Central Coast Mariner Matt Simon’s torn jersey up for auction for RFS
What tickles your fancy more – Matt Simon’s torn jersey or dressing as the Masterfoods sauce bottle? This week you have the chance to secure one or both, and raise funds for the Rural Fire Service.
Central Coast
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Central Coast Mariners are thinking outside the square in their support of the Rural Fire Service – auctioning off Matt Simon’s torn jersey from Sunday night’s memorable comeback win over Melbourne Victory.
The Mariners listed the auction item on Monday afternoon and the jersey had already attracted 29 bids, with a top bid of $725, after less than an hour of the seven-day auction period.
On online share of the auction item quipped “This is gonna surpass Shane Warne’s baggy green”, in reference to the million dollar price tag secured for the cricketing great’s famous cap.
Simon scored two late penalty goals to seal the gutsy 3-2 win which saw the Mariners get the better of their rivals for the first time in almost seven years.
It was in between the two penalties when Simon’s jersey was torn during an on-field scuffle.
Mariners chief executive Shaun Mielekamp said the auction decision was made on the spur of the moment after full time, with the club launching the auction online on Monday afternoon.
All money raised from the auction will go towards the Rural Fire Service – Central Coast Control Centre, to assist with upgrading essential communication equipment
The auction comes days after the Mariners, together with sponsor Masterfoods, put forward the opportunity to dress as a tomato sauce bottle as a prize for a bushfire donation drive run by Facebook page A-League Memes.
The catch is that the winner has to be a Central Coast Mariners fan and live on the Central Coast to qualify to win the money-can’t-buy experience.
The opportunity attracted hundreds of comments on social media from Mariners fans, and others contemplating changing allegiances in order to win.
“Imagine having that on your resume, could get literally any job you wanted,” said one fan of the chance to dress as a sauce bottle.
Another said: “This is the greatest gift a man can receive”.
The sauce bottle experience winner is expected to be known on January 19, while the auction for Simon’s shirt closes on January 20.
The Mariners were also collecting donations for the NSW Rural Fire Service at the Melbourne game.