Soccer: A boys' night out to beat them all

Aaron Scott trains at Porirua before the clash tomorrow against Bahrain. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Aaron Scott has his eyes on an early wedding present.

In Ricki Herbert's 18-man squad for New Zealand's biggest game of football in almost three decades, Scott will have plenty to celebrate should the All Whites qualify for next year's World Cup.

A month after the match in Wellington, Scott will marry Chrissy Brycki in Hamilton. As one of 18 players in the squad, Scott will be in line for a handy bonus as part of the already-agreed payout to players.

As one of only four All Whites players - along with Ivan Vicelich, James Bannatyne and Andy Barron - not involved with a professional club, Scott said he has to work harder.

"Being thrown in with the professionals is a real challenge. Their professionalism has rubbed off. Training with them is a huge step up but I feel I am bridging the gap," said Scott. "I have always tried to do everything right whether playing or training."

Even to the extent he now drives from Hamilton to Fred Taylor Park twice a week to train under coach Neil Emblen at Waitakere.

Yet, like Bannatyne and Barron, Scott has yet to play a minute of a World Cup qualifier. His appearances in an All Whites shirt have been minimal.

He was on the bench for the dead tie in Fiji almost a year ago and made his debut off the bench against Thailand away earlier this year before starting the second of those friendlies. He played against Botswana in the Confederations Cup lead-up and in the 0-0 draw with Iraq at the Cup in Johannesburg.

Last year he was in the under-23 Olympic team and with it the chance to play alongside Ryan Nelsen. When Nelsen left early to return to England, Scott regained the captaincy for the game against Belgium - something he rates as the most memorable in his short international career.

The biggest disappointment came when Waitakere United coach Chris Milicich left him out of the team to play Adelaide United at the Fifa World Club Cup in Tokyo preferring "older players".

Unlike a number of the All Whites squad, Scott has not come through the international ranks.

A late bloomer, Scott has quickly caught up. Now established as a right fullback, Scott played central midfield for Hamilton BHS breaking into the first XI as a fifth-former.

He was a regular at the Melville club before switching to Waitakere but without ever winning international selection at under-17 or under-20 level.

"I suppose I got my break in August 2008 when I went on the Football for Hope tour to Fiji with Jonathan Gould," said Scott. "He talked about me with Stu Jacobs who was coaching the Olympic team and it has gone from there."

From a football-mad family, Scott said it was a difficult call to leave Melville but he is in no doubt his switch to Waitakere has been for the best.

Scott juggles his football with part-time work and wedding planning and hopes that, depending on that result, the first half of 2010 might be "pretty much a write-off".

After that he wants to put his degree in Sport and Leisure Studies and his secondary school teaching aspirations to good use.

And, if it comes down to a penalty shootout to find a winner and if Scott is on the field, Herbert could do worse than call him up. In his time he has felt comfortable from the spot boasting a 100 per cent record. But, like everyone else, he hopes it does not come down to that.