Soccer: Kamo Kid teaching old dogs new tricks

Move over Ian Jones, there's a new Kamo Kid in town.

Daniel Ridgley may not be a rugby player, but he is described as an exceptional talent after being named in the New Zealand Secondary Schools Football team.

Ridgley, 18, heads to England in April looking to take his football to another level since being offered a scholarship to attend Auckland Grammar.

"I am a 'Kamo Kid'," said Ridgley. "[I] have played all my football for the Kamo Club, Kamo High School and North Force.

"I accepted a scholarship to attend Auckland Grammar last year and through this additional exposure I came to the attention of the national selectors. I guess you could say [I was] in the right place at the right time."

Ridgley said that while it was an honour to be selected, he was overwhelmed by the $8000 per player required to play for New Zealand.

To date Ridgley has run a raffle, cut and sold fire wood, and saved money from his Christmas holiday job in order to save the money needed.

Cue the Whangarei Aged Soccer Players (WASP).

The WASPs are a bunch of ex-football players, who have played to a reasonable standard, that get together to play age group teams and hopefully teach them a few tricks.

The WASPs are chipping in to donate $500 to Ridgley as they watch his progress with a keen interest.

WASP member Craig Crawford said he and his teammates have played Ridgley before and tried to pass on some experience. However, by Crawford's explanation, Ridgley seems to be the one teaching them the tricks.

"We're a bunch of has-beens," said Crawford.

"Daniel's one of those exceptional talents that always played an age group above himself.

"From a WASP point of view there are probably a couple of different levels of talented kids around at the moment, and Daniel [Ridgley] would be the most talented we've seen.

"Unfortunately for the WASPs, Daniel [Ridgley] has skinned us many times.

Crawford said the donation to Ridgley was not going to be a one-off for the WASPs, who are keen to continue a monetary support with talented North Force football players.

Ridgley follows in the footsteps of fellow Northlander Dale Bennetto who made New Zealand representative football teams after being lured to Auckland by a scholarship at Auckland Grammar.

Last year Ridgley was named player of the year for the Auckland Grammar First XI which came second in National Premier Secondary School Tournament in Nelson.