Soccer: Plumber Hicks lands dream job

Jason Hicks was today coming to terms with the fact that he was no longer a plumber and would be plying his trade as a professional footballer for the next two years at least.

The 23-year-old midfielder, who was born in the English county of Kent and came through the ranks in New Zealand with East Coast Bays, Waikato and Auckland City, has landed a two-year contract with the Wellington Phoenix.

"It has all happened very quickly; one minute I was working as a plumber and a week later I am a pro footballer,'' Hicks said.

"Like many kids I always wanted to be a pro but never expected it to happen the way, or at the speed, it did.''

After playing at under-17, under-20 and Olympic level for New Zealand, Hicks made his senior debut for the All Whites A team that took on the Wellington Phoenix in Rotorua last month.

Hicks played well enough in that game for Phoenix head coach Ernie Merrick to invite him to trial with the club.

Again he did well enough to be signed as an injury replacement for Louis Fenton for the opening rounds of the A-League.

In the Phoenix's first two games against Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney Wanderers, Hicks got on the field and again Merrick was impressed enough with the way he handled himself that he offered him a two-year deal.

The Phoenix meet the Newcastle Jets in Napier on Sunday in round three.