Soccer: Ryan the Rover

Ryan Nelsen

Ryan Nelsen is demolishing a plate of garlic bread when we meet up in the hotel he's staying in.

He apologises, saying he's had no time to eat lunch due to his official press conference in the morning and an afternoon practice match for his new club. Such is the pace of life in the Premiership.

But for the Christchurch-born Nelsen it's the pressure he was looking for.

"It's sink or swim here, which is the way I like it. I'm not here to be just a squad member," says Blackburn Rovers' latest acquisition.

"To be honest I was very happy in America. The place was awesome. My friends were great and we'd just won the championship, but I got the feeling I was just a little bit too comfortable.

"Some idiot quoted me as saying that I liked being with DC United but hated being in America, which is just ridiculous. I was there for seven years. If you hate a place you don't hang around.

"Washington was a great city to be in. It's a collegiate city, with the Georgetown Campus giving it a really good atmosphere.

"I could have easily signed another four years and been happy with that, but I've never been a fan of the easy road. I need that bit of fire under me. Some say I should have come to this level earlier but I wouldn't change the route that got me here."

Even the winter storms that caused a 24-hour electricity blackout over much of Northern England failed to curtail his enthusiasm for the new challenge ahead. "I just lit a lot of candles, wrapped myself in a couple of blankets and got into reading a good book."

Hardly the most auspicious start for a man who could soon week-in week-out be marking the best strikers in the world.

But the challenge doesn't faze Nelsen. "I've always aimed to play at the highest level that I could.

"You always want to match yourself up against the best. One of the things that I admired about the American attitude at DC United was that they didn't care who they played against. We had a few "friendlies" against Premiership teams.

"In New Zealand playing a Premiership side would be a really big deal, but the American players were actually kind of annoyed because it messed up our preparation for the league match on the weekend. They just didn't think about who they were up against or really care. We played Newcastle, Leeds, Tottenham, Blackburn and never lost."

The signing of a Kiwi soccer player may have surprised some in Blackburn. However, with two Australians and a South African already in the team, he's not the only player from a country better known for its love of the oval ball.

"It sounds a bit of an oxymoron doesn't it? A soccer player from New Zealand. Everywhere I have gone people have found it a bit strange but I never saw it that way. The guys here have surprised me. In all honesty I was expecting there to be some big egos and things like that within the squad but they are fantastic guys.

"I did actually play a bit of rugby back in high school because the rugby players were the cool guys and I wanted to get into the best parties," laughs Nelsen.

"Soccer is in my blood though. My grandfather managed the national team and I had three great-uncles who played for the All Whites."

In New Zealand, like America, soccer is an emerging sport. In England it's a religion and the pressure on Nelsen to perform will be greater than anything he's experienced before. "Yes, but I like it that way. It's great to be in a place that lives and breathes the game. Everything here is about football. I don't think you can get better facilities than they have here. The management and coaching set-up is excellent.

"I spent 10 days here back in early December and really enjoyed it. I liked them and they seem to like me. So when the opportunity came up I knew I wanted to stay here."

Nelsen is also well aware that he is now the man to which all young soccer players in New Zealand will be aiming to emulate.

"I hope a lot of New Zealanders see this as a goal. In New Zealand just signing for a Premiership club is seen as a great step. They are over the moon with it. It's not even an issue for me. I need to get playing and proving myself.

"The visa was a problem as New Zealand are not ranked in the top 70 teams in the world. So I could only sign an 18-month contract. But that's fine, if you can't make an impression in 18 months then you shouldn't be here. I intend to make it as hard as I can for the manager not to pick me."

Manager Mark Hughes is delighted with the signing of the All Whites captain.

"We've looked far and wide for new players and I'm delighted to bring an international captain into the club. Ryan has the qualities we need here. He's determined to succeed and I'm sure he will."

Ryan Nelsen
Born: October 18, 1977
Height: 1.81m
Weight: 77kg

New Zealanders in the top flight
Lee Norfolk was at Ipswich Town between 1994 and 97
Danny Hay was at Leeds United between 1999 and 2002


Blackburn Rovers
Home ground: Ewood Park
Next match: away at Portsmouth, Sunday (NZ time)

Honours
FA Premiership champions: 1994-95
Division One champions: 1911-12, 1913-14
FA Cup winners: 1884, 1885, 1886, 1890, 1891, 1928
League Cup winners: 2002

Current Premiership standings (bottom 3 relegated):
1. Chelsea 55pts
10. Aston Villa 2
16. Blackburn 22
17. Crystal Palace 18
18. Norwich 16
19. Southampton 15
20. West Brom 13

* David Fernhead is an English writer based in Blackburn.