Soccer: Passion and planning behind return to glory

By TERRY MADDAFORD

If Micky Byrne had played his football at the same speed as he speaks, he would, surely, have been a world-beater.

The 50-year-old former Londoner lives and breathes the game he loves.

His enthusiasm is infectious and has obviously rubbed off on the North Shore United players he coaches and who now, against most predictions, are among the front-runners in the national league.

As the new boys on the block - or at least the new team in the big time after a spell in the local league - not much was expected from one of the most successful clubs - and the oldest - in New Zealand.

But Byrne, who had steered Shore to the northern premier title and then promotion to the national competition, is no fool.

A couple of astute off-season signings and the backing of club supporters, in and outside the committee room, had the team ready to roll.

They started their season with a 3-1 away win over long-time rivals University Mt Wellington and followed that with home victories over Waitakere City and Canterbury United.

They were handed a wake-up call by Napier City Rovers in their next match, but learned the lessons well and, in one of the best matches of the season, beat Napier 4-2 last weekend.

Thursday's loss to Central United was a setback, dropping them to second on the points table behind Napier, but it was only their third in two years.

"After what we did last season I knew we could compete," said Byrne, who played semi-professionally in England's lower leagues. As a coach, he took three teams to Wembley.

His first taste of soccer Down Under came in 1986 when he coached South Auckland Rangers for a season.

He then returned to Britain, but came back with his New Zealand-born wife a couple of years ago.

He targeted the key players he needed, such as Simon Eaddy, Leigh Kenyon, Nick Hyde, Chris Mooney and, later, Mark Beldham.

"While they and others like Graham Pearce, Michael Buhagiar and Julian Sills are all doing a great job, there are no guarantees. They all have to work hard for their places.

"We have a simple game plan. We play three across the back and encourage players to get forward.

"If we keep our shape and angles we will get players into position to score goals," he said.

They have not always achieved that, with 27 goals in 15 games this season.

Any problems in scoring have, however, been complemented by the best defensive record in the league. They have conceded just 13 goals, only twice letting in more than one goal at home - against Central and Napier.

Byrne is a stickler for systems and discipline - and set plays.

Kenyon's cracker last Sunday, from 20m, was the result of three weeks' work.

"Set play is the most important part of the game," Byrne said. "It is something we work hard at. Seeing a goal such as young Leigh's makes it all worthwhile."

Byrne had no doubt his captain, Neil Sykes, is the best left-side midfield player in the country and hoped he and others, including Beldham, would get their chance at a higher level - preferably with the Football Kingz.

Byrne is a great fan of the Kingz. He would love nothing more than the chance to coach the club. He certainly rates himself and, like incumbent Kevin Fallon, no one will ever question his passion or ability to do the job.

North Shore have the chance to keep the heat on Napier in the Southern Trust-sponsored league tomorrow when they host sixth-placed Manawatu, while Napier tackle third-placed Miramar Rangers. In the other games of the round, Uni-Mount Wellington meet Tauranga, Central travel to Dunedin and Canterbury United host bottom-placed Waitakere.