Soccer: Underground or overground Smeltz is wombling free

Smeltz as an All White.

Shane Smeltz is a womble. It doesn't mean he picks up rubbish on Wimbledon Common, and it's nothing to do with his personality. It's because the 23-year-old striker pulls on the blue and yellow of Wimbledon each week.

It's not the Wimbledon that won the FA Cup in 1988 - although most of the 4000-strong fanbase claim the club's history - but AFC Wimbledon, a club set up by disenchanted fans angry that the Dons were moving 100km from South London to Milton Keynes.

It's a highly political story that divided players, fans and families but now Smeltz is helping AFC Wimbledon rise from non-league to the professional leagues.

This season the club, now in its third year, won the league and cup double with Smeltz grabbing the headlines for his six goals in nine games since joining the new Dons. He also has the distinction of being the club's first international player.

"They chant, 'there's only one Kiwi womble'," Smeltz explained with a chuckle from London. "It's been a great few weeks."

In many ways, Smeltz's interesting ride is a continuation of a journey that started in Germany.

Born in the German town of Geoppogin to an English mother and American father, his family moved to New Zealand before taking up residence in Australia when Smeltz was six. Rising through the ranks, he played four seasons in the Australian national league with Brisbane and Adelaide before heading to the UK late last year to try his luck at cracking the big time.

Despite his cosmopolitan upbringing, Smeltz doesn't hesitate in declaring himself a Kiwi - he also holds a British passport that allows him to play in the UK - and has played in the New Zealand white seven times at senior level.

"I've lived most of my life in Australia but I have strong feelings for New Zealand," he said, failing to disguise his Australian accent.

Smeltz was named on Tuesday as part of Ricki Herbert's 18-man squad to take on the Socceroos in London on June 9 and, although he's unlikely to start ahead of the likes of Chris Killen and Brent Fisher, he should get time to make an impact coming off the bench.

It's a role he last filled in the 1-0 defeat to Australia during the All Whites' disastrous campaign to qualify for the 2006 World Cup.

"I think we've got a pretty good chance this time around," Smeltz said of the game next month. "They will have a strong side but will probably be without Mark Viduka and maybe Harry Kewell."

In the past few years, New Zealand has tended to win one in every four against the transtasman rivals - although the Socceroos go into the match undefeated in their 11 outings in the past 12 months.

What happens in the next 12 months for Smeltz is not something the former New Zealand under-20 and under-23 striker can predict. Soon after arriving in England, he had a two-week trial with West Ham where he trained with former England striker Teddy Sheringham and Scotland midfielder Don Hutchison.

Although he didn't pick up a contract, manager Alan Pardew helped secure him a deal with League Two side Mansfield before "the club had some problems" and he moved back to London.

"My agent got me a deal with AFC Wimbledon and said it would be a good move because they get a lot of media coverage and it would help increase my profile," Smeltz said. It's certainly done that and he's also has played a handful of reserve team games for Championship sides QPR and Watford.

"I think I've done really well but they're waiting to see what happens this summer. I have an option to stay with Wimbledon."

While the AFC Wimbledon fans would love to hang onto their 'Kiwi womble', Smeltz hopes he can shake off the tag and move onto bigger and better things soon.
- HERALD ON SUNDAY