I'd played football all my life. My father thrust a football at my feet the moment I had learned to walk and had taken me, each Saturday without fail, to watch his (and soon my) beloved Cardiff City at Ninian Park.
I had been a bright pupil at primary school, my teachers telling my parents I would go on to good things academically if only I could give up on my "pipe dream" of playing professional football. Never one to listen to authority figures, this only motivated me to donate every second to the beautiful game.
With this in mind I started secondary school, my grades soon faltered, but I more than mind up for it on the football field, playing for the year 10 team while in year 8. Scouts from across the country came to watch me play, coming from Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle to see whether the hype was true.
As I grew older, into my latter years at school, my studies took a back seat as I tried to make my "pipe dream" a reality. As friends of mine turned to alcohol and drugs to fulfil the holes in their lives, I turned to kicking a football against a wall, watching tapes of old footballing greats and playing the Championship Manager games that my uncle had "acquired".
Despite this, the call never came, and I have spent the 9 years since I left school floating around different semi-professional teams, my career only going as far as the first round of the FA Cup and the round of 16 in the FA Trophy.
There's nothing left for me in Wales, certainly not anywhere else in Britain, it's time for a fresh start, and so, with nothing but a GCSE in German, a National A licence and a chip on my shoulder the size of Everest, I set out for a new beginning.
"We're a very young club without much history and being from Britain you must be used to old clubs, how would you feel managing a side without much in the trophy cabinet?"
"I guess it gives me a chance to make my own history here"
"We'll be hosting a press conference so that the fans can really get to know you better, are you ok with that?"
"Yes, of course"
"Ok, I'll hand you over to your new assistant manager, we'll talk later on about specifics such as expectations and budgets"
The meeting with my new boss went well, I thought, as I walked out of the office and down the corridor to my new office where my new assistant manager, Chris Greenacre was leaning against the desk.
"Hello, Mr Gordon" he smiled,
"Call me Scott" I told him before taking a seat behind a large oak desk
"Okay then, Scott, I've taken the liberty of setting up an intra-squad friendly, just so you can see all the player's in action and if you look in your e-mail I've sent you a document detailing me and the chief scout John Halstead's views on the players"
"Okay then, thanks, I guess" I smiled
"Anything else you want?" He asked
"Not really, I'll see you later on then" I said as he turned and walked out the door, slowly closing it on his way out
I sat back in y chair and booted up the computer, I looked out of the window to my right at the bright mid-day sun and then looked down at my $4,700 p/w contract, totalling at around $245,000 per annum. This is the life, I thought, even if I only get to live it for a year.
View attachment 249836I smiled as I opened the document that Chris had sent me, thinking of my old schoolteachers who had labelled my hopes of a life in professional football a "pipe dream", sure I hadn't taken a conventional route, and sure I wasn't earning hundreds of thousands of pounds a week and stumbling out of nightclubs half naked surrounded by the press but that really wasn't what I wanted from football.
I chuckled when I saw how Chris had set out the players, ranking each out of 5 stars, nobody reaching the lofty heights of 5 out of 5.
Goalkeepers View attachment 249833
The squad only contained two goalkeepers, Glen Moss and Lewis Italino, and it was quite clear which Chris thought was the better stopper. I had watched videos of Wellington Phoenix and one's of their players in the build-up to taking this job and I agreed with my assistant on this point, Moss was the better keeper and seemed solid for the A-League, so no changes needed in between the sticks.
View attachment 249827 Defence View attachment 249826
No sweepers and not very good wing backs but that doesn't bother me, let's be honest, who REALLY uses sweepers? The main issue is at left-back Thomas Doyle is quite young at only 22 years old but really doesn't seem quite good enough for this level yet so I'll be bringing in an older better left-back to play there until Thomas reaches his potential. 30 year old Manny Muscat seems decent for this level and will be valuable to us as back up to 21 year old Louis Fenton. Andrew Durante and Ben Sigmund seem strong in the centre but we will need cover. View attachment 249825View attachment 249824View attachment 249820View attachment 249821
Midfield View attachment 249816
We seem to be well stocked in midfield, Albert Riera will provide much needed experience alongside youthful 22-year-old Dutchman Roly Bonevacia. Kenny Cunningham is more than likely to start every game on the left flank and the right wing position will be filled each week by one of Nathan Burns, Kwabena Appiah-Kubi and Tyler Boyd. The real star, however is 27-year-old Michael McGinchley who will play behind the striker.
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It's highly likely that the starting spot up front will go to whoever impresses me most in training, if Nathan Burns scores more than he creates, he'll start up top. If not, Krishna will start up top and Burns will drop out to the wing. Tyler Boyd is unlikely to cement a starting place this season but is only 19 and is rated highly by Chris and John Halstead the chief scout.
I sat back in my chair, trying to piece together a 4-2-3-1 that, in my mind, woudl take the league by storm. My daydreaming was rudely halted, however by a knock at the door.
"Yes? I asked
"Mr Gordon?" A long-legged, tanned blonde woman asked stepping into the office "the press are waiting"
View attachment 249798 I followed the blonde woman (who's name was Stacey) down a series of short corridors to a bright yellow door. She stopped turned at me and smiled.
"They're waiting the other side of this door, go in, sit down and answer their questions" she said sternyl, before grinning and patting my arm reassuringly "you'll be fine"
I grimaced and rubbed my sweaty palms down my white cotton shirt, I sure was glad I'd warn trousers instead of the shorts I'd debated about wearing due to the heat. I took a deep breath and walked in, I sat down and looked at "the press", well al two of them, Mitchell Evans of The Australian Football Post and Trent Taylor of The Australian Football Gazette (the originality in Australia is unreal). I cleared my throat before nodding, signifying the questions could begin.
ME-"Do you feel your ambitions are matched by the chairman?"
SG-"Yes, each time we have spoken we have discussed where we want to go and when we want to do it"
TT-"Do you feel the expectations asked of you are fair and realistic?"
SG-"Yes, I feel that the board know what they're talking about and that they know the standard of this squad"
TT-"What made you take the job and move all the way to New Zealand?"
SG-"I've always wanted to come to New Zealand and the offer and club seemed right for me"
TT-"What competition is your main priority?"
SG-"The A-League, everyone cares primarily about the league, cups are just an add on"
Both of them-"Thank you for your time"
I nodded to both of them and the three of us left our seats and made towards the bright yellow door, I was the last out and saw Stacey waiting for me.
"That was fast" she grinned, smiling at her subtle euphemism "Mr Morrison wants to see you in his office, follow me" she said, grabbing my arm and turning my around so that I faced the right direction. We passed my office on the way to see Mr Morrison who grinned widely as I stepped in.
"I see you've met Stacey" he smiled
"Yes, sir" I replied
"She'll be your PA while your here so anything you want to be know, be it who's transfer listed or who got goal of the month just ask her and she'll be right on it"
"Thank you, sir" I said
"Down to business then, I presume you know the details of your contract?" Mr Morrison asled
"Yes" I smiled, thinking of the money I would soon be rolling in
"$4,700 a week is a lot for a man of your age, be careful with it" he warned
"I will, sir"
"Good, I had a meeting with the board and we just want you to be competitive in the A-League and we don't really care about the FFA Cup, we know we're ***** and don't expect to push for the title, you will have $86,380 as a transfer budget and $2,400 as a wage budget, any questions?"
"Not really, sir"
"Well, that's good then, I assume you have work to do so I'll let you go on your way, good luck against Sydney"
View attachment 249376 It was only 14c in Sydney on the 14th of August for our FFA Cup first round tie against The Sky Blues, one of the best teams in Australia but the humidity in the air and the number of people in the stadium (around 20,000) made it feel much more than that.
We had set out for Sydney from Wellington two days previously with a squad of 18 players plus me and Chris making the trip to the "Harbour City". We spent the first day in training, preparing for the big game and spent the second day seeing the sites.
The players came here at least once each year, sometimes twice depending on how the fixtures fell, but I had never visited Sydney, one of the cities that had seemed so mystical in my youth, so I was like a child in a sweet shop, seeing everything that could be seen.
My 18 man squad were a decent bunch and allowed me to enjoy myself, joining in the fun and relaxing before our game. We arrived back at the hotel at 4 o'clock, before immediately setting out on a coach for the Sydney Football Stadium.
When we arrived at around 6 we were directed to the changing rooms where the players changed (surprise, surprise) and I pinned up the teamsheet on the wall.
View attachment 249373
I heard the buzzer ring at 7.25 which was the signal for us to leave for the tunnel, I stood by the door and watched each player leave, giving them pieces of (what I hoped were) motivational words ("Go get 'em, son"). I allowed Chris to leave also before making my way outside. There were only 19,000 people in Sydney's 45,000 seater stadium but it was still by fair the biggest crowd that had watched me do some kind of footballing activity, and I loved it.
KICK-OFF
18th Minute-Brosque loses it to Riera, he plays it through for MCGINCHLEY... WHAT A SAVE! It remains 0-0 22nd Minute-McGinchley crosses it in, Brosque heads it away, but only to the feet of Krishna, can he shoot?? Penalty! Smeltz shove Krishna just inside of the box! Kwabena Appiah-Kubi steps up to take the spot kick... GOAL! Pick that one out! Right in the bottom corner 1-0!
36th Minute-Here's Krishna, it's a low cross for NATHAN BURNS!!! How did he miss from there??
HALF-TIME
"Things are going great, lads, keep it up in the second half"
51st Minute-Burns plays it forward to Krishna, who takes on one before finding McGinchley who plays a one-two with Riera, it's slipped through for Appiah-Kubi!! PENALTY! He's been tripped by Gersbach. Appiah-Kubi steps up for his second penalty of the game... AND SCORES! It's 2-0 to Wellington Phoenix!
94th Minute-And there's the ref's whistle! It's full time here at the Sydney Football Stadium where it has finished Wellington Phoenix 2-0 Sydney FC
What a game! I came here with the hope of not embarrassing ourselves against one of Australia's best sides but I come away with a convincing 2-0 victory and a place in the Second Round where we will play...
View attachment 249351 Another day, another cup game. This is our last FFA Cup game before the A-League starts and to be onest I expect this to be our last cup game of the season, Melbourne Victory away? We're going to lose. Melbourne Victory are predicted to win the A-League this season whereas we are predicted to be cannon fodder for sides like this, saying that we did beat Sydney 2-0 in the First Round.
I picked a slightly different 18 man squad for this game and it included new signing Joey Gibbs, deputising for the injured Tyler Boyd and Appiah-Kubi.
View attachment 249342
I decided I'd continue with the (so far) successful 4-2-3-1 for this game and the majority of the team was identical to the team that beat Sydney.
View attachment 249339
Glen Moss was utilised in goal, Louis Fenton for Muscat was the only change in the defence, Vince Lia came in for Albert Riera in the midfield. Nathan Burns was shifted out wide to make room for Gibbs, Cunningham swapped with Appiah-Kubi.
I was considerably less nervous when the buzzer sounded at 7.25 in the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, only 16,000 had come to watch the oncoming mauling so I knew my embarrassment wouldn't be seen by that many people.
I told the lads calmly that there was no pressure on them today, and that it was all on Melbourne, which was true to a certain extent, nobody expected a win so they could go out and express themselves without expectation.
KICK-OFF
6th Minute-Duzel beats Bonevaia and nods it down to Barbarouses who takes a strike... OH MY! WHAT A GOAL AND IT'S 1-0 TO MELBOURNE VICTORY
10th Minute-McGinchle now, plays it through for Cunningham, he's eeaten one, now two KENNY CUNNINGHAM!! It's wide, a good chance for Phoenix 19th Minute-Gonano plays it over the head of Fenton, here's Berisha, crosses the ball to BROXHAM!!!! WHAT A SAVE BY GLEN MOSS!! Melbourne are really taking the game to Wellington 36th Minute-Gonano crosses the ball in, here's BERISHA! What a block from Ben Sigmund!
HALF-TIME "Keep going out there, lads, it's only 1-0 you've done well so far, so go out there and get a goal"
1-0 isn't that bad, I thought to myself, although they do have another 45 minutes to grab a few more...
56th Minute-Sigmund plays a long ball forward, Cunningham beats Gerogievski to it, he crosses it it, Joey Gibbs on the volley!!! 1-1! JOEY GIBBS HAS EQUALISED FOR WELLINGTON ON HIS DEBUT!!
71st Minute-Here's McGinchley, out wide to Burns, he's beaten his man on the outside, draws it back Gibbs.. he has the goal at his mercy.. JOEY GIBBS!!! IT'S 2-1 TO WELLINGTON!!!
93rd Minute-The referee has blown his whistle! It's all over here in Melbourne where Wellington new boy Joey Gibbs really has put Melbourne Victory to the sword in this FFA Cup Second Round match.
FULL-TIME
Wow... I can't quite believe it! A 2-1 victory at the home of Australia's best team? Unbelievable Jeff! Hopefully we get a more favourable draw in the Quarter-Finals.
THE DRAW Northern Tigers (New South Wales) v Palm Beach (Queensland) Monaro Panthers (New South Wales) v WELLINGTON PHOENIX (New Zealand) Western Sydney Wanderers (New South Wales) v Perth Glory (Western Australia) Cockburn City (Western Australia) v Melbourne City (Victoria)
Wow! Monaro Panthers are a second-tier side from Queanbeayan in New South Wales so we really should fancy our chances, especially seeing that we have beaten Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC (who many would argue are the 2 best sides in Australia)