All White has message for students

All Whites midfielder Andy Barron had a double-barrelled message for schoolchildren in
Wairarapa yesterday - enjoy your sport by all means, but get a good education too.
Barron, 29, has just hang up his boots, retiring from all football after 22 consecutive years participating in the beautiful game.
At the instigation of his employer, Westpac Bank, Barron visited schools in the district to
give   something back to the New Zealand public that had supported the All Whites during their memorable Fifa World Cup campaign in South Africa.
He was the only amateur player in the  tournament.
Barron said the cup experience was "fantastic" and he realised he  had reached the pinnacle of what he could achieve.
"I thought long and hard about retiring but I think it was the right decision - to go out on a high."
He said his message to pupils was that everyone would love to be a professional sportsperson but the truth was people "like Ryan Nelsen" are few and far
between and getting a good education allowed you to have choices in life.
Barron works in the bank's  Investment Advisory Services Division in Wellington and said
this was  the first time he has not been  a  soccer player since  age 7.
"I am not certain to what degree I will miss playing."
But  playing Italy in the World Cup would remain a cherished  memory for the rest of his life.