Soccer: High mileage, always starts

To say Jason Rowley has done the hard yards, make that miles, to get his football career to this point is an understatement.

For three years his mother was on the road at 6am driving young Jason from their Papakura home to Mt Albert Grammar to work out under Kevin Fallon at their soccer academy. Following his after-school [second session] training, she was back to take him home.

He then had a year in Sydney before returning to Auckland and the daily haul, via his work in Ellerslie where he has a job with Nick Boughton at Superior Scaffolds (one of the Kingz' much-needed supporters), to Pt Chevalier for training with the club before returning home.

"I've no regrets," said 18-year-old Rowley. "It's good experience."

He first started kicking a ball as a 10-year-old with Manurewa after his Scottish grandmother convinced him to give away league and athletics. He was "chucked into the backline", and has been there ever since, either at right fullback or right wing-back.

But, given the chance, he likes to get forward - especially for set plays from where he has headed home a goal or three.

After three years at Manurewa, he was enticed to Papakura by (now Football Kingz chairman) Chris Turner to play in the under-14 team he coached.

It was while playing at an under-14 Counties Manukau rep tournament Rowley was spotted by Fallon and invited to MAGS.

By his fifth form year, Rowley was in the school's first XI.

In that year they won just about everything, including the national secondary schools tournament. The only one that got away was the Auckland secondary schools knockout competition.

Rowley well remembers that final - for all the wrong reasons.

From the kick-off, in front of a rowdy crowd at Central United's Kiwitea St ground, the ball was played deep by Auckland Grammar.

In attempting a clearance, Rowley fell. Less than 20s into the match, he limped off. Mt Albert Grammar lost.

Rowley then joined the Kingz signed by Turner - and was soon on his way to Australian NSL club Northern Spirit on loan.

"There were some problems over my clearance and I couldn't play for the first half of the season," said Rowley.

"Once that came through I played every game in the second half of the season for their youth team.

"After that, the Kingz wanted me back for the 2002-2003 season."

He was around but not used by Ken Dugdale.

"It got frustrating at times, but, really, I don't think I was ready."

His patience was rewarded this season. Rowley has played every competition game. All but two have been in the starting lineup. None of his team-mates can match that.

Already capped at under-17 and under-20 international level, Rowley was the shock omission from the under-23 team to play next month's Oceania Olympic qualifiers.

Obviously disappointed, he now has his sights set on playing elsewhere but only if the Kingz can not offer him the football he wants.

Kingz coach Tommy Mason regards his young defender highly.

"He is keen. He is always at training. If he keeps learning he could be a very good defender. He has been selected for the Kingz on merit. Like him, I was disappointed when he didn't make the under-23s."

But it is not hard to envisage Rowley making it one day. He has always put in the extra yard, or mile.

One day he will, again, be rewarded.