Cook Islands became an island for people who wanted to start a new life. 11 young boys, 9 scottish and 2 english, moved their with their families after their town of Greenock lost many jobs thanks to the Government. They had lived their for 8 years before realising they were now Cook Islands citizens and could represent them in any competition. Including football. Cook Islands' football team were hugely unsuccessful. Their top scorer had one goal. Yes, one. These 11 boys were reunited when they went for football trials for the national squad and they all succeeded for the team at the ages of 14 to 15. These are the boys who could reshape this island's football reputation:
Bryce Lever GK
Josh Houston DEF/MID
Jack Delaney DEF/MID
Ryan Wilson DEF/MID
Kieran Boyle DEF/MID
Martin Lafferty DEF/MID
Brendan Stewart DEF/MID
Jack McKechnie MID
Scott Phanco MID/DEF
Michael Houston ST
Stephen O'Brian ST
They will all debut against Papua New Guinea next month.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The young boys have already found clubs! But they can't join until at least 2013 due to overseas rule where they need to be 18 to join.
Bryce Lever - Lyon
Josh Houston - Esteghalal
Jack Delaney - Feyernoord
Ryan Wilson - Marseille
Kieran Boyle - Galatasaray
Martin Lafferty - Marseille
Brendan Stewart - Fenerbache
Jack McKechnie - Shaktar
Scott Phanco - Fenerbache
Michael Houston - Inter
Stephen O'Brian - Inter
These boys look promising!
Favourites: Papua New Guinea
Friendly
Cook Islands 6 Papua New Guinea 0
Houston x3, Gewebing OG,
Wilson, O'Brian
Star Performer: Michael Houston
Injuries: O'Brian 9 days
No one expected that result! Papua New Guinea were expected to stroll through the game and I think they will be surprised!
World Ranking 197 to 193.
They are slowly making their way up!
Next match, an away match against American Samoa.
Friendly
Favourites: Cook Islands
American Samoa 1 Cook Islands 6
Laulu O'Brian, Houston x2
McKechniex2, Puroku
Star Performer: Michael Houston
That was an easy win and they're showing their dominance.
Friendly
Cook Islands 11 American Samoa 0
O'Brian x5, Phanco x3,
McKechnie x2, Houston
Star Performer: Stephen O'Brian
Injuries: Jack McKechnie
Record win showed how well these guys have been playing.
We have a big match against Fiji next.
World Ranking 193 to 182. Fantastic!
Friendly
Cook Islands 5 Fiji 0
Lafferty, Phanco, Delaney,
Stewart, Dau OG
Star Performer: Brendan Stewart
What a game! I did not expect this result!
October World Rankings 182 to 174 They are moving up!
Next time... Novermber to June 2010/2011
Bryce Lever GK
Josh Houston DEF/MID
Jack Delaney DEF/MID
Ryan Wilson DEF/MID
Kieran Boyle DEF/MID
Martin Lafferty DEF/MID
Brendan Stewart DEF/MID
Jack McKechnie MID
Scott Phanco MID/DEF
Michael Houston ST
Stephen O'Brian ST
They will all debut against Papua New Guinea next month.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The young boys have already found clubs! But they can't join until at least 2013 due to overseas rule where they need to be 18 to join.
Bryce Lever - Lyon
Josh Houston - Esteghalal
Jack Delaney - Feyernoord
Ryan Wilson - Marseille
Kieran Boyle - Galatasaray
Martin Lafferty - Marseille
Brendan Stewart - Fenerbache
Jack McKechnie - Shaktar
Scott Phanco - Fenerbache
Michael Houston - Inter
Stephen O'Brian - Inter
These boys look promising!
Favourites: Papua New Guinea
Friendly
Cook Islands 6 Papua New Guinea 0
Houston x3, Gewebing OG,
Wilson, O'Brian
Star Performer: Michael Houston
Injuries: O'Brian 9 days
No one expected that result! Papua New Guinea were expected to stroll through the game and I think they will be surprised!
World Ranking 197 to 193.
They are slowly making their way up!
Next match, an away match against American Samoa.
Friendly
Favourites: Cook Islands
American Samoa 1 Cook Islands 6
Laulu O'Brian, Houston x2
McKechniex2, Puroku
Star Performer: Michael Houston
That was an easy win and they're showing their dominance.
Friendly
Cook Islands 11 American Samoa 0
O'Brian x5, Phanco x3,
McKechnie x2, Houston
Star Performer: Stephen O'Brian
Injuries: Jack McKechnie
Record win showed how well these guys have been playing.
We have a big match against Fiji next.
World Ranking 193 to 182. Fantastic!
Friendly
Cook Islands 5 Fiji 0
Lafferty, Phanco, Delaney,
Stewart, Dau OG
Star Performer: Brendan Stewart
What a game! I did not expect this result!
October World Rankings 182 to 174 They are moving up!
Next time... Novermber to June 2010/2011
It'd be cool to see if that sort of massive improvement of players will improve the quality of the regens you get, or what happens if you get hit by injuries