Miles John (left) and Ryan Tinsley. PHOTO/Warren Buckland
TAKE YOUR pick - Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard or any other elites from a cluster of English Premier League soccer players.
It's not unusual for countless youngsters in the United Kingdom to dream about emulating the feat of their idols, especially home-grown ones.
When EPL clubs' academy talent scouts pick the starry-eyed youth, that flight of fancy receives a modicum of positive reinforcement.
However, what happens when a lion's share of them fall through the cracks of a fiercely cut-throat player market?
Clubs such as Bluewater Napier City Rovers become beneficiaries of a plethora of players surplus to requirements.
"We're now on the other side of the world," says England's Ryan Tinsley of himself and fellow import Miles John, of Wales, as they fulfil media duties at the Park Island clubrooms, which will come to life after a season's dormancy this Sunday.
"I don't know about Miles here but I never thought I'd ever be in New Zealand," says Tinsley only two days after arriving in Napier from Nottingham, in the Midlands.
The 19-year-olds will be part of the new-look Rovers under new coach Bill Robertson when they kick off their Lotto Central League season at Bluewater Stadium against Upper Hutt from 2pm.
The centre-mids are in the mix of five players returning from last winter with centreback Danny Wilson slipping on the captain's armband.
Another import, Andrija Ilic, 19, a midfielder from Serbia, is likely to join the squad of 19.
It appears Tinsley, a Nottingham Forrest and Leicester FC apprentice, and John, of Bristol City and Welsh club Port Talbot, are commodities of a caring system.
Robertson, who is recovering from ankle surgery and may play later in the season, selected them through the League Football Education (LFE), an organisation that remains in touch with apprentices who clubs release.
"I got Bill on an email and he saw videotape footage of me," Tinsley says of LFE that throws teenagers a lifeline abroad.
It wasn't easy for him or John but the significance of a budding career won at the end of the day, despite the emotions of leaving their comfort zones.
"I'm very close to my family, especially my little brother," Tinsley says of his sibling, MacAuley, 17, who are children of school receptionist Nicola and plumber Jason Tinsley.
He spent eight years with Nottingham Forrest, scoring a contract at the age of 15.
Before that, Leicester had promised him several incentives so his father convinced him to travel half-an-hour away to the club but things didn't follow the script so he returned to Forrest.
Breaking his fifth metatarsal twice didn't help his cause, either.
"I looked at all the places and this [Rovers] seemed to be the right thing to do at the time," says Tinsley who loves the Bay, especially the climate.
With aspirations to play in the ASB Premiership in summer and A-League, he is mindful the Rovers are his first stepping stone.
Just before his first training on Tuesday, he was aware the Rovers "like to press hard".
The club's professional set-up and environment aren't lost on him. He sees that as an ideal platform to progress and develop as a player in this part of the world.
"I love to get on the ball and score. Technique is the best thing and I like spreading the ball," says the teenager who billets at the home of fitness trainer Brendon Campbell.
The physicality in England is in stark contrast to the technical approach here.
"We play less football over there and they are more direct," he says although he hastens to add Nottingham Forrest aren't shy to play the ball from the back all the time.
League One English campaigners Bristol City released John after six years in their academy.
The Cardiff midfielder returned to Welsh premier league side Port Talbot, sitting eighth on the ladder, for four months before jetting off to Napier with their blessings to gain experience.
"It's an opportunity for a lifestyle that is better than home," says the son of Joyce and Steve who have another son, Nathan, 23, who doesn't play the beautiful game. Having arrived in Napier last Wednesday, John noted how quiet the city is with less busy roads.
"It's quite small here but it's easy to get to places and much greener than Cardiff.
"The pitches aren't lush so you can't play much football. It's more physical."
A technical player who can create scoring opportunities, John relished his time at the youth-dominant Bristol City club in England.
Port Talbot have older players "who look down at you".
He was distraught when he didn't get a contract with Bristol although he was prepared for a negative outcome.
His father, who played as a youngster, influenced him to play soccer.
"Dad didn't make it so he got me into it," John said of his father who told him to "go for it" in Napier.
The five players, excluding Robertson, who are returning this winter are Wilson, goalkeeper Jonty Underhill, Bayley Chadderton, Josh Stevenson, and Andy Bevin.
However, Bevin will be here from his American university for three months.
Returning former players include goal keeper Kyle Baxter, Matt Hastings, Daniel Ball, Phil Dol, Stu Wilson, Chris Greatholder, Sam Messam, Angus Kilkolly and Fergus Neil.
Ollie Chapman and Josh Anstis have gained promotion from the Pacific Premiership.
Robertson says former Bay United striker Messam is likely to be available in the second round because he is in Australia.
Neil will only play a few games after signing to play for Kingston FC, Ontario, in the Canadian Premier League.
"We have a core group of players but we have a new lot to start again but that isn't necessarily a bad thing," he says, revealing he went through the arduous task of recruiting players.
"It was quite challenging working behind the scenes for five months to get them to a competitive level but I think I've managed to do that."
Bay United squad member Wilson's captaincy comes on the foundation of more than 80 appearances for the club.
"He's won my respect and the new players so he's a good fit for the job."
Bay United captain Robertson, who replaces Grant Hastings, was at the helm of the Maycenvale United premiership team who historically gained promotion to the Central League before making an inglorious exit two seasons later under different coaches.
But his preoccupation now is with the Blues.
"It was disappointing to finish fifth last year in the end.
"A club of this stature and history of success has a goal of winning the league," says the 29-year-old. "Right now we have a lot of individuals so it'll take time to build a team."
Robertson doesn't know much about Upper Hutt but is adamant the Rovers want to claim three points from every game at home in the league which sees the return of promoted Palmerston North Marist at the expense of Team Wellington.
"We want to get big crowds to the park and entertain our supporters with good results."
Chatham Cup glory is also on their agenda.
In a role reversal, Bay United coach Greatholder will comply with the script of his franchise skipper.
"I have a great relationship with Chrissy so it'll be excellent to have him involved with his experience," says Robertson who has coached in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and other elite academy groups.
"I'm only 29 so I have reasonable experience behind me."
Robertson has a philosophy that his players have bought into.
"I'd like to think I create a professional environment so it challenges players."
He accepts most players will be trying to impress in the league in the hope of securing contracts in the national summer league.
NAPIER CITY ROVERS: 1. Jonty Underhill (GK), 2. Josh Anstis, 3. Daniel Ball, 4. Bayley Chadderton, 5. Bill Robertson, 6. Miles John, 7. Matt Hastings, 8. Stu Wilson, 9. Sam Messam, 10. Andrija Ilic, 11. Andy Bevin, 12. Oli Chapman, 14. Josh Stevenson, 15. Ryan Tinsley, 16. Danny Wilson (c), 17. Fergus Neil, 18. Angus Kilkolly, 19. Phil Dol, 20. Chris Greatholder, 21. Kyle Baxter (GK).
Coach: Bill Robertson.
Manager: Malcolm Wilson.
UPPER HUTT: 1 Chris Campbell (c), 2 Jake Harris, Steve Coleman, 4 Muike Garnett, 5 hamish McLachlan, 6 Rodney Mays, 7 Liam Wood, 8 Liam Higgins, 9 Devon Batchelor, 12 Jamie Michie, 13 Joe Wick, 14 Luke Grindley, 15 Adam Brown, 16 Cameron McLachlan, 18 Pedro Garcias.
Coach: Pedro Garcias.
Manager: John Milroy.
Rotorua Boys' won with a last-play penalty after their prop reached for the ball in a scrum, sealing victory over Hastings Boys' with a clutch final kick.