Soccer: Dream of life in elite lane keeps Gordon on his toes

He might be 33 and have played eight seasons in the English Premiership, but Dean Gordon holds the same hopes and dreams as many of his team-mates: that the NZFC will be a prelude to bigger and better things.

The former Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough left fullback just wants another chance to play professionally again. He joined Auckland City in their quest for a third-straight NZFC title and in the hope of persuading clubs he's still got what it takes.

"The attraction is the World Club Champs in Japan in December," he says. "Although it might be just one game, it's still a massive game and it's an opportunity for the club and players to put themselves out there. I'm optimistic that playing with Auckland City, maybe I can go to a higher level again."

That higher level is preferably the A-League. When the softly spoken south Londoner landed in New Zealand in June, he played for Albany (his former personal trainer Mickey Byrne was coach there), and trialled with the Knights.

"I would have felt better about playing in the A-League [than the NZFC] but, unfortunately, that didn't work out," he explains. "But I decided I wanted to stay [in New Zealand] anyway. I set up my own coaching programme, for kids in schools, and let [Auckland coach] Roger Wilkinson know I was around and available."

Gordon is yet to make his NZFC debut, because of a two-week suspension gained at Albany, but he figures in Wilkinson's plans for Auckland City.

They not only go to Japan but also take part in the Oceania Champions Cup - a home and away champions league that replaces the tournament-style Oceania Club Champs - which begin in January. And there's the matter of defending their NZFC title.

"He's a very good pro on and off the field and is worth his weight in gold," Wilkinson said. "He has this aura of calmness about him, it's like having a player-coach on the pitch."

Gordon played in more than 350 league, FA Cup and League Cup games and fetched £900,000 when he transferred to Middlesbrough after Crystal Palace were relegated in 1998. By that time, he had already made a name for himself as a pacy and skilful left-back with a blistering shot.

He turned out 13 times for England under-21s, alongside the likes of Sol Campbell, Nicky Butt and Trevor Sinclair, and was rated one of the unluckiest players never to pull on an England shirt.

"When I was in my first season at Middlesbrough I played every game and was watched by England scouts," Gordon remembers. "People were saying there was a chance of me getting into the England squad but then I injured my knee which put me out for a season. That injury probably came at the worst time in my career.

"I think about 'what if', but things happen and you have to get through it. I didn't give up then because I came back from the injury and still did quite well."

Gordon played four seasons on Teesside but more recently he's been seen further down the leagues. He had a couple of good seasons at Coventry from 2002-2004, but he's since graced the likes of Grimsby, Apoel Nicosia in Cyprus, Crook Town and Blackpool.

It's hardly surprising to hear him say that "I wanted to get away from England because things were getting a bit stale there".

Gordon will become the second Premiership player behind former Wimbledon, Manchester City, Chelsea and Everton defender Terry Phelan to play in the NZFC. Phelan saw little action, playing only two games for Otago last season before focusing on his coaching duties.

Gordon would like to make more of an impact on the field than that - and hopes someone will be watching.