Soccer: Nelsen's polite applause

Is that the sound of dancing in the street, or just polite applause?

Ryan Nelsen's entry into England's premier league has won attention, but by the standards of fanfare set during that rich man's plaything on the Auckland Harbour, it's been muted.

To get to the bottom line, New Zealand soccer should hop on the Ryan Nelsen bandwagon and ride it for all it is worth. They won't get a better chance to promote their sport via the greatest competition on the planet.

A quick review of Nelsen's newspaper file does not make over-inspiring reading. The most obvious missing ink is any report of overwhelming and sustained congratulations from soccer bosses in this country on his securing a contract with Blackburn Rovers, a fantastic achievement and the stuff of countless boyhood dreams. Maybe no one asked them.

Instead, the files show the testy business of his criticism of the All Whites management last year and the schoolmasterly response from the administrators, a succession of whom have turned the gold of 1982 into dust. Maybe bad blood lingers.

As for the ins and outs of last year's row, I do not know. Suffice to say the last time I watched the often lamentable All Whites play in a World Cup qualifier at Albany, the organisers forgot to open enough gates and patrons tossed coins on a blanket for their entrance fee. It did make you wonder.

So have soccer's head honchos realised they can get mana from Nelsen?

People love people. Sport is about stars. Nelsen is a godsend.

Nelsen has, it seems, cracked the premiership when it holds unprecedented attention including mass TV coverage here.

For sure, it has been hijacked by money-grabbing henchmen, pampered stars and a manager or two with few manners. But the skills and drama have never been higher. And English football holds a magical place down here.

It was frustrating maybe that this country's greatest player, Wynton Rufer, based his glorious career in the German Bunders-what's-its-handle.

For all the good it did here, Rufer might have been gnat wrestling in Timbuktu. There weren't a heck of a lot of Werder Bremen bumper stickers around.

Yet as Rufer was banging in goals for the Bremen, this sports department included two avid supporters of Bolton Wanderers, a club which needed all the support it could get and did plenty of wondering - if they'd get out of the third division.

Just this week, a number plate came in to view professing some soul's undying love for Tranmere Rovers. Seriously.

Can you imagine the impact if Rufer had played for Liverpool or Manchester United?

The great thing about Nelsen is that he has been at ease in this exalted company in three games, including against Chelsea. He may survive even if Blackburn are relegated.

Nelsen can provide rare inspiration for young soccer hopefuls, and priceless publicity for the round ballers in general.

Yet he has already struck rocky waters with some New Zealand media since his arrival at Blackburn, stating most strongly that he was misquoted about not enjoying life in America.

Nelsen was mum this week, with Blackburn telling the Herald the player wanted to settle in further before doing more media. We shall see if and when that silence is broken.

But for my money, New Zealand Soccer should cherish the prospect of Nelsen's English career as much as the player himself. Get alongside him, and start scoring a few goals.

Nelsen, and others like Steven Old who might follow, can do more for their code than a bumbling national team hardly anyone ever sees.

King of the Kiwis

Ryan Nelsen might become one of the most recognised faces in New Zealand sport if his English career takes off.

Who though is our finest homegrown player?

I turned to the ever-enthusiastic 1982 World Cup All White Sam Malcolmson - a commentator, once a writer of soccer columns, and New Zealand Soccer director.

Malcolmson has no doubt.

He rated his 1982 team-mate Brian Turner, the record-setting international and a mainstay of great Mt Wellington teams - whose English career faded after a Chelsea start - as the undisputed King of Kiwi Soccer.

The much-honoured Wynton Rufer and the great 1970s Blockhouse Bay wing Ian Ormond were contenders, but well back.

Malcolmson said: "Brian was so undervalued. Wynton was the most successful, but Brian was the most complete. The only thing he didn't have, which Wynton did, was pace.

"Wynton was world class ... but Brian read the game so well, had skill and accuracy in both feet, and his first touch without doubt was the best we've had.

"And he just loved the game. He'd be the first person to help you."

On Ormond, Malcolmson reckoned: "Mercurial and brave. Could take the game by the scruff of the neck. But soccer wasn't the most important thing for him. You could easily put him out of some games because he had something else on his mind.

"Brian lived for the game. With Ian, it depended how he felt in the morning."

Other mentions: Mike McGarry, Ron Armstrong, Dave Taylor, Danny Hay, Grant Turner, Shane Rufer ...