For a footballer who's fetched almost 4m in transfer fees, the decision to move to the Knights came down to the promise of a kitten.
Neil Emblen might have played in the Premier League with Crystal Palace and graced some of the biggest stadiums in England in his 12-year professional
career but a move to the Australian A-League required a little bribery.
"My oldest daughter, who will be 6 in August, was the hardest one to convince but I promised her a kitten and now it's a case of when can we go?" Emblen said while taking a break from a team party after Walsall ensured their surivival in League One last weekend.
The 33-year-old centre-back didn't need much convincing. As soon as he heard Knights coach John Adshead was interested, Emblen knew it was the right move to relocate to New Zealand.
He might not have the star attraction of Sydney FC signing Dwight Yorke, who set English football alight with 47 goals in three seasons to help Manchester United, among other things, collect the Champions League title in 1999, but Emblen's not worried about what he might come up against.
He remembers marking Yorke while playing for Crystal Palace when Yorke was at Aston Villa.
"He's a special player but I've played him before and I'm certainly not scared of what he might do," the former Wolves and Norwich defender said in his broad South London accent.
"He's the biggest name in the league and will be a nuisance to defenders but his best form was a couple of years ago so I'm sure he'll feel like he's got something to prove."
Emblen himself had something to prove a couple of seasons ago after a disappointing period at Norwich City when he was sidelined for 15 months because of injury. The 1.9m-tall centre back has been resurrecting his own reputation while at Walsall and has since gone on to be a regular in a Saddlers side that last weekend virtually staved off relegation.
The prospect of playing at North Harbour Stadium might not exactly match the lofty heights of 60,000 Premier League fans, or even 30,000 in the lower leagues, but Emblen can't mask his excitement ahead of playing in the Australian league.
"I played for a couple of big clubs but I'm now going down the leagues," he said honestly. "I started out in non-league football and would rather finish my career playing on nice pitches and in nice stadiums than go full circle and end up back in the lower leagues.
"I realise I'm in the twilight of my career but this is exactly what I need to get excited again and I certainly won't be going there thinking it'll be an easy ride. People going to the Knights are going for the right reasons and that's to put New Zealand football on the map."
Although he's currently being "weaned" out of the Walsall side since he announced he was leaving, Emblen's versatility should not be underestimated in a Knights squad that will be limited to only 20, including three under-20 players. There would be few people who could say they've played in every position on the park during their professional career, including goalkeeper.
"I've done the full set," he laughs. "I prefer playing at centre back but I must admit I do get excited and make a nuisance of myself further up the pitch."
Emblen's up front about what he expects when he arrives here at the end of next month. He seems to have been well schooled on what it'll be like for him here - he talks about the beautiful country and friendly people - and much of this can probably be put down to former Walsall team-mates and new Knights signings Danny Hay and Darren Bazeley.
The pair played their part in attracting Emblen to New Zealand. They might also know where this dedicated father can buy a kitten.
An eye on Neil
Neil Emblen
AGE: 33
BORN: Bromley, Kent
POSITION: Centre back, everywhere
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Sittingbourne (1992-93), Millwall (1993-94), Wolves (1994-97), Crystal Palace (1997-98), Wolves (1998-2001), Norwich (2001-03), Walsall (2003- ).
Emblen has fetched almost 4m in transfer fees since first signing for Millwall in 1993.
Played more than 300 league games and captained Wolves and Norwich.
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
For a footballer who's fetched almost 4m in transfer fees, the decision to move to the Knights came down to the promise of a kitten.
Neil Emblen might have played in the Premier League with Crystal Palace and graced some of the biggest stadiums in England in his 12-year professional
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