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GOLD Coast United celebrates grassroots football this week in the lead-up to Saturday’s 'Battle of the Coasts', as our Hyundai A-League side takes on Central Coast Mariners this Saturday at Skilled Park.

It is the ideal opportunity for Gold Coaster’s to experience the world’s biggest game first-hand and cheer on the Coast’s own Hyundai A-League stars taking on the third-placed Mariners.

The week will culminate with Hyundai’s ‘Goals for Grassroots’, where one lucky club will receive a donation from Hyundai based on the amount of goals Gold Coast manages to kick against the Central Coast Mariners, with a guaranteed $1000 minimum.

This round’s recipient of Hyundai’s Goals for Grassroots is Merrimac Soccer Club, who will receive $1000, plus an additional $1000 for every goal Gold Coast United can get against the Central Coast Mariners (up to a maximum of $5000).

As part of the weeklong celebrations, all kids aged 15 and under go free to Saturday’s game with a paying adult, while several local clubs have been invited to do a march-past and plenty of other fun football activities in the Skilled Park precinct.

Kids who register their interest to play football in 2010 will go in the draw to win a Qantas Socceroos experience and see Australia’s best football talent up-close.

Gold Coast United CEO, Clive Mensink, said the club more than owed their success on and off the field to the strong grassroots system.

“Like any representative club, we have our foundations in the grassroots system, and we wouldn’t be here today if we didn’t have that support,” he said.

“All grassroots systems need pathways to excel and that is why Gold Coast United is here; to provide a pathway for players in the Gold Coast community who have the talent, desire and drive to go one step further.”

Gold Coast United are proud to be honouring the time and effort of grassroots administrators in the community, who have helped establish football as a growing grassroots sport on the coast.

“Volunteers across the board are important, on the Gold Coast and across Australia, throughout a myriad of sports,” Mr Mensink said.

“We are proud to be able to recognise the hard work done by our community’s football volunteers this week and are certainly appreciative of the time they give up.”