Soccer: A long and interesting journey from Sheffield

Neil Sykes in one of his many games - here in an O-League match against Jean-Francois Kabeu of AS Manu Ura. Photo / Getty Images

Neil Sykes can surely lay claim to a unique sporting record. He played in every minute of every grand final in the six seasons of the New Zealand Football Championship - 570 minutes of soccer including extra time in one.

Sykes started every final and never left the pitch. From five of them he went home with a winner's medal around his neck, three with Auckland City and twice with Waitakere.

Now Sykes has become just the fourth player to reach the magical 100 mark in NZFC or ASB Premiership games.

In six and a bit seasons - 128 games - he hasn't missed many in joining YoungHeart Manawatu's Adam Cowan (now on 112) and former Auckland City stalwarts Grant Young and Chad Coombes (both 100) as the only players to "top the ton".

Toss in three trips to Fifa's Club World Cup in Japan and it hasn't been a bad journey for a former Sheffield United apprentice who turned up in New Zealand in 1999 en route to Australia on his OE.

It was, he admits, a life-changing experience in more ways than one.

"I bumped into Paul Seaman, who I had played against in England, at the gym. He suggested I could get a game at North Shore," said Sykes. "I had a chat with [coach] Mickey Byrnes and it went from there."

And, within two weeks of arriving, he met his future wife.

"It was fate, I suppose, but I certainly don't have any regrets," said Sykes, who is now finishing his seventh year as a PE teacher and head of the football institute at soccer-mad Westlake BHS.

"I could have stayed in England and drifted down the leagues. If I had done that, I doubt very much I would still be playing."

As his coach at Waitakere United, after being recruited by Chris Milicich, Neil Emblen has no doubt Sykes, three weeks shy of his 36th birthday, is the fittest and most committed player of his age in the country.

Sykes loves the game, but tomorrow when United run out to play Canterbury at Fred Taylor Park he is likely to be where he was in Palmerston North last Sunday - on the substitute's bench. Sent off in the season-opener against Team Wellington for an ill-timed, rash tackle on Michael Eager, Sykes copped a one-match ban.

His time off gave him time to reflect and get over a nagging calf injury.

Sykes feels that injury probably contributed to his 81st-minute red card.

"I missed the pre-season with the injury and probably should not have played that game," said Sykes. "I was not 100 per cent, got tired, made a snap decision and a bad tackle and got sent off."

That opened the door for young defender Tim Myers who, while not playing in his more accustomed central role, has made a decent fist of his chance.

"It's hard sitting on the bench, but the other boys are playing well," said Sykes. "I'll just keep plugging away. In these situations you have to see it from the coach's point of view."

Asked how long he would like to keep playing, Sykes recalled a conversation he had a few seasons back with then Auckland City coach Allan Jones.

"I said then I thought maybe four or five years. He said to me as long as you are still enjoying it you should just take it one game at a time. That's what I am doing but I would like to think I have another season left in me if I'm still enjoying it as much as I am now."