English imports can't wait for a taste of Kiwi football

Surrey football imports Joe Thomas, left, and Liam Roberts cannot wait for the start of Devon Homes Wanganui Athletic 1sts' season in the Lotto Federation League. Photo/Stuart Munro

Before they touched down at Wanganui airport on Monday, the furthest that Surrey football players Liam Roberts and Joe Thomas had ever been from their English homes was a five hour plane flight.

The pair will now carry the hopes of Wanganui AFC as the squad re-joins the Federation League for 2014, having been brought to town from the Pulse Premier Football Academy.

The academy was formed by professional coaches Paul Seaman and Paul Harkness, with Harkness being instrumental in arranging the exchange with Wanganui AFC when he was on a recent trip to New Zealand.

Roberts, 22, a midfielder, said they said yes to the opportunity straight away.

"I prefer this weather to home."

Their academy was set up three years ago and is a fulltime football existence on top of working jobs in their home town.

Around 22 teams play in their league, as well as entering various cup competitions.

The young men would take the field for around 50 competitive games in a six and a half month season, with upwards of three matches every week.

They had already played 22 matches of the current English season before taking a four week break with just training to ensure they weren't injured before their trip to the Southern Hemisphere.

It will, therefore, be a culture shock for the pair to have just two training sessions a week with Wanganui AFC. During their first week on the pitch their teammates had plenty of questions about the grades they play in at home and why they chose to come to New Zealand.

"We just always wanted to play football in a different country experience how others play the game," said attacking midfielder Thomas, 23.

For both young men, football is all they know growing up in families that were mad for it.

They came through the grades of Badshot Lea FC, based near Farnham in Surrey and their fathers managed boys' teams.

"That's the only sport, competitive, I've played," he said.

They will be using the free wi-fi at the library to keep up with the latest English Premier League results online - Roberts supports Tottenham while Thomas follows Sunderland.

While not impressed to hear Sky TV does not have the broadcast rights to the EPL this season, the pair's main concern was that they can keep up with the 2014 Fifa World Cup this coming June-July.

While the football coverage may be a little inadequate, the pair seem very interested in making a go of it in Wanganui.

Having a work visa for a year, while the local season ends in September, when their Wanganui AFC duties are over they intend to travel the country and if they like what they see, a quick trip home for Christmas may well be followed by a return to these shores.

The Federation League kicks off April 5.