My life in sport: Paul Ifill

Paul Ifill. Photo / Getty Images

Paul Ifill is the player-most-likely as the Phoenix go hunting for goals to prevent a heart-breaking late-season form slump.

The club can virtually secure its first playoff spot with a victory over Adelaide in Christchurch tomorrow, but two goal-less defeats on the road have threatened to put the skids under the title chase.

Ifill, whose career includes some brief English Premier League action and an FA Cup final appearance, has netted nine goals in his debut A-league season, third best alongside a trio including North Queensland's former Liverpool star Robbie Fowler.

Ifill warmed up for the Christchurch showdown by chatting to the Herald.

How do you feel about playing at home away from home?

A bit unfortunate really - it's great to take the game to other parts of New Zealand, but the timing is pretty poor. If this game was at Westpac [in Wellington] you could almost guarantee we would not get beaten, and after eight days away it would be nice to get back to our normal routines. We are confident of turning things around though. We haven't been good on the road all year - we've only had two wins - and we were terrible against Melbourne on Tuesday night. We fell to pieces in the second half. But you don't turn into a bad team overnight.

You're a long way from home ...

Yes ... Crystal Palace had offered me a new contract last January that I turned down and come March I wasn't sure what I was doing. A few A-League clubs were interested but Wellington was by far the most determined, which made the decision very simple. My teammates here have helped me settle in, Wellington is so beautiful and this has been an easy transition. It was easier moving here than when I moved from London to Sheffield.

What were your goal goals this year?

I thought in a 27-game season, 10 goals and 10 assists would be pretty decent. I'm sitting on nine goals and eight assists so I'm pretty close. I think the style of the A-League really suits me. I tend to get more time on the ball - I like dribbling at players and get more opportunity in this league. When you are on a run of goals they just come naturally - you tuck them away without thinking. In a lean spell you can try too hard and mess up the execution.

How does the A-League compare to the English leagues?

I would say roughly on a par with League One. Because this league is so young, most teams have a mixed bunch of players. At the Phoenix, if Costa Barbarouses and Marco Rojas had gone to England when they were 14 or 15 they would be on the books of a Premier League team. Both have got things you can't coach, especially speed. There are a few others like that - Tommy Oar from Brisbane and Mathew Leckie at Adelaide. Jon McKain and Andrew Durante could easily play in the English Championship division - they are two of the best centre halves I've played with and very comfortable on the ball.

Which club do you support?

When I was really young, Tottenham. They were doing well and winning things, and you go after the glory when you are small. Then I liked Newcastle and Notts County - I always liked teams in black and white stripes for some reason. I decided one day when they were playing each other that I'd support whoever won that game. Newcastle won 7-1 and I've supported them ever since.

Your best goal?

A free-kick playing for Millwall against Preston, whose goalkeeper was our [present] assistant coach at the Phoenix, Jonathan Gould. I reminded him of that when I signed. A free-kick, 35 yards out ... touched to me and I smashed it onto the underside of the bar. I still dream of that goal, now and again.

Presumably that FA Cup final (for Millwall v Manchester United, in 2004) was the career highlight?

Actually, my favourite moment was the semifinal against Sunderland, the realisation when the final whistle blew that we were there. Manchester United played Arsenal in the other semifinal and barring a miracle, one of those teams was going to win the Cup. Walking out in the final next to players I'd been watching for years, like Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs, was amazing.

Your worst memories?

Numerous injuries in the last two seasons ... persistent hamstring problems meant I nearly called it a day.

Who is the toughest defender you have faced?

[Australian] Kevin Muscat and [Englishman] Stuart Pearce.

Stuart "Psycho" Pearce - a scary man ...

Cor blimey, he was hard work. It was ridiculous. I was only a kid ... he elbowed me in the chest after about two minutes and I just couldn't breathe. He stood over me with the ball - the game was still going on - and said that if I tried to beat him with a step over again I'd get the same treatment. Then he ran off with the ball leaving me in a heap on the floor. That was enough intimidation for me - I was only 19 and a bit naive and scared of professional football at that stage. I went into my shell - the manager should have taken me off because I was absolutely useless after that. You need a bit of that sometimes - things like that stand you in good stead.

If you could change one thing in football, what would it be?

I've got two ... they need to make referees in the A-League professional. That happened in England and raised the whole standard of the league.

They should also introduce TV replays to look over vital decisions. Replays should look at things that can change a game, i.e. red cards. It would probably only take 10 or 15 seconds, and only two or three times a game.

What is your major career ambition?

To win something. I last won what is now called League One with Millwall which was special, but since then there have been a whole bunch of seconds. If I finish my time in the A-League my ambition would be to win a grand final.

Who will win the World Cup?

Brazil. They are not in the greatest form, but always turn up for the big tournaments. This will be their time again. A lot of the big guns are struggling, Italy are not the superpower they were, nor are France, it will be Brazil or Spain and, when it comes to the World Cup, Brazil have got the record whereas Spain haven't.

Your international career with Barbados is a long way from the Brazils of this world ...

We played the United States in a World Cup qualifier last year in Los Angeles and got beaten 8-0 ... an absolute shambles. There were all sorts of problems in and out of camp. The Barbados FA were holding back player payments and a lot of the squad are amateurs really - when they go overseas they are giving up jobs for a few days, but still need to pay the bills. There was an argument the night before the game about whether we would even play or not. The boys' heads were not where they should be. We came back to Barbados and I was made the captain for the first time, we changed a few things around, and only lost 1-0. It was a very proud moment leading my country out. I do look forward to taking time out to play for my country.

CV
Age: 30
Born: Brighton, England
National team: Barbados (he is the son of English and Barbadian parents)
Family: Partner Elle and daughter Romy (aged 3)
Clubs: Millwall (234 games, 40 goals), Sheffield United (42 games, 9 goals), Crystal Palace (59 games, 8 goals), Wellington Phoenix (23 games, 9 goals)