On The Road With The Wellington Phoenix

What is the best signing the Wellington Phoenix has made during its four-year sojourn in the Hyundai A League?

You have to admit, it is a question that would keep the chat going in the Four Kings bar for many an hour.

Shane Smeltz? Certainly delivered the goals. Mark, Paston, Glen Moss, Liam Reddy or Danny Vukovic? Each one of the quartet came to the rescue at vital times over an exciting four seasons.

Ross Aloisi, inspirational skipper in that first difficult season? Goal-scoring midfielder Tim Brown? Enigmatic striker Paul Ifill?

The list goes on, but for me, and I doubt the players would be rushing to disagree, it was the club securing Qantas Club access for players and management while on their travels across the Tasman.

I can hear a few of you chuckling now, but, believe me, the number of hours players and staff have spent in airports on both sides of the Tasman during the past four seasons doesn’t bear thinking about.

Wellington’s poor away form has been well documented’ and while Ricki Herbert has always shied away from using the rigours of travel as an excuse, it definitely doesn’t help.

I’m writing this blog while waiting for a flight to Sydney en route to Adelaide where the first of our double header against United and Sydney FC will be played on Saturday night.

The players are spread around the lounge, playing video games against each other or crowded round a laptop laughing at goalkeeping howlers on You Tube.

Empty plates with crumbs, which once held tasty hot savouries,are scattered among the group.

I asked a couple of players what life would be like without Qantas Club access and the answers were “torture” and “it would do my head in”.

Going on holiday is an adventure; the trip to the airport filled with anticipation. For the Phoenix lads it is an all too familiar drive.

While trips to Sydney and Melbourne aren’t too bad, those further afield to places such as Adelaide, North Queensland and the dreaded Perth become tedious.

For the first three seasons Perth was looked forward to as much as a trip to the dentist.

The day would begin at around 1.30 with arrival at Wellington Airport two hours ahead of departure.

After a three and a half hour flight to Sydney luggage, including seven or eight large kit bags and several oversize items accompanying physiotherapist Adam Crump, needed collecting before proceeding through Customs.

The Phoenix players are a good bunch and pitch in to help with the big stuff, which has to be checked back in for the next leg.

A five-hour flight meant a midnight arrival in Perth, which is 5am in Wellington.

No wonder players looked worn out at breakfast the following morning.

Come season four and the flight to Sydney is delayed three hours. With our connection missed it means an overnight stay at a Sydney Airport hotel.

Arriving in Perth the following afternoon the players feel much fresher than usual, so a decision is made to follow the same routine for our second visit to West Australia later in the season. Lo and behold we win!

In a Sunday newspaper last week a former All White, who played for Leeds United, said English clubs didn’t moan when they had to play two games a week and travel.

With all due respect most of his journeys were a probably a coach trip over the Pennines or a train journey down to the Midlands; or perhaps a quick flight to London.

The Phoenix trip to Perth, and of course the Glory’s visit to Wellington, is the second longest trip for a club in the world (the longest is in Russia).

There is however one advantage in such a travel schedule, as one player pointed out:

“What other club gets to enjoy a free cold beer to celebrate as we do in the Qantas Club on the way home?”

He’s right. Unfortunately it has only happened twice this season – up till now!