Ian Hogg: Catch him while you can

HAMISH BIDWELL
It's hard to escape the feeling that if Hawke's Bay United fans want to enjoy the talents of Ian Hogg, then they better come along and do it this season.
At just 16, the left-back already boasts a CV that a player 10 years his senior would be proud of. And it can't be long before bigger, overseas clubs start calling.
A regular with Central United in the Northern Premier League, a star of the New Zealand under-20 and A teams, Hogg (pictured below) also had a brief stint with English glamour club Arsenal back in July. Not bad for a kid still in the sixth form at Auckland Grammar School.
Little wonder then, that Hawke's Bay United manager Jonathan Gould lost no time in recruiting the youngster when their paths crossed during the New Zealand under-20 team's tour to Australia back in May.
"As soon as he asked me, I jumped at the opportunity," said Hogg, ahead of Hawke's Bay's sixth-round New Zealand Football Championship clash with Waitakere United at Douglas Field.
"Before that, I thought I'd just stay with the Auckland City Academy and maybe try and get a bit of time off the bench with the first team. It was always my goal to try and play in the national league and I'm really grateful for the opportunity Jonathan has given me.
"I feel like I'm going okay so far (with Hawke's Bay) and going away with the New Zealand A team to Vietnam has been a big help and made me better prepared to play at this level. Playing against the Thai and Vietnamese men's teams was a great experience.
"I was a bit disappointed with the way I played last week (in the 2-0 home loss to Otago United) but Jonathan said that was to be expected after all the travel."
But the main thing about Hogg's elevation to NZFC level is that he hasn't felt, or looked, over-awed. Having made the Grammar first XI as a third-former and consistently played well above his age-group ever since, playing against men holds no fears for Hogg.
Which is partly why being able to measure himself against some of the best English players of his own vintage, was one of the big treats of his time at Arsenal.
"It wasn't really a trial or anything. I just went over there at the end of July to try and get a bit of experience," he said.
"(Ex-Auckland City coach) Allan Jones sorted it out for me and I just went and trained with their academy. It was a real quality set-up and I felt I was at the same level as most of them. But you could see how training every day of the week would turn you into a pretty good player.
"The coaches seemed pretty pleased with me and were keen to keep me on, but they had no more places. They offered to recommend me to other clubs, but I couldn't stay over there any longer.
"The (English Premier League) season hadn't started, so I didn't get to see any games, but I saw a few of the players around the training ground, which was a big thrill."
Today also promises to be a high point in his career. A longtime spectator at Waitakere matches, there's more than the three competition points at stake in the Hogg family.
"My (older) brother Stuart plays for them. He plays right wing or striker, but I don't know if he's starting. But Mum's already said 'don't hurt each other'.
"It should be fun. We're pretty competitive and we're always rarking each other up."
* Waitakere United: Michael Utting, George Suri, Danny Hay, Sam Jasper, Commins Menapi, Hoani Edwards, Craig Wylie, Sam Mathews, Michael Gwyther, Jeff Campbell, Daniel Koprivcic. Substitutes: Simon Eaddy, Prince Quansah, Allan Pearce, Stuart Hogg/Pedro Santos, Rupesh Puna/Pedro Garcias.
* Hawke's Bay United: Mitch O'Brien, Robbie Hunter, Michael Frischknekt, Phil Edginton, Ian Hogg, Dean Johnston, Graham Fyfe, Ricky Gillies, Chris McIvor, Sam Jenkins, Leo Shin. Substitutes: Scott Dunn, Regan Cameron, Shannon Dally, David Gearey, Joel Wakelin.