United to hang out 'all welcome' mat

Wairarapa United will be hanging out the "everyone welcome" sign when they officially commence training for the 2009 soccer season at Howard Booth Park, Carterton tonight, starting at 6pm.
That's the word from the coach of their Central League side, Phil Keinzley, who said the door was still very much open for players keen to try out for either that team, or their seconds squad which will again be playing at Capital third division level.
"Any player who believes they have the ability to play for Wairarapa United should turn up, we will be happy to see them and they will be given every chance to make a favourable impression," Keinzley said. "You often have players new to the district who are unsure of who they should play for & well, we are saying to them come along and try out for us, you could be just what we need."
Keinzley also issued a warning for those players who were part of the Wairarapa United set-up last season and who could be thinking they were guaranteed their places as a result.
"Reputation is past history, anybody who isn't prepared to put the work in right from the word go won't be there," he said. "We don't want slackers, that's the message we are determined to get across."
Keinzley said extra pressures would be placed on the Wairarapa United club in 2009 through their premier team being promoted to Central League with the cost of running that team, the Capital third division sides and three age group teams expected to be in the vicinity of $130,000.
"The financial burden is huge and obviously we are working hard to come up with sponsorship which will help us cope in that expect," he said.
Meanwhile, the draw for 2009 Central League has been published with Wairarapa United scheduled to play all their matches on Sundays, including those at their home base, the Pugh Sports Bowl.
THE DRAW FOR THE FIRST ROUND, (HOME TEAMS NAMED FIRST)
April 4 and 5: Palmerston North Marist v Olympic, Petone v Lower Hutt City, Wellington United v Wairarapa United, Miramar Rangers v Taranaki, Western Suburbs v Napier City Rovers.
April 10 and 11: Wairarapa United v Miramar Rangers, Taranaki v Napier City Rovers, Lower Hutt City v Wellington United, Olympic v Petone, Western Suburbs v Palmerston North Marist
April 12 and 13: Palmerston North Marist v Napier City Rovers, Petone v Western Suburbs, Wellington United v Olympic, Miramar Rangers v Lower Hutt City, Wairarapa United v Taranaki.
April 17 and 18: Petone v Napier City Rovers, Wellington United v Western Suburbs, Miramar Rangers v Olympic, Wairarapa United v Lower Hutt City, Taranaki v Palmerston North Marist.
April 25 and 26: Palmerston North Marist v Petone, Lower Hutt City v Taranaki, Olympic v Wairarapa United, Western Suburbs v Miramar Rangers, Napier City Rovers v Wellington United.
May 2 and 3: Wellington United v Palmerston North Marist, Miramar Rangers v Napier City Rovers, Wairarapa United v Western Suburbs, Taranaki v Petone, Lower Hutt City v Olympic.
May 9 and 10: Palmerston North Marist v Miramar Rangers, Petone v Wellington United, Olympic v Taranaki, Western Suburbs v Lower Hutt City, Napier City Rovers v Wairarapa United.
May 23 and 24: Miramar Rangers v Petone, Wairarapa United v Palmerston North Marist, Taranaki v Wellington United, Lower Hutt City v Napier City Rovers, Olympic v Western Suburbs.