Soccer: Waiting for the Knights

Jeremy Christie gives a nervous glance to see if it's the right time. He then checks his kit before walking out under the bright lights as all eyes turn on him as he makes his move.

While every pro footballer would love to walk out at Wembley for an FA Cup final, Christie is stepping out as a model helping to promote a new range of Nike gear to retailers. As he patiently waits to sort out his next football assignment, the 21-year-old has strutted his stuff on the catwalk since December and also appeared as an extra in tv shows like Shortland Street and Outrageous Fortunes.

Christie, who is one of the tidiest people you could ever meet with his boots neatly lined up in a row and T-shirts hung up on coat hangers, is understandably coy about his modelling career. Would he contemplate a life on the catwalk if football fell flat?

"I don't think so," he says, hurriedly trying to divert attention from the subject. "My brother would be more into that sort of thing. Mum told me to go and do something with my days. I just strut up and down the catwalk."

Christie's days have been rather quiet since the end of the 2004 Australian league, apart from spells playing in the northern league and the national league. For a guy who's been a professional footballer since he was 16, it's fair to say he wants to get the ball rolling again.

But getting back on the park at a good level is easier said than done. For every success story like Ryan Nelsen, there are hundreds of Kiwi kids who fall short of realising their dreams. For Christie, it's not out of the question. He's young, has played for Barnsley's first team - including an FA Cup tie against Nelsen's club Blackburn Rovers - and captained his country at age-group level.

Despite the fact he got his big break prior to the under-17 world champs in New Zealand when he signed youth terms with Barnsley, good fortune hasn't been on Christie's side.

Firstly he returned late with the other Kiwis at Barnsley to pre-season training one year, only to find another youngster who had been behind him in the pecking order had been taken away with the first-team (Anthony Kay has played more than 100 games for the club). Injuries followed and new managers brought in new players as he was about to break through. Then the killer blow came.

Manager Nigel Spackman had promised him a new contract before the club went into administration. Spackman got the sack and the new manager decided Christie should follow. "That was a bit of a shock," Christie admits. "My agent hadn't even been looking around because I had been promised a contract."

Christie cut his losses and returned home in 2003 to join up with the Ken Dugdale-coached Kingz. Now he's pinning his hopes on being picked by John Adshead to play for the Knights in the new A-league starting in August.

"I've been told I'm definitely in the mix and will know by the end of the month," Christie says. "I'd love to be involved." He was invited to a trial following the conclusion of the national league where, he says, he "went well".

Of course, the Waitakere United midfielder knows nothing is guaranteed and he's keeping his options open, especially as the Knights announced another six signings on Thursday to bring their squad to 12 players.

Trials have been tentatively arranged with the likes of Doncaster Rovers, where All White David Mulligan plays; Rochdale, where Leo Bertos is; and Wigan and Grimsby. He also has interest from Norway. "At the moment I'm waiting for the Knights and it would take a no from them for me to accept anything overseas."

One thing in Christie's favour in terms of an overseas contract is his history there, where it's often a case of who you know. He's also encouraged by Nelsen being picked up by Blackburn at the relatively late age of 27 through the US - not a traditional pathway for top players.

In the meantime, Christie can be seen pounding the pavements with Knights defender Danny Hay and fellow Knights hopeful Gerard Davis. The trio also have an eye on the All Whites match against Australia in June.

An All Whites call-up and a Knights contract could end Christie's modelling career but he won't mind. There are different bright lights he wants to make his mark under.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY