THANKS SPORT. . .

WELCOME HOME, DAD: Sons John (front) and Peter greet John Hill on his return from Spain.Herald file pictures

IT is known as the greatest pass in World Cup history . . . by a panel of one.

And the commentary of the All Whites' second goal in their 1982 World Cup game against Scotland, according to the man who set it up, might go something like this.

“The ball comes to John Hill — a rather dashing man, known for his sharp wit, intelligence and touches of brilliance.

“Hill looks up and unleashes a long ball over the top — 50, 60, 70, 80 metres the ball soars with pinpoint accuracy for striker Steve Wooddin to run on to. Wooddin shoots . . . goooooooaaaaalllllll!

“What a goal. But what a pass. Could that be the most magnificent delivery in the 52-year history of the World Cup? It's certainly a contender. Delighted players are swamping Wooddin but the hero of this movement is the man from Northern Ireland. Pat yourself on the back, John Hill, you are a god.”

OK, Hiller's actual account of that special occasion is a little more modest than that — though he does maintain it was his greatest-ever assist — but the former Gisborne Herald sports journalist and 17-cap All White has every reason to look back proudly on the role he played during a period when, dare it be thought of let alone said, football took centre-stage over our national game.

New Zealand's courageous, dramatic and gripping journey to the 1982 World Cup in Spain (which became known as “the road to Spain”) was so popular they wrote songs and printed books about it. You could even buy a biscuit tin adorned with a picture of the '82 All Whites squad.

A 15-match qualifying campaign that started on Anzac Day 1981 with a 3-3 draw with Australia in Auckland, then took New Zealand to Fiji, Taiwan, Indonesia, China and Saudi Arabia, ended with a 2-1 playoff victory over the People's Republic of China in Singapore on January 10, 1982.

That win booked the All Whites a historic first appearance at the World Cup finals, where they faced Scotland, the USSR (the Soviet Union) and the mighty Brazil in pool play.

This was, however, a classic example of the journey, not just the destination.

The All Whites captured the hearts of the All Black-obsessed public, no more so than when they stunned footballing big brothers Australia 2-0 in Sydney in May, 1981 — a victory highlighted by Grant Turner's outrageous long-range header, which many Kiwi football fans still rate among their finest headed goals.

That Sydney win was a catalyst to a country getting fully behind their national squad, football that is.

Suddenly it wasn't just the All Blacks we were getting up for in the early hours of the morning to watch live on the box.

Gisborne fans had extra incentive. The squad who went to the World Cup featured five Gisborne City players — a record number from the same club — Hill, Turner, Brian Turner, Keith Mackay and Kenny Cresswell. The assistant coach was Gisborne's Kevin Fallon and there was a gifted young Ngati Porou-descended striker who would go on to become Oceania's player of the century — Wynton Rufer.

The fact that one of the minnows of world football had earned the right to mix it with the big boys on a sporting stage second only to the Olympic Games was not lost on Kiwis.

Their feats sparked massive interest at home, and no doubt inspired many young players to take up the round-ball game.

We didn't care too much that they lost all three pool games — 5-2 to Scotland, 3-0 to the USSR and 4-0 to Brazil.

That they overcame an extensive series of challenges to get there in the first place was a feat worth celebrating.

For the record, in getting to Spain, the All Whites played 15 matches in nine countries, winning nine, drawing five and losing one.