Soccer: Mum's the word on sons' choices

Stuart (left), mum Jill, father Malcolm and Danny Wilson. PHOTO/Warren Buckland

FROM THE time Malcolm Wilson was 4 years old his father used to take him by his hand to Maine Road, the home ground of Manchester City soccer.

About the same time in the 1950s, Percy and Joan Tyler took their little daughter, Jill, to Brighton Park, south of London.

"I was about 5 then and they stood me up on a tin box. Some people think I should still be standing on a box now," Jill says with a laugh.

In 1971 Jill moved to Manchester to work, she met Malcolm two years later and they eventually married.

She became an avid Manchester United fan and he a true-Blue City supporter.

But it's what happened afterwards when their two sons, Stuart and Danny, were born in Hawke's Bay that things became a little complicated.

"Unfortunately Jill's brainwashed Stu and Danny so they are Man United fans, too," says Malcolm.

Replies Jill: "I had no choice in those days. United were the better team and we didn't have much football on TV."

A grinning Malcolm hasn't forgotten 1999 - the family had returned to Brighton from 1991 to 2005 - when Jill took their boys to the then European Cup (now Champions League) final.

"Jill just went out and bought three airline tickets and at 3am I was taking them to the Manchester airport so they could bugger off to Spain," he says, after Man United beat Bayern Munich 2-1 to lift the silverware that year.

Despite their fierce domestic rivalry over their respective English Premier League teams, the Wilsons have one thing in common in the Bay - Bluewater Napier City Rovers.

Malcolm is the manager of the Bill Robertson-coached Central League team, who play defending champions Miramar Rangers at Dave Farrington Park, Wellington, from 2.30pm today in the second round.

Danny is the captain of the team and older brother Stuart is a seasoned midfielder, ex-captain and ex-golden boot. Jill is a voluntary club administrator.

"My life has always been around football," says Malcolm, who fondly recalls his moment as a youngster in the 1966 World Cup at Old Trafford.

"You can look across the town from Maine Road and see Manchester United's ground [Old Trafford]," he explains, reflecting on how he would run rolls of films from sports photographers during three games involving Portugal, Bulgaria and Hungary.

"I'd scoot around the pitch into the bowels of the stadium to give the film to the developer who sent it to the newspapers."

Malcolm also recalls sticking out his hand to stop the ball after legendary Portugese striker Eusebio da Silva Ferreira's goal-scoring attempt.

"I remember he wore a bandage around his head that day," he says of Mozambique-born Eusebio, who died in on January 5 this year in Lisbon.

"It was a fantastic time, taking part in the World Cup and being so close to the players. Those were the days," he says, mindful the digital era now means few ever enjoy such proximity.

Malcolm, who has won Central League titles with Rovers as a player, coach and manager, had a trial with Stockport before coming to Napier but missed out.

"Ex-Manchester City goalkeeper Burt Troutman was the manager of Stockport then," he says of the former fighter pilot who became a German prisoner of war before playing for the EPL side.

Malcolm also recalls David Beckham making his debut for Man United: "I thought he could have done with a decent personal agent and could have been a little bit quicker on the field."

When the Wilsons returned to England for a few years Danny didn't play much there but Stuart persisted, before the latter returned to Napier in 2001 when he suffered a terrible injury to his head.

Malcolm and Jill followed in 2006, with the boys grvitating to Napier also.

"It's great to be together again," he says.

He sees Stuart as someone who was quick and always had lots of energy to burn.

"Danny was more like me - big boned and not the quickest in the world but he has a lovely touch on the ball. He's much better than I was," Malcolm says of his younger son, who he feels is "calculating" and has a different personality to Stuart.

"Stuart wears his heart on his sleeve whereas Danny is quiet and says something only when he wants to."

He echoes Robertson's sentiments that squad members look up to Kinetic Electrical Hawke's Bay United defender Danny for leadership.

"Bill's a professional and he's doing a tremendous job so Rovers should do well this season," Malcolm says, mindful the coach has brought in a different brand of football.

"Bill's style is effective and good on the eye," he says after the Rovers thumped a weak Upper Hutt 4-0 in the opener last Sunday at Park Island.

Jill was part of the Rovers' first women's team in 1975, before going on to win three titles.

"I played until I had Stuart. I had another break with Danny but I went back to play until 1987," says the striker who became a midfielder.

"I'm an admin person and secretary so I love it.

"It's all voluntary so I wouldn't do it if I didn't want to. It's all for the love of football."

Stuart, 33, a personal banker in Hastings, can't recall how he became a Man United fan but, suffice it to say, he is sticking with the Red Devils.

"[Club stalwart] Roy Stanger is my godfather and he's a fan, too.

"I was too young to know but that'll never ever change," says the player who dropped to reserve grade last season so he could spend time with his child by not travelling to Central League matches.

He has the ability to play in any position on the park so he's happy to fulfil Robertson's requests and delighted he's in the starting XI.

Stuart intends no disrespect to Upper Hutt but today is Rovers' litmus test.

"I've reached the age where I just want to get my head down and [let my game] do the talking on the field."

He has read the robust debate on Hawke's Bay Today's website and in print about the merits of signing imports but backs Robertson.

"To build a team to challenge in the league we have to get in a couple of imports to have the strength, depth and options."

Wilson, 30, is enjoying the responsibility of keeping standards high on the field.

"Bill and [Hawke's Bay United coach] Chris [Greatholder] want things kept tight so they are relying on me to keep a lid on it."

Playing against the reigning champs today will be tough but he says the Blues are up to it.

The Rovers are aware the Rangers have a Team Wellington influence and play a smilar passing brand to them, under Italian coach Valerio Raccuglia.

The side has former Rovers and Bay United player Cole Pevereley as well as speedy Solomon Islanders Michael Fifii and Henry Fa'arodo.

"I've checked with mates in Wellington and apparently it's been raining all week but it'lle the same for both teams and we're used to it over there."

Wilson still has season tickets to Manchester United's games in England.

"My mates take them there on a week-by-week basis and put money into my bank account ... It just takes over your life when United play," he says.

In other matches today, Western Suburbs face Tawa, Palmerston North Marist host Wairarapa United, Petone roll out the carpet to Wellington Olympic and the two Hutt Cities, Upper and Lower will vie for derby bragging rights on the higher ground.