KEY POINTS:
Michael Glading is adept at meeting - and scoring - goals, although as New Zealand Football's new chief executive he was not exactly boasting about his on-field skills, admitting that in his time he scored eight times, four for his Glenfield Rovers team and four as own goals
for the opposition.
Glading, 54, says his footballing talent was, at best, modest although good enough to play for Rovers in the first division at a time when the Northern League meant something.
His other sporting interest centres on a much smaller ball which is no surprise given his 88-year-old father Bob remains one of the greatest golfers New Zealanders can call their own.
Representing the Titirangi club where his son now plays (on a highly commendable six-handicap), Bob Glading won the 1947 NZ Open as an amateur defending the title he won a year earlier as a Hamilton GC member.
Michael Glading was born in Auckland, but raised in South Africa from the age of 7, where his family lived and his father worked after being offered employment while in the Republic as a member of the national team.
Back in New Zealand at 19 years old, Michael Glading went to Auckland University graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce.
Soon after he embarked on a career in the music industry including 19 years as managing director of Sony Music NZ.
More recently he has had a more hands-on role with live music, promoting and organising tours by such renowned artists as Pavarotti, INXS, Stevie Nicks and UB40 as well as working with local recording artists including Bic Runga and Brooke Fraser.
And, in a return to the golfing relationship, he has been Bob Charles' business manager since 2005. Bob Glading and Charles were members of the New Zealand team in South Africa in 1959 for the second Commonwealth Tournament.
Glading says when he puts his feet under the big desk a week tomorrow, he will not be "coming in with any grandiose plans" admitting: "I do not have all the answers - maybe not even in two years' time."
He is looking forward to working closely with the new board and in particular new chairman Frank van Hattum and Fred de Jong.
"Here we have two guys who have not only played at the top level but have a great business background as well," said Glading.
"I'm prepared to listen and certainly do not see myself as being autocratic. Obviously, there are issues that have to be addressed but certainly, I have not been given a mandate to come in and make sweeping changes."
Van Hattum promises there will be a closer relationship between the new board and the new chief executive.
"We need to keep a hands-on role," said van Hattum.
"It is fair to say under the old regime, there were not enough controls in place. It's about finding the right balance."
