Bojic capture completes Mariners outfield line up

Bojic has signed a one-year deal with the yellow and navy having so impressed for TeleChoice Premier League highflyers the Sutherland Sharks, coupled with standout showings for the Mariners in trial matches stretching back to late June.
 
Bojic?s signature had also been sought by at least one of the Mariners? Hyundai A-League rivals, making the 24-year-old?s recruitment a significant coup for the reigning Premiers and their Members and supporters, who were first introduced to Bojic at Bluetongue Stadium yesterday, where he completed an impressive ninety minutes alongside captain Alex Wilkinson in central defence.
 
Bojic?s capture sees the Mariners with 21 players on their books for season four, with the creative defender one of five new signings added to the Mariners? roster for 2008/09, along with Adrian Caceres, David D?Apuzzo, Ahmad Elrich and Dylan Macallister.
 
“Pedj is a player that we?ve been keeping our eye on for some time and we?re suitably convinced and confident that he has a lot to offer at this level,” said Mariners Executive Chairman Lyall Gorman.
 
“Pedj is regarded by many as the best player in the TeleChoice Premier League and, mindful of the success that we?ve had previously when recruiting from this league with the likes of Mile Jedinak and Matt Simon, we?re hoping to have landed another success story in Pedj.
 
“We?re confident that Pedj?s character and ability, coupled with his determination to succeed in the Hyundai A-League will make him a fantastic and vital addition to our playing stocks for our Premiership defence and we?re delighted to have officially welcomed him to our club for what we believe will be another very successful season.”
 
Most notably, Bojic?s previous playing experience included a noteworthy stint in England?s third and fourth tier competitions with Northampton Town.
 
Bojic adjusted to the intense atmosphere of England?s match heavy Football League 2 competition without fail in his first season away from home in 2004/05.
 
During his first campaign at Sixfields Stadium, Bojic was challenged by beanpole marksman and England striker Peter Crouch in the FA Cup at a time where the current Portsmouth lynchpin was playing with Southamption, and also came up against a Barnsley outfit that featured Sunderland?s Michael Chopra and Qantas Socceroo Jacob Burns in the same competition.
 
Northampton reached the promotion playoffs after finishing seventh, only to lose out to Southend United at the first hurdle.
 
In his second season in England?s East Midlands, Bojic enjoyed unquestionably his most memorable campaign ? playing a cornerstone role in securing Northampton a rare promotion to England?s third tier, where the Cobblers had seldom made an impression previously.
 
Northampton finished second to secure one of the three automatic promotion places, with Bojic netting six goals in 43 league and cup appearances, the highlights of which were an opening day equaliser away to Lincoln Town and a starting eleven berth against a Crystal Palace side featuring current Everton striker and England international Andy Johnson in the third round of the FA Cup.
 
Injury concerns between January and April 2007 ruled Bojic out of a significant portion of Northampton?s subsequent Football League 1 campaign, where the Cobblers settled for a mid-table finish, with Bojic still managing 30 appearances.
 
Before departing for England, Bojic debuted for the Parramatta Power in their 2001/02 season as a 17-year-old alongside current Mariners team-mate Ahmad Elrich and Development Manager Alex Tobin in a 3-1 win over the Wollongong Wolves.
 
At international level, Bojic was an influential member of Australia?s 2001 FIFA Under-17 World Cup charge, where he often lined up alongside Mariners captain Wilkinson in central defence throughout the qualification campaign and then the World Cup itself, which was staged in Trinidad & Tobago.
 
Bojic started each of Australia?s group matches in Port of Spain ? his contributions most noteworthy in a 1-0 triumph over the host nation and a 4-0 drubbing of a Croatian side featuring Portsmouth?s Niko Kranjcar.
 
“One of the primary reasons I left England in 2007 was in the hope of breaking into the Hyundai A-League and I?m delighted to have been given this chance by the Central Coast Mariners,” said Bojic.
 
“Since returning, I?ve trained with a few clubs and experienced some of the setups on offer around the country and, for me, the Mariners was head and shoulders above the rest, particularly in regards to the team spirit and morale here, which is among the best I?ve ever been apart of.
 
“I?m excited to be playing alongside each of my new team-mates here on the Central Coast and I?m confident, as the entire playing group is, that we have a squad capable of lifting some silverware this season and continuing the fine history that this club has set in previous years.”
-www.ccmariners.com.au