Phoenix roadshow a treat for young intermediate players

For one morning, the faces they see on television were real for the football players and fans at Wanganui Intermediate.

The Wellington Phoenix stepped off the bus just after 11am yesterday for a brief stop on their way to New Plymouth to play a pre-season game against New Zealand A this weekend.

Being welcomed on to the school grounds by a powhiri, the playing squad of around 22-23 players was split in two, with half of them signing autographs on posters and balls in the school hall, while the rest piled out on to the field to join the school's children in two pickup games.

They then swapped roles, with the other players hitting the field and the rest picking up the vivids for signing duties.

About 90 children met the Phoenix players. The youngsters were members of the school's five football teams or players for their local clubs on Saturdays.

Room 14 also helped out by singing the waiata when the team arrived.

It was a great chance for the WIS Sharks, Mustangs, Warriors and Academy Development teams to test their skills against professionals.

Phoenix captain Andrew Durante said while the team tried to make school and community events during the season near their home base, they rarely got out to rural areas.

"Not very often, we're a fair way away from Wellington.

"To get two and half hours outside and to do it at a place like this is pretty special, and to receive a traditional Maori welcome, we all felt really honoured.

"They usually just see us on TV. So it's great to interact with these young boys and girls, [to show] that we are actually human."

The Phoenix roster will be well spread for the game at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth, as many of the top players have been selected for NZ A.

Durante said this would give a lot of their young, second-tier players an opportunity to impress in front of Phoenix head coach Ernie Merrick, which should make for a very competitive match.

The game is tomorrow, with a 1.45pm kickoff.