Brave Shailer bids for glory

Wairarapa United football star Carl Shailer, born and bred in Masterton, has experienced disease, risen through league promotions and stayed loyal to a club for nine successive seasons and is now closer than ever to Chatham Cup glory.
Shailer, 29, didn't start playing football until he was 17, due to his struggle with a rare hip disease called Perthes' Disease.
"Perthes' Disease was probably why I didn't play too much when I was younger."
The disease occurs when the hip joint doesn't receive enough blood, causing the ball at the head of the femur to collapse and become flat.
Shailer says it doesn't hurt on the field but the result can be severe soreness post-match.
"I went to a local doctor when I was about 15 and he said I couldn't play sport and would need a hip operation by the age of 30."
Shailer defied the logic of medicine and has pushed on to play 170 games over nine seasons for Wairarapa United.
The talented left-footer said scoring a brace in last weekend's quarter-final win against Waitakere United was a real highlight for his time at the club.
"I'm originally a left back but Phil recently moved me into the left half position, as he thought it would be better for the team."
He has only scored one other goal this year and joked that Rob Duncan, the team stat man, informed him that it was his first couple of goals in three years.
After high school Shailer spent his time out on his uncle's farm near Masterton.
He decided it was better to play football and take the risk, rather than just stay around the farm being overly careful.
Shailer started his football career playing low grades in Carterton. He joined Wairarapa United in 2002, and is the only player remaining in the side from Phil Keinzley's first year coaching in 2003.
Shailer has seen his team rise through two grades since those days, and has enjoyed premier football in the Central League (the lower North Island's premier division).
The "Original", as he should be named, had experienced some great highs at the club but said to win the Chatham Cup would be ultimate.
"It would mean the world, it's the ultimate trophy to win."
Shailer believed the double, winning the Chatham Cup and the Central League, was a realistic goal for the club. "No one has done the double since 2002. I think it was Napier that year."
Shailer was unfazed by the semi-final draw which had Wairarapa playing Bay Olympic in Auckland on the weekend of August 13 and 14.
"It will be a quicker pitch up there and that will suit us," he said.
Shailer said the team had practised penalties at training and if it came down to it he would be happy to step up.