“The easiest signature of my career.” Bailey Dixon and Team Wellington agree another 2 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Team Wellington have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Team Wellington can pretend not to have heard.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Team Wellington, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
The name of Clayton Stamatelopoulos has come up in conversations Team Wellington were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Team Wellington, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Team Wellington, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Team Wellington know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Francis Fenton and Team Wellington agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Team Wellington, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Team Wellington know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
This is the season the town will measure the next twenty against. The trophy travels home with the squad, and the route through the streets was agreed days ago.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Team Wellington is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Team Wellington have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Jake Barbarouses and Team Wellington agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Team Wellington is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Team Wellington is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
“I did not go to Auckland City to sit and watch. I want to come back to Team Wellington and fight for my place.” 2 appearances in 40 matches say the rest.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Team Wellington, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Toby Knight and Team Wellington agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Team Wellington have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Team Wellington is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Team Wellington is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
“I did not go to Auckland City to sit and watch. I want to come back to Team Wellington and fight for my place.” 2 appearances in 36 matches say the rest.
The award is a small thing with a heavy meaning: for four weeks nobody in this division did his job better. Team Wellington have the trophy on a shelf and the player in the side.
“Every summer it is another club, another set of team-mates, another manager to convince. I have done all that. Now I want a pre-season at Team Wellington and a proper look at me.” He remains Auckland City’s player until the spell runs out — but the argument is with the club that owns him.
A defender's mistake gets tidied up by somebody else; a goalkeeper's ends up in the net. He knew before the ball crossed the line, and so did everybody in the ground.
A conversation is coming this week. Team Wellington will put a number on him, and from there it stops being football and becomes arithmetic.
The terraces4 Feb 2030
They were still singing at the end
7 of the 32 in the senior squad walked off to a noise that had nothing to do with the result. A crowd decides these things for itself, and this week it decided kindly.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Team Wellington, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 10 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
A 3-2 win over Hawke's Bay United, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
A player who expected to start watched it instead. The manager will call it a decision for the team; Marley Leuluai will call it something else in private.
The name of Cameron Nelson has come up in conversations Team Wellington were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
He found out with everybody else, an hour before kick-off, from a sheet of paper on a wall. Nobody at Team Wellington pretended it was anything other than a decision about him.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 9 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Team Wellington, and 0 appearances in 28 say he has earned the hearing.
7 wins on the spin now, and the question has changed from whether the run ends to who ends it. Confidence like this cannot be bought; it has to be earned exactly this way.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 8 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 11 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
6 wins on the spin now, and the question has changed from whether the run ends to who ends it. Confidence like this cannot be bought; it has to be earned exactly this way.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Team Wellington have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
A 5-4 win over WaiBOP United, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Bailey Dixon and Team Wellington agree another 2 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
The board have answered with money instead of encouragement, which is the only answer a manager ever wants. Spending it well is now entirely his problem.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 8 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
5 wins on the spin now, and the question has changed from whether the run ends to who ends it. Confidence like this cannot be bought; it has to be earned exactly this way.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Team Wellington, and 0 appearances in 24 say he has earned the hearing.
Hawke's Bay United are out and Team Wellington go through, 5-2 the final word. The bracket opens up a little, and everyone allows themselves a look at it.
4 wins on the spin now, and the question has changed from whether the run ends to who ends it. Confidence like this cannot be bought; it has to be earned exactly this way.
A 3-2 win over Canterbury United, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
“I did not go to Auckland City to sit and watch. I want to come back to Team Wellington and fight for my place.” 5 appearances in 17 matches say the rest.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 7 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“Every summer it is another club, another set of team-mates, another manager to convince. I have done all that. Now I want a pre-season at Team Wellington and a proper look at me.” He remains Auckland City’s player until the spell runs out — but the argument is with the club that owns him.
A new partner, a signature and a photograph nobody will remember. It funds a fortnight of wages, which is more than most headlines on this page can say for themselves.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 8 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
He left as a boy and has come back still knowing where the away end is. Most signings have to be explained to a town; this one needed a photograph and nothing else.
The shirt still fits. Chris Sutton is back at Team Wellington, and half the ground remembers him in these colours already. Some signings need selling to the town; this one sold itself.
He left as a boy and has come back still knowing where the away end is. Most signings have to be explained to a town; this one needed a photograph and nothing else.
He left as a boy and has come back still knowing where the away end is. Most signings have to be explained to a town; this one needed a photograph and nothing else.
An error at the back is a moment; an error in goal is a goal. Bailey Dixon knows it, the crowd knew it instantly, and there was nobody behind him to make it anything else.
“I did not go to Auckland City to sit and watch. I want to come back to Team Wellington and fight for my place.” 1 appearances in 13 matches say the rest.
A window away with the national side, and a shirt at Team Wellington that briefly doubles as an advertisement. A call-up flatters the player and the club that built him in the same breath.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
The board have answered with money instead of encouragement, which is the only answer a manager ever wants. Spending it well is now entirely his problem.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Team Wellington, and 0 appearances in 17 say he has earned the hearing.
A season average of 7.05 at an age when most of his year group are still in the youth team. Team Wellington know what they have, and so, by now, does everybody else.
The message was aimed at the stands as much as the dressing room: Marley Leuluai plays, and the argument is closed until the manager decides otherwise.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Team Wellington, and 0 appearances in 13 say he has earned the hearing.
A window away with the national side, and a shirt at Team Wellington that briefly doubles as an advertisement. A call-up flatters the player and the club that built him in the same breath.
A window away with the national side, and a shirt at Team Wellington that briefly doubles as an advertisement. A call-up flatters the player and the club that built him in the same breath.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
A season average of 7.05 at an age when most of his year group are still in the youth team. Team Wellington know what they have, and so, by now, does everybody else.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Team Wellington, and 0 appearances in 5 say he has earned the hearing.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Team Wellington, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Team Wellington, and 0 appearances in 9 say he has earned the hearing.
Everything was agreed until it was not, and Joe Tuiloma reports back to Team Wellington with a summer to forget. Neither club is saying who walked away from the table.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Team Wellington is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
A season average of 7.05 at an age when most of his year group are still in the youth team. Team Wellington know what they have, and so, by now, does everybody else.
The name of Kosta Cacace has come up in conversations Team Wellington were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
The name of Monty Lockyer has come up in conversations Team Wellington were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Team Wellington, and both men came out saying it was fine.
The message was aimed at the stands as much as the dressing room: Marley Leuluai plays, and the argument is closed until the manager decides otherwise.
The minutes were not coming at Team Wellington, so he will look for them at Auckland City. Everybody involved calls it development; for the player it is simply a chance to play.
The language is coming and there is somebody to talk to in the dressing room. A footballer who feels at home plays like one, and it never shows up in a scouting report.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Team Wellington, and 0 appearances in 5 say he has earned the hearing.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Team Wellington have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Team Wellington can pretend not to have heard.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
The name of Clayton Stamatelopoulos has come up in conversations Team Wellington were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
The board have answered with money instead of encouragement, which is the only answer a manager ever wants. Spending it well is now entirely his problem.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Team Wellington can pretend not to have heard.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Clayton Stamatelopoulos and Team Wellington agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Team Wellington is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
A season average of 7.05 at an age when most of his year group are still in the youth team. Team Wellington know what they have, and so, by now, does everybody else.
The name of Kosta Cacace has come up in conversations Team Wellington were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
The name of Clayton Stamatelopoulos has come up in conversations Team Wellington were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
The board have answered with money instead of encouragement, which is the only answer a manager ever wants. Spending it well is now entirely his problem.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Winston Lockyer and Team Wellington agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Cameron Bell has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Team Wellington have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“Ask me in the summer. I will know before anybody else does.” He is 35 with 8 appearances behind him, and Team Wellington have to plan for both answers.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Team Wellington, and both men came out saying it was fine.
This is the season the town will measure the next twenty against. The trophy travels home with the squad, and the route through the streets was agreed days ago.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Team Wellington have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“I did not go to Auckland City to sit and watch. I want to come back to Team Wellington and fight for my place.” 0 appearances in 42 matches say the rest.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Team Wellington know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
The board have answered with money instead of encouragement, which is the only answer a manager ever wants. Spending it well is now entirely his problem.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Team Wellington have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
The board have answered with money instead of encouragement, which is the only answer a manager ever wants. Spending it well is now entirely his problem.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Team Wellington, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Team Wellington have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“The easiest signature of my career.” James Lewis and Team Wellington agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
The award is a small thing with a heavy meaning: for four weeks nobody in this division did his job better. Team Wellington have the trophy on a shelf and the player in the side.
The board have answered with money instead of encouragement, which is the only answer a manager ever wants. Spending it well is now entirely his problem.
Team Wellington spent the window trying to move Joe Tuiloma on and nobody came. He trains with a squad that has already told him he is not part of it, and both sides now wait for the next one.
“I did not go to Auckland City to sit and watch. I want to come back to Team Wellington and fight for my place.” 0 appearances in 30 matches say the rest.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Team Wellington have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I did not go to Auckland City to sit and watch. I want to come back to Team Wellington and fight for my place.” 0 appearances in 29 matches say the rest.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Team Wellington know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Team Wellington, and 0 appearances in 25 say he has earned the hearing.
He found out with everybody else, an hour before kick-off, from a sheet of paper on a wall. Nobody at Team Wellington pretended it was anything other than a decision about him.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
A defender's mistake gets tidied up by somebody else; a goalkeeper's ends up in the net. He knew before the ball crossed the line, and so did everybody in the ground.
“I did not go to Auckland City to sit and watch. I want to come back to Team Wellington and fight for my place.” 0 appearances in 26 matches say the rest.
“I did not go to Auckland City to sit and watch. I want to come back to Team Wellington and fight for my place.” 0 appearances in 25 matches say the rest.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Team Wellington, and 0 appearances in 21 say he has earned the hearing.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Owen Van Hattum and Team Wellington agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 10 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“I did not go to Adelaide United to sit and watch. I want to come back to Team Wellington and fight for my place.” 0 appearances in 21 matches say the rest.
Commercial news is the news nobody sings about and everything else is paid for with. The board will call it a partnership; the accountants will call it the difference between this squad and a smaller one.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 6 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
A 4-3 win over Hawke's Bay United, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
“I did not go to Auckland City to sit and watch. I want to come back to Team Wellington and fight for my place.” 0 appearances in 22 matches say the rest.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Team Wellington, and 0 appearances in 17 say he has earned the hearing.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“I did not go to Adelaide United to sit and watch. I want to come back to Team Wellington and fight for my place.” 0 appearances in 17 matches say the rest.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 6 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
“I did not go to Auckland City to sit and watch. I want to come back to Team Wellington and fight for my place.” 0 appearances in 17 matches say the rest.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Liberato Reid and Team Wellington agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
The shirt still fits. Deklan Kirwan is back at Team Wellington, and half the ground remembers him in these colours already. Some signings need selling to the town; this one sold itself.
He left as a boy and has come back still knowing where the away end is. Most signings have to be explained to a town; this one needed a photograph and nothing else.
The shirt still fits. Owen Van Hattum is back at Team Wellington, and half the ground remembers him in these colours already. Some signings need selling to the town; this one sold itself.
He left as a boy and has come back still knowing where the away end is. Most signings have to be explained to a town; this one needed a photograph and nothing else.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Team Wellington, and 0 appearances in 13 say he has earned the hearing.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Team Wellington, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Team Wellington they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“I did not go to Adelaide United to sit and watch. I want to come back to Team Wellington and fight for my place.” 0 appearances in 13 matches say the rest.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Bailey Dixon and Team Wellington agree another 2 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“I did not go to Auckland City to sit and watch. I want to come back to Team Wellington and fight for my place.” 0 appearances in 14 matches say the rest.
A season average of 7.00 at an age when most of his year group are still in the youth team. Team Wellington know what they have, and so, by now, does everybody else.
“I did not go to Auckland City to sit and watch. I want to come back to Team Wellington and fight for my place.” 0 appearances in 13 matches say the rest.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Team Wellington, and 0 appearances in 9 say he has earned the hearing.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Team Wellington is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Team Wellington, and 0 appearances in 9 say he has earned the hearing.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Sam Barbarouses and Team Wellington agree another 2 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Team Wellington, and 0 appearances in 9 say he has earned the hearing.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Team Wellington, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“I did not go to Adelaide United to sit and watch. I want to come back to Team Wellington and fight for my place.” 0 appearances in 5 matches say the rest.