Flying Kiwis – December 31

Tyler Bindon - Reading (English League One)

TB: “Christmas is always my favourite time of the year. I have a really good relationship with my Nanna in New Zealand. Me and her always celebrate Christmas together, and the whole family over there, so it makes this time of year extra special. I’m also glad I have my parents here that I can still spend it with them. The fixtures are nice [over Christmas], we get to stay home, so it means all the boys can spend time with their families which is really important on Christmas Day. Sometimes travelling up the day before and staying overnight is hard because all you want to do is spend time with those closest to you. So this year, we’ve been lucky.”

This was already Tyler Bindon’s favourite time of the year but he probably loves it even more after scoring a bicycle kick winning goal for Reading against Mansfield Town. If you don’t believe it then take a peek with your own eyes...

Leading into Christmas, Reading had gone three League One games without a victory and been knocked out of the EFL Trophy. But then they got a go at Nik Tzanev and Northampton Town on Boxing Day and strutted their way to a 4-1 victory, Bindon helping with the first goal by keeping the ball alive with a header into the mixer after a deep free kick. Standard Bindon things. He also made 10 clearances, blocked one shot, won three tackles, and made two interceptions. Excellent work in both directions as Reading FC returning to victorious ways.

Then he scored that bikey in the win against Mansfield Town. No Ben Waine in sight for Mansfield, not sure what’s going on there because he’s not even made the bench the last two matches despite Mansfield being short on attacking options. Could be some truth to the rumours that he’s about to be recalled by Plymouth Argyle. Waine’s made 14 L1 appearances but only two have been starts – he has one goal from 355 minutes of action.

Anyway, he wasn’t there but Will Evans was on hand to equalise on the stroke of half-time after Mamadi Camara had given Reading a 17th minute lead. But it was Tyler Bindon who owned the evening with his 55th minute acrobatics. Back to goal, ball behind him. Don’t stress. That proved to be the decisive moment in a 2-1 win. Chuck in a great goalline clearance soon afterwards (albeit the flag had already gone up for offside), some typical class on the ball, and several key interventions down the stretch as Mansfield launch aerials into the box in search of a response... and this was one of TB’s finest evenings in blue and white. Given his reputation, that’s saying heaps.

Tyler Bindon to BBC: “It was pretty cool to see the ball go into the back of the net with my parents in the stands and the whole crowd going ballistic. It was really cool. The team did really well to secure the three points, especially in the last ten minutes dealing with all the direct play from them.”

Of course, the question now is: Has Bindon played his last game for the club? Reading face Cambridge away on January 2 by which time the transfer window will already be open. We all know the story. RFC are broke and need to sell players to keep up with running costs, and given his performances, his youth, and his expiring contract... Bindon is one of the most obvious candidates.

He was asked about his transfer status in that same post-match BBC chat and this is what he had to say: “I haven’t talked to anyone. I’m here right now and that’s all that matters to me. I’m living in the moment.”

Living in the moment is good advice although in this situation it’s probably not the most reassuring choice of words for Royals fans. When the interviewer then pushed the point, asking him to confirm if he’d still be with Reading after January, it got even less reassuring: “That’s not in my hands, unfortunately. Whatever happens, happens.”

Which makes this a good time to mention that apparently Norwich City sent a scout to watch the Boxing Day win over Northampton Town (hopefully they returned for the Mansfield Town game too). Add them to a list that already include Blackburn Rovers, Hull City, Coventry City, and Watford as clubs rumoured to be circling for the kiwi teenager. Blackburn were the first team to emerge as stated candidates and they still seem to be the strongest buyers but we’ll see what happens. Live in the moment.

Up Next: Cambridge United vs Reading on Thursday at 4am, then if he’s still there it’s Charlton vs RFC on Sunday at 4am (NZT)

Chris Wood - Nottingham Forest (English Premier League)

After scoring in the win against Manchester United, Chris Wood took a back seat for a couple of weeks to let some of his mates hold the spotlight instead. It was Nikola Milenkovic’s 87th min and Anthony Elanga’s 90+3rd min goals that got Nottingham Forest a crazy comeback 2-1 victory against Aston Villa. It was Ola Aina (38’) and Anthony Elanga (51’) who scored in the 2-0 win away to Brentford. It was Anthony Elanga, for the third game in a row, who got the only goal when Forest won 1-0 against Tottenham Hotspur. Three lovely wins with Woodsy happy to play his part in the background.

Then Forest met Everton and it was time for The Woodsman to move to the forefront once again. Not only did he score but he also assisted a goal in a 2-0 win that made it a magnificent five wins in a row for Nottingham Forest. They will finish 2024 in second place on the Premier League table. That’ll drop to third if Arsenal win in the last match of the midweek fixtures but no dramas there. Forest were in a relegation battle one year ago and now they’re halfway through an EPL season and sitting in the Champions League positions.

Once upon a time, Leicester City won a legendary Premier League title against all odds... Forest surely aren’t going to mount a title challenge with Liverpool already far ahead, though you’d have to admit there are similar vibes at play here. Which is cool because Chris Wood used to play for Leicester City but he narrowly missed out on that championship miracle after being sold to Leeds United just prior. That proved to be the best thing for him yet there still must have been an inkling of what-if about it all. Imagine Chris Wood playing in the Champions League. Well, if he keeps scoring goals like this then we won’t have to imagine it...

The set-up for Morgan Gibbs-White to score the clincher was pretty nifty too. Could easily have shot from that position and with his goal-scoring form he’d have had every right to... but instead he picked out a teammate in a better position and sent his team on the path to three more points. His first assist of the season, by the way.

It’s just going to sound repetitive to go on about Wood’s season tally. He’s up to 11 goals, no dramas there. Three more needed to match his career best and we’re only halfway through the season. The man cannot be contained. Let alone his remarkable efficiency scoring those 11 goals from only 32 total shots and 6.9 xG. Amazing things are happening at Nottingham Forest and not only is Chris Wood right in amongst it all but Marko Stamenic is due to potentially join them next season after his loan at Olympiacos – Wynton Rufer’s NZ record of 10 UCL appearances could be under threat already.

Chris Wood: “I feel like I’m playing well and doing well. I think I’m in a team that’s very suited to my style of play, or a number nine style of play. We’ve got two good wingers and we’ve got some great wingers coming off the bench. We’ve got Morgan (Gibbs-White), who’s a fantastic number 10 in behind, and midfield, which is absolutely superb. I think the team’s just doing extremely well, finding chances, and luckily they’re going in the back of the net which is nice. That’s what you want. We play this game for a reason because we know we’re good enough and we believe we can do it. It’s the same for me. I don’t mind taking that responsibility and I’m sure T (Taiwo Awoniyi) did as well when he was playing last season. It’s the stuff that we thrive on as players. It’s nice just to be playing consistently, having the backing of the manager and the team.”

The only thing about it is whether Chris Wood himself is still there next season. Curiously, there have been whispers of late that AC Milan, Napoli, and multiple Saudi Pro League clubs are lurking in the shadows with Chris Wood still in negotiations over a new contract with Nottingham Forest. Once you reach the last six months of your deal, you’re allowed to start talking with foreign clubs (although not those in the same country) – a situation that’s also about to emerge for Liberato Cacace whose current Empoli deal expires at the end of the season.

Unlike Cacace though, there has been constant chat about Chris Wood negotiating new terms with Forest for months now. While it’s no doubt nice to see his name linked with some of those clubs (not the Saudi ones), realistically it’s probably just tabloid fodder from the agent to drive up his bargaining position. Woodsy knows better than most that the situation and fit are so important in football. He’s been in bad spots before. Now he’s in a perfect one in a league that he’s passionate about, playing for a manager who rates him highly, within a system that’s built around his abilities, and with fans singing his name every week. Hard to see him walking away from that – especially when, as it stands, Nottingham Forest are more likely to make the Champions League than AC Milan. The only flipside is that the Saudi money would go alright for a newlywed with a baby on the way. But he’s not exactly slumming it in the Premier League, let’s be fair. There’s a payrise coming regardless. If anything, these rumours merely reinforce that a new NFFC deal is on the way.

Up Next: Tuesday at 9am, Wolves vs Nottm Forest (NZT)

Sarpreet Singh - União de Leiria (Portuguese Liga 2)

That’s goal number two for Sarpreet Singh with UD Leiria. He scored a dramatic late winner a few weeks ago and since then he’s been rewarded with a starting gig. Now here he was converting from the penalty spot for another one. The previous penalty he took was for the All Whites against Tunisia and he missed so this will have been a relief. He also won the penalty himself. Good work all around.

This goal gave UDL a 22nd minute lead away against Oliveirense. They eventually added to that lead before conceding soon afterwards due to a defensive error but, despite a very late red card, União de Leiria survived to walk away with a 2-1 victory. They’ve won three of their past four matches and those four matches just so happen to be the ones in which Sarpreet Singh has played the most. Keep this up in the new year and it’s easy to see them climbing much higher than their current ninth position in the standings.

Up Next: Tondela vs UDL on Sunday at 7am (NZT)

Jana Radosavljevic - CF Marítimo (Portugese Campeonato Nacional)

Still very much the forgotten woman in kiwi football circles, 3-cap Footy Ferns forward Jana Radosavljevic has been having a pretty great season since moving to Portuguese top flight side Maritimo. This here was her first goal for the club, coming in a 6-0 win against Vilaverdense. She also has two assists and, since missing the first three matches of the season soon after her signing (two of them were cup ties), Rado has started every single fixture. That’s 11 consecutive starts across all comps, playing at least sixty minutes in each of them – actually, the one where she only got sixty was this game in which she scored... and the substitution was probably on account of already being 5-0 up at the time.

Vilaverdense are the bottom team and have lost every game so this wasn’t anything drastic. But it was easily Maritimo’s biggest win so far, putting them up to fifth place as the calendars change. They’d only scored ten goals in nine games before this. Just what the doctor ordered.

Up Next: It’s a tough one away to Sporting CP at midnight on the Sunday/Monday crossover (NZT)

Liberato Cacace – Empoli FC (Italian Serie A)

Since Libby Cacace scored his first ever Serie A goal – his first club goal since leaving the Wellington Phoenix – on 9 December, Empoli have played three times and lost three times. They went down 1-0 to Torino, a frustrating game in which Che Adams scored from nearly halfway for a 70th minute winner. Empoli also got a late red card for defender Mattia De Sciglio in that game. He’d been a sub in that match but De Sciglio’s suspension still limited their options at the back for the next couple so while Cacace had played as a left forward in the Torino game, he switched to the left side of a back three for a dramatic 3-2 loss against Atalanta.

Cacace’s CB mode kicked in with a lunging block in the six-yard box to prevent an early goal. Then Lorenzo Colombo went and put the Azzurri into the lead after 13 mins to really spark things up. Atalanta responded in kind by scoring twice before the break for a 2-1 lead – Cacace unable to stay goalside of Charles De Ketalaere as that bloke angled a run across him to glance in the headed equaliser. A VAR check gave Empoli a penalty that Sebastiano Esposito converted on 57’ to tie things back up again... but De Ketalaere scored a very nice winner on 86’ to give Atalanta the points. Cacace did well to shut down CDK’s first shooting lane however the bloke simply shimmied his way infield and shot from there instead. Bottom corner for the win.

Following that, Empoli were dropped 2-1 at home by Genoa. This time it was 0-0 at half-time but they conceded straight afterwards due to some very sloppy defensive work on the right side. Empoli could have hit back ten minutes later from twelve yards except this time Esposito’s penalty was tipped onto the post (the same keeper, Nicola Leali, also made a banger save off a long shot from Cacace in this game). Genoa then scored again. Esposito got one back with fifteen to go but that was all the lads could muster. Funny thing about this game is that Cacace played as a left-back. So... three games, three defeats, and three different positions for Liberato Cacace. He is a man of all trades – perhaps next game they’ll chuck him in goal. Empoli sit 12th on the ladder with 19 points from 18 games, a comfortable enough five points clear of the relegation zone.

Up Next: Venezia vs Empoli on Sunday at 3am (NZT)

Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)

There’s a fella we haven’t seen in a while. Ryan Thomas, you might have guessed it, had a wee injury setback over the past two months. He wasn’t playing much anyway for PEC Zwolle so you could be forgiven for not noticing. But he did get subbed on at the very end of a 1-1 draw with RKC Waalwijk for his third appearance of the Eredivisie season and his first since late October. Probably gotta expect some of this as he gets his conditioning back up to where it needs to be again. Oh and you know what else? It was his birthday. An injury comeback on the night of his 30th, exactly what he wanted. (Also, the bloke he’s embracing there is Mohamed Ihattaren, a former PSV teammate who is now at RKC).

This was a crazy game. Remember Oskar Zawada from the Wellington Phoenix? Well, he plays for RKC now, in fact he captains them, and after a rotten start to the season he’s been in wonderful form lately. Zawada was sent off in his second league appearance for the club and it took him until his tenth match to finally score a goal. But when he did, he promptly whipped out five goals in five games with the fifth of those being a tenth minute opener against PEC Zwolle. Header from a corner. Too strong. Typical OZ.

Waalwijk were on top and stretching for a second goal, however Zwolle defended pretty well from there and it seemed that the next best highlight of the first half would be when one of the balls popped and a kid in the crowd got to take it home as a souvenir. That was until Zwolle won a penalty which Dylan Vente dutifully converted in the 41st minute and the match was all tied up.

That, of course, was how it ended... but it shouldn’t have been. Zawada was denied a couple of times, though more to the point was a super finish in the 90th minute from PEC’s Nick Fichtinger. He lashed one low into the net... only for the goal to be disallowed because of an offside from the short corner. Except that there was no offside, because you cannot be offside directly from a corner (same as with throw-ins) and the referee’s office later admitted it was the wrong decision. Whoops.

Good to see Ryan Thomas back out there at least. That’s more than we got from Matt Garbett as he was unused subbed for NAC Breda in a 2-1 loss away to Go Ahead Eagles. They were winning at half-time but couldn’t seal the deal from there. PEC Zwolle have 17 points from 17 games and are in 13th place. NAC Breda have 22 points from 17 games and are in 10th place.

Up Next: Zwolle vs NEC at 8am on Sunday 12 January (NZT)

Emma Pijnenburg – Feyenoord (Dutch Eredivisie)

The previous two substitute appearances that Pijnenburg had made this season each came in huge victories. She got 20 minutes in a 6-0 win over Fortuna Sittard and 26 minutes in an 8-1 win over Telstar. Turns out that trend goes the other way too because Feyenoord got thrashed 4-1 by PSV Eindhoven in their last game of 2024, conceding three times inside of twenty minutes to spoil the entire evening. But that spoilage gave them room to chuck Emma Pijnenburg on at half-time as part of a double change. The subs didn’t fix the outcome although they were a lot better in the second half, with the other part of that double HT substitution, Jada Conijnenberg, scoring the team’s consolation goal. Feyenoord sit fifth after eleven matches.

Up Next: We’re in the middle of a month off before Feyenoord face Heerenveen at 4.45am on 20 January (NZT)

Matt Dibley-Dias & Nik Tzanev – Northampton Town (English League One)

There’s not a heap of football happening at this time, most leagues are either in their offseason or on winter breaks. Except for England which is the opposite. In England, they ramp things up at this time. For Tyler Bindon and Chris Wood that’s been spectacular for them but how about the rest of the fellas?

Yeah... not so good. With usual number one Lee Burge still out injured, Nik Tzanev has been able to get a run of games for Northampton Town. He’s had some good performances in there, he’s had some less good ones. The most recent was a 1-1 draw with Shrewsbury Town but overall they’ve only taken four points from the six games that Tanz has started, conceding 16 times. It ain’t great and the Cobblers are in serious danger of slipping into the relegation zone if things don’t improve. As for Matt Dibley-Dias, well he made his long-awaited return as a second-half substitute in the derby victory over Peterborough United, the only win they’ve managed this month, but then he immediately got injured again and has not featured in any squads since. With the transfer window about to open again, you’d imagine that’s MDD’s loan deal over and done with.

Northampton Town assistant manager Marc Richards: “Matt came back against Peterborough but he's probably suffered a small setback. We need to wait for the physio’s report on him.”

Which could be the same situation for Ben Waine at Mansfield Town, as already discussed in Tyler Bindon’s section. Waine’s had more opportunities than Dibs has gotten during his loan but perhaps not to the extent that he’d have liked. Also, Plymouth Argyle are dead last in the Championship and haven’t won a game since November 6 (a nine-game winless streak during which they’ve scored 8 goals and conceded 26) so it could also be all hands on deck at the parent club.

As for Max Crocombe, bloody hell. He scored an own goal against division leaders Birmingham in a 2-0 defeat. One of those awkward ones where a shot hit the post and then bounced in off him. In the most recent game, they drew 1-1 away to Huddersfield, hanging on desperately to a 13th minute lead (so desperately that Crocs was booked for time-wasting with twenty minutes to go) only to concede an 88th min equaliser. And one of his centre-backs then got sent off in stoppage time. Burton Albion remain last in League One. They’ve won 2/22 games. They’re in big trouble... though Crocombe does have one of the best save percentages in the division so portion the blame elsewhere.

Up Next: There are midweek games too but the big one is on Sunday at 1.30am for Burton vs Northampton... a kiwi goalkeeping duel potentially on the cards (NZT)

Maggie Jenkins - Gaziantep ALG Spor (Turkish Süper Ligi)

The big ol’ top of the table clash didn’t go as hoped for ALG Spor, who more than met their match in a 3-0 defeat away to Fenerbahce. So it goes. Maggie Jenkins played off the bench, the first subbed summoned after 58 minutes with the team trailing 1-0 but then they immediately gave away a penalty to extinguish that dream. The loss drops ALG Spor to fourth after 13 games, the exact halfway point, with the division now taking a month’s break. This was only their second defeat of the term and it snapped a run of five straight victories.

Up Next: Back at it on 27 January away to Amed SK (NZT)

Indiah-Paige Riley - Crystal Palace (English Super League)

If they’re sharing Indi Riley highlights, then we’re sharing Indi Riley highlights too.

Up Next: Crystal Palace vs Sheffield United on Monday 13 Jan at 1am in the FA Cup fourth round (NZT)

Ronan Wynne - Atlanta United (American Major League Soccer)

Recent years have conspired to make the American college drafts pretty insignificant for New Zealand footy players. As a result, the college system itself hasn’t had the prominence that it has of old but there are always excellent ballers hanging around the scene hoping to be the exception and one such fella was Ronan Wynne. The NZ U23s international – and younger bro of All Whites fullback Deklan Wynne (who recently re-emerged at Green Gully with a contract for the 2025 NPL Victoria season) – has delivered consistently stellar mahi for the University of Denver over several years. In fact, here’s a quick round-up of his exploits...

Atlanta United: “Wynne, 23, played at the University of Denver the past five years. The Auckland, New Zealand native started 69 of the 70 matches he played in college. He’s tallied six assists in each of the past two seasons as Denver has qualified for the NCAA Tournament in ever season Wynne was on the team. This past season, the Pioneers advanced to the semifinal of the NCAA Tournament before falling in a penalty shootout to eventual champions Vermont. Wynne has been a consistent presence along Denver’s backline, playing over 1,500 in each of his past three seasons.”

Excellent stuff. Fine work. And what do such exploits earn a bloke like Ronan Wynne? They earn him a selection from Atlanta United with the 53rd overall pick in the 2025 MLS College Draft. The 23rd pick of the second round. He was one of two players taken from that Denver defence with an hombre named Ian Smith also finding his way to Portland Timbers with the 14th overall pick. Smith, like Wynne, is a fullback so nothing to worry about there for Finn Surman who’ll be trying to crack the Timbers starting line-ups on the regular next season.

Surman made it to the MLS the old fashioned way: through a direct transfer with a guaranteed contract. Wynne will still have to effectively trial for his permanent chance because all getting drafted does is get you that opportunity. No automatic contracts – though the higher up you get selected, the less convincing you need to do. There’s a cautionary tale there in the history of NZers picked in past MLS College Drafts (as originally seen in TNC’s Substack newsletter, get amongst it if you haven’t already)...

Wynne becomes the 13th NZer to get drafted to the MLS. He’ll be hoping to become just the sixth of those players to surpass ten matches played in the competition. The most recent was Noah Billingsley and that was five years ago, who went in the first round to Minnesota United but only ever got five minutes of first-team action. There are 22 kiwis overall who’ve played Major League Soccer (including Deklan Wynne who made 36 appearances for Colorado Rapids) with the two most recent being Jay Herdman and Finn Surman who each debuted last year. Michael Boxall (Minnesota United), Finn Surman (Portland Timbers), Bill Tuiloma (Charlotte FC), and if you want to count him then Tyler Boyd (Nashville SC) are the NZers currently contracted for next season. Finn Linder’s also on an academy deal with Vancouver Whitecaps.

Here’s some more good chat about Wynne’s Denver career...

University of Denver men's soccer redshirt senior outside back Ronan Wynne was selected 53rd overall (Round 2, Pick 23) by Atlanta United in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft on Friday afternoon. A two-time Summit League Defensive Player of the Year, Wynne played and started in all 23 matches at outside back for the Pioneers in 2024, seeing 1978 minutes of action. Wynne had two goals and six assists for 10 points in the campaign, including a goal in the NCAA Quarterfinals against UMass on December 7. Wynne was part of a Denver defense that was one of the top programs in the country in shots on goal against per game, and a defense that ranked eighth in the country in goals against average at 0.775. In his career, Wynne played in 70 matches, making 69 starts for Jamie Franks side. Wynne produced 21 career points on four goals and 13 assists, including one game-winning goal.

Up Next: It’ll be time to rip into preseason soon enough

Norman Garbett - Dundalk (League of Ireland Premier Division)

Here’s a curious one, wasn’t necessarily expecting Norman Garbett to be back with Dundalk after his limited opportunities last season and the club’s relegation. But sometimes a relegation is exactly what a player needs to help them squeeze their way to the front of the queue – and to be fair to Garbett, much of his sideline status came from joining a team midseason after a long stint without competitive football and subsequently battling injuries the whole way. The injuries even lasted into the offseason with a hamstring issue suffered in the penultimate match keeping him off the training pitch ever since (he’s just about ready to resume training now).

NG: “Obviously, I was disappointed with what happened at the end of the season. I knew as soon as it happened, I wanted to come back. I had a few conversations with the manager, and also Liam Burns, and they were talking about a great project that is going to be happening. I talked to some of the boys on the ground that are already there. I just wanted to be a part of it and help Dundalk get back up to where they rightfully belong.”

[Manager Ciarán Kilduff] has given me a lot of confidence. He wanted me to be a part of his plans. I really, really enjoyed that. Obviously, coming off the back of the season, I had an injury that was quite overwhelming. Mentally, I was in a little bit of a negative place coming back home. I needed to be around family, and obviously my family were great. I’m currently in Wellington, which is my home city, with my family. I’m enjoying it. In a few days, I’m going a little bit more up north. Talking to the manager, he has a lot of confidence in the team and in me. Those conversations were really good. I think he believes. I’m looking forward to coming back.”

Garbett only made eight appearances for Dundalk in 2024 and they were all as a substitute. There’s a pretty notable difference between the top two tiers in Ireland, so Dundalk should go from losing every week to potentially challenging for the First Division title (that’s what usually happens with the relegated teams). Chuck in what’ll hopefully be a full preseason and things should be much more in alignment for him this time around. Also, apparently the word has gotten around Dundalk and Garbs has been told he needs to bring back a haul of pineapple lumps for the team and staff when he heads back after his holiday back home. He’s spreading the culinary gospel as well as the footballing one.

Up Next: This’ll do

Alex Greive - Bohemian FC (League of Ireland Premier Division)

In contrasting news out of Ireland...

Yeah but the writing was on the wall for this one. Greive scored two goals in 15 appearances for Bohemians, mostly off the bench. With his Scottish Premiership and international experience it was hoped that he’d rip on at this level but that just didn’t happen for whatever reason. Couldn’t get that rolling momentum. It was the club that told him they were moving on but doubtful that Alex was feeling any different about the partnership. So it goes. Upwards and onwards.

Bohs manager Alan Reynolds: “Alex was one of a number of players we brought to the club midway through what was a difficult season and gave us important options as we tried to freshen the squad up and improve competition for places. He worked extremely hard during his time here and had a positive impact on the team. We’ve had the squad back in preseason over the past number of weeks and we sat down with Alex before Christmas and we agreed that now was the right time for him to move on and seek opportunities elsewhere. We wish him all the very best for the future and thank him for his contribution over the past number of months.”

Up Next: Add him to the list of available kiwi footballers

Zac Jones – Haverfordwest County (Welsh/Cymru Premier)

Who’s kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper in the Cymru Premier Division this season? This guy, that’s who.

The latest was in a 2-0 win away to Newtown which has Hwest sitting pretty in third place. Penybont and The New Saints are running away with it at the top, they’re ten and nine points clear of HC respectively, but Haverfordwest County are the best of the rest in third place and that’s with a game in hand on everybody else within seven points of them. Jones has sat out some of the cup stuff for rotational purposes but he’s played every single league game.

Up Next: Haverfordwest County vs Aberystwyth Town on Thursday at 3.30am (NZT)

Adam Watson - Witton Albion (English Northern Premier League Division One West)

Sneaky December loan for the lad who scored Aotearoa’s only goal at the 2023 U17 World Cup (a stoppage time penalty against Germany in a 3-1 defeat). Watson’s been working his way up the Stoke City system, scoring a few goals for their U18s, so it stands to reason that some senior footy would be next. Witton Albion are in the eighth tier of English men’s football so nothing particularly notable but he’s been getting good minutes and has already found the net...

Up Next: Witton Town vs Widnes on Wed 8 Jan at 8.45am (NZT)

Stipe Ukich – TBD

This’ll get the January transfer window going with a bang. Stipe Ukich, for those who somehow still don’t know, has been playing for Auckland City in the kiwi domestic stuff where he’s shown a penchant for scoring clutch goals. Despite his youth, he was out there muscling up against veteran National League defenders. He’s quick and skilful and direct and he’s got more than enough mongrel to serve him well in the hyper competitive world of European footy.

Rumour was that Auckland FC wanted him but he said nah bro because he’d already decided to use that Croatian heritage to get on the bus over there instead. Ukich spent some time training/trialling with Lokomotiv Zagreb several months ago but can’t sign anywhere overseas until he turns 18 (remember The Milly Clegg Rule). Well, he turns 18 in a few days and it sounds like we can expect an NK Istra 1961 announcement in the coming days. This is Croatian top division. Very serious areas. Get excited.

Up Next: We wait with bated breath...

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