I am ashamed to say that I am a shaky isles virgin and very much looking forward to a trip to New Zealand in January.
The vast landscapes and traditional culture of the Maori people are of particular interest to me.
An adventurous itinerary that embraces both the north and south islands rather miraculously marries up with some A-League competition. I arrive in Wellington just in time for the January 12 clash between the Phoenix and the Mariners.
After a series of zig-zagging road trips over the course of the next ten days that traverse much of the southern region of the north island, it was a pleasant surprise to discover that I would be back in windy Wellington in time for the January 23rd match between the locals and Sydney FC.
Talk about luck!
It will almost complete a full set of A-League venues for me, with just nib Stadium in Perth missing from the list. Hopefully the football played in both matches is bright and the home fans numerically significant and boisterous.
There are a variety of different views on the Wellington Phoenix depending upon to whom you speak. Some call for its exclusion from the competition, citing woeful crowds and little or no sign of future value and growth.
Others take a more altruistic stance, seeing the involvement of a New Zealand based team as important to the continued growth of football across the region. Many also point to the A-League’s role and responsibility in aiding that development.
In 11 seasons of A-League competition, the Phoenix have played finals football on four occasions. However, in recent times, things have been lean with a creditable top four finish in 2014-15 sandwiched amongst three ninth place finishes, a wooden spoon and a seventh.
The net result has been a dwindling in attendance after promising numbers in the Phoenix’s inaugural season of 2007-08.
An average of 11,683 people found their way through the gates to watch the new franchise and in five subsequent seasons the club also managed to put in excess of 8,000 bums on seats each and every fortnight.
The paltry average attendance of 5,694 in 2017-18 escaped nobody and is the low point after five steady years of decline.
Having already faced scrutiny from the league itself and much public opinion promoting caution around extending their involvement in the competition, Wellington dodged a bullet in early 2016, earning a four year extension.
Two further three-year extensions lie ahead if the club is able to lift its performance, profile and financial contribution to the league.
If that is to occur, new manager Mark Rudan will play a key role in turning the fortunes of the club in the short to medium term.
Rudan comes off proven managerial performances with Sydney United 58 in the NPL where he won two NSW Premierships. More recently, he worked with the Australian Under 20s.
Mark Rudan (Source: Wikipedia)
The former Sydney FC and Adelaide United defender seemed destined to manage in the A-League at some stage and steps into a club in relative crisis in terms of performance on the pitch.
If things do start familiarly poorly, it will take all of Rudan’s considerable inner fortitude to persist with his structures and philosophies.
The club’s administration must show patience and support if they truly believe in the new managerial appointment they have made.
Starting from such a low base, with only five wins in the most recent A-League season, ten wins in 2018-19 would be a potentially positive result for Rudan. It will be a season that provides an immense challenge for a rookie at the top level.
A managers’ most important tools are the players at his disposal and Wellington have been lacking in depth in recent seasons.
In saying that, the Phoenix squad hasn’t been overhauled in any drastic fashion. Matthew Ridenton showed great promise yet departs for the Jets and Michael McGlinchey, Matija Ljucic, Andrija Kaluderovic, Goran Paracki and Adam Parkhouse also depart.
Compared to some other clubs that have initiated extensive movement in both directions, the Phoenix have been less active.
The additions of Steven Taylor (Peterborough United), Filip Kurto (Roda JC Kerkrade) and Michał Kopczyński (loan from Legia Warsaw) look promising and the club has offered a new home to Mitch Nichols and former Melbourne City striker David Williams.
With the dangerous Roy Krishna, consistent performers in Nathan Burns, Ryan Lowry and Andrew Durante and the rising star of promising youngster Sarpreet Singh, Rudan has some weapons to employ and a base on which to build.
Roy Krishna of the Phoenix (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
It would be fair to suggest that just about everyone needs the Phoenix to improve. The manager, club, fans and the A-League itself.
As is the case with every season, hope springs eternal and Rudan will seek an immediate improvement in results that sees the fans curiously creeping back through the gates.
I’ll be keenly watching their form in the two matches I see live; impartial in one and hoping the latte sipping Sydneyites take the points in the other.
Either way, I will not be removing the shirt and exposing my pasty white skin of Scottish heritage if the Phoenix lead with ten minutes remaining. People around me might be eating.
hog
Roar Rookie
A boutique stadium 3-4 years ago may have made a difference, but sadly Westpac will ensure they are killed off. An absolute F-----G white elephant
Waz
Roar Rookie
An excellent piece of moderation there, probably need a replay for most people to see it but things looking up for the new season ???? Nix out and replaced by half-a-dozen Australian teams would seem to be the go for many; I’ve always wondered what difference Nix dropping into the NZ League would make?
Waz
Roar Rookie
Yeah, tough times for Union on and off the park. Super Rugby average attendances for the season just gone: NSW Waratahs (14,372) Queensland Reds (12,101) Rebels (9,821) Brumbies (8,391) Some upside in club land but the warning signs are there for the main competition.
Nick Symonds
Guest
"Hugely encouraging times for Rugby Union fans in Australia who want Union to usurp asso. Football." If Rugby Union had a national league maybe.
RF
Guest
Waz, based on experience of teams there and the 99 YWC, definitely. Initially, the KingZ were pulling, from memory, 8-10k. But the teams were dreadful and disillusionment soon kicked in. During the YWC, I went to a lot of the games, and they generated tremendous excitement and attendances. That tournament was, I think, the most sporting enjoyment I've had bar the 3 Roar finals I attended (particularly number 1, when my wife wanted to go at 2-0 with 2 mins to go to beat the traffic and I held my ground - not because I thought there was a hope, but out of respect for the team).
Waz
Roar Rookie
ha ha, I nearly looked up Perth’s as well but couldn’t be bothered. Brisbane also draws from the 600,000 population Gold Coast as well as other surrounding areas. Auckland at 1.7m is more than enough fish in theory mind you, but are the fish interested in professional football?
RF
Guest
I wondered how long it would take for some Brisbanite to pick up on that :)
Nick Symonds
Guest
Wellington should be kicked out and another Australian team should be added. - NEWS - Meet the cocky Aussie rookie with the La Liga contract “His technique is superb, his first touch is quality and he’s excellent going forward. When he first arrived at Leganés the coaching staff there were convinced he must have a Spanish father!” - “Like Tom Rogic, he’s played years of futsal, and his skill set is excellent,” - Alilovic is perplexed at how a player of Cho’s promise remained on the periphery in Australia. “He’s an Aussie kid ...why don’t we know about these players,” he said. “Does anybody from the FFA know he signed at Leganés? These players from division two state league clubs in Melbourne are flying over to Europe and signing contacts. “Why are they leaving Australia? Because they’re not getting a run in the A-League. “They’re apparently not good enough to sign a youth contract in the A-League yet are good enough to sign for a La Liga club. https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/meet-the-cocky-aussie-rookie-with-the-la-liga-contract - OTHER NEWS - BOLT STRUGGLING WITH FITNESS The 100m world record holder clearly struggled with the different requirements needed for football and was struggling for breath after a gentle four lap warm-up jog around Central Coast Stadium this morning. During the lengthy 90 minute training session in front of celebrities including NRL legend Brad Fittler and Australian sprint ace Matt Shirvington, Bolt often looked to be suffering, frequently walking with his hands on his hips or sitting or lying on the turf as he caught his breath. - Bolt played a far greater role in today's training session compared with the similar session last week which he largely sat out after the warm up. Today he got involved in ball drills and attacker-defender action, although he tended to steer clear of tackles and struggled to control longer balls sent cross field towards him. He showed basic skills on the ball, capable of making and receiving short passes but often without too much urgency, and towards the end of the session became largely anonymous on the wing. https://www.insidesport.com.au/gallery/pic-special-usain-bolts-battle-for-fitness-511608/page7
Stuart Thomas
Expert
All good advice I’m sure Buddy. Thanks. Hoping for a fun trip. A bit of a bonus to squeeze some football in as well.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Steady on, Auckland has a metro population of 1.7m which is someway off Brisbane’s 2.4m
Buddy
Guest
Always love going to Wellington for WSW fixtures Stuart and we are booked for early November. I have to say it is far more appetising than watching a Sydney derby at the SCG this season. Before game, head for The Old Bailey pub and meet and greet many friendly locals. Walk to the stadium together and then afterwards head for The Churchill where fns and Nix go afterwards. Players eat in the restaurant but someone comes down and addresses fans and it is a relly pleasant experience and one that I never dreamed about back in the UK in the 80’s during dark times. Of course if you are with children, it will be a slightly different experience but still good to have a cht with Nix supporters who are realists not dreamers. It is true though, hard to see how our sport fits in to the general fabric of the city. Been in bars where they insist on watching Union on tv even though they could walk up the road to Westpac stadium and watch the game live! I would like to see them lift their game and league position and make more of a contribution to the A League, but then I’d like to see Geelong, Canberra, Wollongong, Hobart and the like involved in the competition so you can see my angle of approach. BtW - get to NIB soon and witness the magnificent grandstand, just take a hat, dark glasses and plenty of sun bloc as it faces directly into the sun - another piece of madness, especially when you see the hotch potch of buildings on the other side of the ground.
Jordan Van De Vorst
Guest
I was in Wellington a week ago and did not see any semblance of interest in the team. Sports stores didn't stock their jersies, sports bars had netball jersies on the wall but no Nux. They appear to not actually exist when you are actually in the city itself. Also, their youth team plays in the NZ comp which means they could easily integrate into that comp and the decision to cut from HAL would be less brutal. They get 5k, Auckland City get 3k, they are meant for each other.
Franko
Guest
Couldn't agree more. We don't expect a team to survive in Hobart but we do in Wellington #logic
Fadida
Guest
Agree Re "The Cake Tin". Truly excruciating to watch them on tv. Throw in the NZ commentators and it's a horror show
RF
Guest
Only if you're interested in wine, AD. Topographically that has to be some of the least interesting landscape in NZ. Really dull. Great place to grow wine grapes but that's it.
RF
Guest
What happened to my paragraph breaks?
RF
Guest
It's a lovely country, Stuart, and the people are great. I lived their for a decade, north of Auckland and I was for a long time a great supporter of NZ participation in the A League. I used to attend Kingz and Knights games at Nth Harbour Stadium, a perfectly sized A League venue. Sadly, I no longer feel the same way. The only thing that could have saved the Phoenix, in my view, is a team in Auckland, and I had hoped that might happen. Zero sign of that. Now the Nix have no relevance either inside or outside NZ. I agree with Ben that their stadium is a massive issue - like Suncorp with the Roar, it's a millstone around their necks, but much, much worse, because it is an oval and always looks completely empty on tv - which is an A League problem. I cannot bring myself to watch matches there on tv, and I am sure I am not alone. But the Nix's biggest problem is that no one in Australia cares. I know what it's like in Brisbane - a Nix game isn't much more exciting than going to the dentist. I have to travel a couple of hours to get to games, and I wouldn't go to a Nix game unless I was in town anyway. And even then I probably wouldn't. The club - the club, not just the team - has zero excitement factor. Would it be different if they were table topping? I really don't know. They are such an outlier in the Australian landscape I suspect it actually wouldn't make much difference. Would it make a difference to have an Auckland team - unequivocally yes. Wellington is a small provincial city. Auckland is the size of Brisbane, and much more accessible to Australia. An NZ derby would be a plus for the A League, and an Auckland team would bring a new market of 2 million people into play, even if rugby is the state religion. I was there for the 1999 Youth World Cup. People turned up in their thousands for those games. But Wellington is the wrong place for a football team in NZ. Completely the wrong place. It would only work in terms of a NZ rivalry. With all this, can their presence be justified in an Australian competition? I cannot see how it can be, on any rational level. An Auckland team shows no sign of appearing, and Wellington is an underperforming irrelevance.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Thanks mate, much appreciated. Should be a lot of fun. Can't wait for it.
Atawhai Drive
Roar Guru
Stuart, if you're spending a bit of time in the lower regions of the North Island, make a point of visiting the Wairarapa region. In particular, have a good look at Greytown. Then head a bit less than 20 minutes south to have lunch at the Martinborough Hotel. Suitably fortified, you can get back behind the wheel and think about heading over the Rimutaka Hill to Wellington. That's a trip everybody should do at least once. Just once.
AGO74
Guest
I think most people have a bit of a soft spot for the Phoenix, but alas I think their time has passed. Wellington is a city of 300,000 people - similar to that of Wollongong or Geelong. Less than that of Canberra, South-west Sydney or outer Melbourne who are bidding for licenses. All of those areas (possible exception of Geelong - not too familiar with Geelong football landscape) have strong football following and are more deserving of being involved in our Australian professional competition than Phoenix. I hope that doesn't sound xenophobic as believe me I'm not, but when it comes to our football competition I believe we have to look after our own areas first and foremost to develop our domestic competition before we look at introducing teams from other countries.