacking a couple of years ago and, you put all of that together, he's a 17-year-old package with dynamite in his legs and he could certainly add something to this team moving forward.

"The first thing he has to do is adapt to the loads.

"It's a massive shift from youth league to A-League," Walmsley said.

Mariners CEO Shaun Mielekamp said: "This is one of the proudest signings that we have made since my time at the club and we wish Trent all the best in the next stage of his playing career.

"This is a testament to the IFS who played a crucial role in Trent's rapid development towards the A-League," Mielekamp said.

Media release, 5 Jan 2015

Tyson Scott, Central Coast Mariners