At a primitive level of any sport or team, there's a direct co-relation between success and how well the young and the old gel.
How the two find middle ground to work towards a smooth transition often dictates how much they will prosper.
Cru Bar Maycenvale United federation soccer seem to be making the right noises in their campaign to win promotion to Central League next winter if what Brendon Adema and Adam Chandler say is anything to go by.
Of course, should the Hastings high-flyers succumb to Wellington premiership champions Upper Hutt in the 2pm kick-off today at Akina Park, it would be harsh to jump to the conclusion the whole thing is a facade.
It simply means it's work in progress as Vale play the first leg of their home-and-away matches after winning the revived Lotto Federation League this season.
The winners will then play the Central League wooden spooners in a promotion-relegation match.
Adema has been there and done it in winter's supreme league.
The 34-year-old Colgate Palmolive sales representative from Hastings believes commitment, heart and a "dry track" will be the catalyst for playing "beautiful football".
A combination of old, new and superstars, Adema believes, has surprisingly played really well this season.
Centre-mid Chris Greatholder, striker Leon Birnie, with the agility of Solomon Islander Joachim Rande will spearhead the attack up front, while Adema, ex-All White Jonathon Taylor will marshall a relatively young defence.
"We also have the experience of our coach, Bill Robertson, who has been playing and training with us for six to eight weeks after returning from a broken ankle," Adema says of the Englishman whose New Zealand Football Championship campaign for Hawke's Bay United ended abruptly within 10 minutes of the opening match last summer.
"With young guys like Adam Chandler, Daniel Ball and Ryan Martin I think we've got a shot but it's not going to be easy," says Adema, who has played and National League and Central League for Napier City Rovers and Havelock North Wanderers in the glory days.
"I've played them in the past and we've never found them [Upper Hutt] to be easy-beats."
Vale will not be lacking inspiration regardless of age. Adema is looking forward to accomplishing Mission Central League because that'll mean "oldies" like him can ease back and let their younger and fitter charges take control, something required at the higher level.
That is in essence why Adema is still playing Fed League. He wants to help the youngsters coming through the grades to savour top-level soccer.
Adema made Central League as a goalkeeper when he was only 16 years old at St John's College.
"It was an amazing feeling just to know I'd made one of the highest leagues and I was still at school playing first XI soccer.
"Everyone knew you as a star and it seemed like everything you touch turned to gold so you got better response from both the teacher and the kids."
Adema was also a talented softballer, going on to represent New Zealand at a junior level but soccer was always his first choice.
"Softball was costing more money to trip around and you were always raising money, whereas soccer had support from the clubs and at national league level you got paid so it wasn't a difficult choice."
A goalkeeper most of his life, Adema yearned for more after helping the Rovers win the Chatham Cup and National League.
"I played centreback and was lucky enough to do that for both clubs."
He understands exactly how a goalkeeper feels and always supports young Shaun Peta in goal for Vale.
"If you miss a tackle on the field there's always someone backing you up but if you miss as a keeper then you're the last person and there's no back-up."
Adema enjoyed the best view from his goalkeeping perch but adapted quickly to learning how to stick to attackers foraging in the box. Having played both positions, Adema says he enjoys defending more than keeping because he can go up on set-piece play, such as cornerkicks and freekicks, with the intention of scoring and return to assume the mantle of a rock in the back.
He understands Vale supporters' disappointment of failing to make central league for the past two seasons.
"Last year to this year, the difference was we didn't have the key players so we got decked.
"This time we have a lot of experienced and fit players as well a lot of kids who are on the verge of getting on top.
"In a nutshell, it would be good for the club and a great step up for the boys and a tribute to the club to do that," Adema says, agreeing another one or two Central League sides will benefit the region during the NZFC summer campaign.
The strength of the province, he says, was evidently at its peak when Rovers, Taradale, the Wanderers and Western Rangers were footing it at that level.
Soccer: Vale hoping mix a winner
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