Flying Kiwis – January 7
Sarpreet Singh - União de Leiria (Portuguese Liga 2)
When Sarpreet Singh popped up at União de Leiria in the Portuguese second division, there were some complaints – or at least observations – about how a bloke who once played for Bayern Munich could find himself stuck at this level. The answer was pretty obvious to those who’d been following him. Singh’s time at Bayern included a Bundesliga winners’ medal but it also only added up to two first team appearances. That’s not a fair judgement of his career – Bayern take punts on players from all around the world and some work out, most don’t. A different managerial situation and who know but the Bayern thing was merely an entry point into European footy.
Unfortunately, the actual meat of his career from there has been cursed with injuries and bad luck the whole way... outside of six superb months on loan with Jahn Regensburg where he was one of the leading assist-makers in the 2.Liga. But otherwise it was a long-term hip injury, it was being sent to poorly-chosen loan clubs, it was being stuck with relegation-threatened sides, it was a mishandled registration. Even at the end of his Hansa Rostock time last year, when he was finally getting a look-in, he got a red card to halt all that progress. Why the Portuguese second tier? Well, look at it from another angle: what had he ever done to prove he’s above that level? For us kiwi supporters there’s heaps – he’s a stone-cold baller whenever he wears that All Whites jersey - but for European scouts not so much.
It’s also important to realise that the level of the club doesn’t define the level of the player. There are so many other elements that come into effect. Singh’s situation was a lot like Elijah Just’s when he moved to SKN St. Pölten at around the same time. Sure, he could be playing higher. But would you rather sit on the bench or would you rather start every game and be a key performer? That’s what Just chose and it’s what Singh chose. Just has responded by scoring bundles of goals, form that he’s also carried into the national team (in other words, the All Whites are benefitting more from Austrian second tier Eli Just than they did from Danish top tier Eli Just)... and oh yes look what Sarpreet Singh got up to this weekend...
Two goals, both stemming from making those good supporting runs into the penalty area. The first was a bit fortunate with the ball ricocheting off his face but hey he was in the right spot at the right time, what can you say? The second was a header, again sticking his face into a place it wouldn’t usually go only this time on purpose. All part of a 4-1 victory away against Tondela.
In fact, Singh should have gotten the assist for the fourth goal too. He played the through ball for Juan Muñoz to go 1v1 from almost halfway, a runaway deep in stoppage time, only for Muñoz to blow it at the first attempt and get tackled by the goalie. But then he recovered the ball and spectacularly whipped it home from out by the right sideline, in off the crossbar despite the presence of a defender on the line. No assist for Singh but he still got those two goals in a big win. Lovely stuff.
Singh has now scored four goals in five games. He’s quickly become a first eleven player for União de Leiria. And you know what else? Suddenly they’ve started to win games: UDL had three wins from 11 games prior to Singh’s first goal and they’ve won 4/5 since (granted they also changed managers, which has helped proceedings).
UD Leiria are up to seventh on the ladder. They’re only four points away from what would be a promotion playoff and seven points away from going up automatically. The Tondela team (former club of Tyler Boyd, if you’re wondering where you recognise the name from) that Singh just scored twice against are sitting second and this was their first defeat of the entire season to date. UDL just proved they can take down anyone in this division on their day and Singh’s shaping to be a key presence as they attempt to climb this ladder. Happy days.
Up Next: UD Leiria vs Chaves at 7am on Monday (NZT)
Chris Wood - Nottingham Forest (English Premier League)
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Nottingham Forest was the last game to kick off in this latest round of Premier League footy. Tuesday morning NZT, Monday night local. They had to wait... but Forest quickly made a perfect start, taking the lead within seven minutes after Anthony Elanga combined with Morgan Gibbs-White for the latter to whip in the opening goal against the club he began his career with.
Wolves went close with a few retaliatory attempts. Murillo cleared a shot off the line and Mats Sels made a couple saves along the way. Wolves played some nice footy... but Nottingham Forest are floating on air these days and they were the ones who got that crucial next goal. Chris Wood had been very quiet. He’d not gotten many touches. Lots of waving his arm around at the back post and not a lot of recognition from his teammates. But there’s nothing abnormal about that. Woodsy lurks in the shadows. He hunts in darkness. And he scores goals like this...
Wonderful movement once again, that decisive late dash to drop off and summon the cut-back from Callum Hudson-Odoi. It’s those sharp adjustments that Wood makes which earn half a metre of space for him to pounce upon. That’s all it takes and he’s brilliant with it. Number 12 for the season. His eighth goal in 13 EPL matches against Wolves, making them his equal favourite opponent alongside West Ham. It was also the 81st of his Premier League career and the way he’s going he’s in with a shot of getting to 92 this season. Why is 92 important? It’s not... but it does happen to be how many Prem goals Mark Viduka scored, the most by any Australian in the competition. Seems like a target worth aiming for.
That goal came a few minutes before half-time. If anything, Wolves had the better overall play in that first half... but once Forest went two up they were fully in control. They sat back and tried to attack on the break. They absorbed and repelled what Wolves could manage... and then Taiwo Awoniyi grabbed a goal right at the very end to make it 3-0. Old mate Awoniyi was numbero uno when Wood first arrived at Forest but these days he’s barely getting a sniff with Wood in such top form. Nice for Awoniyi to get a spotlight moment, this was his first goal for nearly eleven months. Wood made sure to shout him out in his post-game telly chat, alongside his usual adoration for the teammates who keep setting up his goals.
This win means that Forest have won six top flight matches in a row – something they last achieved in 1979 (and also in 1893). They face Luton Town in the FA Cup next week but they can tie that club record in the following fixture... at home against leaders Liverpool. Sounds unlikely but they are the only team to have beaten the Reds this season, don’t forget, and Liverpool are also the only current Premier League club that Chris Wood has never scored against so he’s overdue a goal. Plus, you know, if they win then they’ll move within three points of the top of the table. Don’t even worry about Champions League, this squad could be in a title challenge.
Up Next: FA Cup third round, Nottm Forest vs Luton Town, 4am on Sunday (NZT)
Stipe Ukich - NK Istra 1961 (Croatian First League)
It is done, as foretold. For Stipe Ukich’s 18th birthday he received a professional contract from NK Istra in the top division of Croatian footy. Two-and-a-half years on his contract. Ukich has been one of the premier talents in NZ domestic footy this year, including winning the Jack Batty Memorial Trophy for the 2024 Chatham Cup final (in which he scored) despite his Auckland City side losing on penalties. He was part of Auckland City’s National League championship title too. Not to mention his performances at the 2023 U17 World Cup or his work helping Aotearoa qualify for this year’s U20 World Cup.
There were whispers about Auckland FC being keen on him but Ukich’s plan always seems to have been to try and go straight to Europe. His paternal grandfather was born in Croatia (his mother’s side of the family are Thai, while his dad was born in NZ as was Stipe) which always helps matters. Heaps of kiwi footballers have used their dual heritage to that cause in recent years and here’s another example. He did trial with Lokomotiva Zagreb earlier in the year but no deal was forthcoming, apparently due to Auckland City’s compensation demands (which, honestly, is fair enough), although he couldn’t go pro until 18 anyway.
NKI sporting director Saša Bjelanović: “Stipe is an extremely talented young winger, of Croatian roots. Despite his young age, Stipe has already been playing senior football for a long time and is also a member of the young national teams of New Zealand. We are delighted that Stipe recognised in Istria 1961 a club that will help him refine his talent and aid in football development. Stipe has signed a contract with us until 2028”
NK Istra have been a top flight club for the last fifteen years yet they’ve only once finished in the top five in all that time. Usually they’re hovering around eighth or ninth in the ten-team division. But, credit where it’s due because they also keep not getting relegated. This season they’re sitting eighth at the winter break with 19 points from 18 games, three points clear of the lone relegation spot.
They just sacked Italian manager Paolo Tramezzani so Ukich will be stepping into a fresh slate. He’s one of a couple of winter signings that they’ve already announced in order to strengthen the squad. Seems a good possibility that he’s straight into the first team picture... doesn’t really make sense for this team to be stacking youth prospects while they’re going hand-to-mouth trying not to get relegated. One thing at a time. For now this is simply a great move for one of our best emerging ballers. This one’s massive.
Up Next: There’ll be a few friendlies in the meantime but the next proper game is on 26 January at 5.30am away to Dinamo Zagreb (NZT)
Gabi Rennie - Eskilstuna AFC (Swedish Allsvenskan)
Gabi Rennie was recently voted into third-place of the Finnish league’s Rookie of the Year award. She had a fantastic first season as a pro with Åland United, stacked with goals and assists... but she wasn’t among the players re-signed by AU from that 2024 squad. Don’t panic, it seems to have been her decision. The coach told local media that Rennie was one of a couple of free agents who’ve “been very clear from the start that they want to move on”... and that almost certainly meant that another offer was on the table. And, hey, would you look at this...
That’s the one. Rennie will be joining Swedish second-tier club Eskilstuna United on a one-year contract (not the same club as Otto Ingham plays for – that’s Eskilstuna AFC in the men’s third tier). Eskilstuna United are a relatively young club, only founded in 2002, but they’ve spent a decent amount of time in the Damallsvenskan. They even finished second in 2015 to earn Champions League qualification. The only reason they got relegated in 2022 was because they couldn’t meet the league’s economic benchmarks, a decision that they appealed unsuccessfully. Naturally, that rocked the club, who’ve had two years trying to get back up to the top flight and will be hoping it’s third time lucky. They were ninth in 2024 after only winning six games out of the 19 that they played. Fortunately, they’ve now got Gabi Rennie to help them with that.
Rickard Johansson, EU coach: “Getting such a renowned player as Gabi into this team will raise the standard and quality. Having played at both the Olympics and the World Cup in a good national team like New Zealand, she will make our team better. She is an offensive winger who can also play forward, tough and strong running, with a goal threat and a fierce personality. She could have played at a much higher level so we are very happy that she wants to join our journey here at Eskilstuna United. The fact that she has already played in the Nordics and done well in the Finnish league is also positive because it means the acclimatisation will be easier.”
As the fella says, Rennie probably could have aimed a little higher with her next club, even if this is probably still a step up from Finland, but bigger isn’t always better. The examples of Sarpreet Singh and Elijah Just show how important it is for a player to find a role that suits them, playing regularly and playing with confidence. Much more helpful than sitting on the bench at a top division club.
Up Next: New season kicks off in April
Andre De Jong – Stellenbosch (South African Premier Soccer League)
Haven’t had any ADJ highlights for a couple of months so this very important brace from the fella was overdue. He’d scored bundles earlier in the campaign across the various cup competitions, including the early rounds of the CAF Confederation Cup... but the back and forth of Premiership and Confed Cup group stage fixtures has proven to be a tricky balance for the Stellies. That led to a run of ten fixtures without a goal or assist across all competitions for a brother who’d begun the season with five goals and three assists in 12 matches. But ADJ’s back on track after this one.
The Stellies lost their first two Confed Cup fixtures, nudging them towards what would be a very disappointing group stage exit. Fortunately, consecutive games against CD Lunda Sul of Angola have turned things around. They won 1-0 in the away fixture and now have taken a 2-0 victory from the home meeting. It was goalless at the break but then De Jong pounced on a loose ball in the six yard box (50’) before later converting from the penalty spot (65’) to secure the result. ADJ previously played in the Confederation Cup (Africa’s Europa League, effectively) when he was with AmaZulu, though he’d never previously pocketed any goals in the competition. Well, he has now. With two goals in the early rounds and two more in the group stage, ADJ joins Jeremy Brockie as the only New Zealanders to have scored in the Confed Cup. Brockie also got a goal in the CAF Champions League so there’s a target for De Jong to aim for next season.
If you’re wondering why the stadium was practically empty, that was because they had to play it at Loftus Versfield Stadium instead of their usual Danie Craven Stadium – on account of bad weather and a heavy rugby season damaging their own surface. They wanted to play at Cape Town Stadium but it was pre-booked. Therefore they somehow ended up at LVS which is roughly 1400 kilometres away, though they made it work and thus move up to second in the group with two games left. RSB Berkane (Morocco) have already booked top spot after winning all four games but if the Stellies win against Stade Malien (Mali) next week then that should send them through to the knockouts in second place.
Up Next: Thursday at 6.30am away to Kaizer Chiefs in the PSL, then Monday at 2am against Stade Malien in the Confed Cup (NZT)
Niko Kirwan – Calcio Padova (Italian Serie C)
Wonderful to see. First goal of the season for Niko Kirwan, helping Padova to a 1-0 win against Cadiero. Kirwan may be one of the designated captains of Padova but he’s actually only started ten of their 21 matches this season - to put it simply, he’s never fully recovered his previous role since the ACL injury a couple years ago. Although, having said that, six of those ten starts have come within the past seven games so perhaps he’s beginning to nail down that right wing-back spot again after all. Either way, he’s clearly a valued leader in their squad and he’s got a habit of popping up when they need him... as he did against Cadiero.
Niko Kirwan: “I am very happy for the goal, it has finally arrived! I even said after the Trento match that I wanted to score. After so many chances, there couldn’t have been a better opportunity than this afternoon to do so. I thank [Luca] Villa for the great cross, all I had to do was push the ball towards goal. This victory is important because, despite the many opportunities we had to double this lead, Caldiero proved to be a difficult opponent. The important thing is to create chances and eventually you’ll get there. The goals will come sooner or later. It’s important to keep taking things game by game the rest of the way rather than trying to make calculations. Starting over with another win next week is essential.”
And wouldn’t you know it, he recently made his 100th appearance for the club. The milestone didn’t come in this game. This was #102... but it was the first home fixture since NK’s 100 so they saved the formal acknowledgement for when they could do it in front of their own fans, giving him a commemorative jersey and trophy prior to the game to mark the occasion. Then he responded with a valuable goal.
The other thing to say about all this is that Calcio Padova are absolutely cooking this season. They’re still undefeated with 18 wins and 3 draws from 21 games with a +31 goal difference. They’re 13 points clear of second-placed Vicenza in their section of the division. Given that Kirwan’s time at the club has spanned numerous heartbreaking close-but-not-quite promotion attempts, things are looking grand as they stand. Only the winners of the three Serie C conferences get automatic promotion, the rest have to go through the ruthless extended playoff system to find the fourth promoted club. Padova have finished second in three of the past four seasons and missed out in those playoffs. This time, surely.
Up Next: Monday at 3am vs Union Arzignano Chiampo (NZT)
Matthew Garbett - NAC Breda (Dutch Eredivisie)
We’ve been on transfer watch for Tyler Bindon since the moment the January window opened and now we’re on transfer watch for Matthew Garbett as well. When his loan at NAC Breda was converted into a permanent move, the deal that he signed was to take him into June 2025 with a club option to extend that into the following season. But reports out of the Netherlands say that NAC are no longer interested in that. That means he’s entered the last six months of his contract so either they sell him now of he leaves for nothing. And as if that wasn’t already enough impetus for Garbett’s agent to pick up the phone, the whole situation has been accelerated even further in the past few days.
What’s happened is that NAC Breda have left Garbett behind for their winter break training camp in Spain. Effectively, he’s just not in coach Carl Hoefkens’ plans any longer. He’s not the only one either – the same thing has happened with Manel Royo and Martin Koscelník while they’re also open to any offers for Tom Boere, Adam Kaied, Aïmane Jaddi, and Mostapha Rached.
NAC Breda: “Matthew Garbett, Manel Royo and Martin Koscelnik are missing from the NAC selection for the winter training camp. These players are allowed to look for a new challenge and are given the freedom to seek refuge elsewhere. The technical management of NAC recently gave them this message in open and personal conversations.”
Hoefkens took over at the start of this season after Breda had been promoted. Given how unlikely that playoff run had been, many pundits were expecting them to go straight back down again but Hoefkens has done a great job with them so far. The club sits tenth (out of 18 clubs) at the break, comfortably clear of the relegation zone. Basically, Hoefkens has earned the right to begin putting his stamp on the squad and that stamp is not going to involve Matty Garbett.
Garbett started the season beautifully by scoring in the win against Ajax but he’s struggled to nail down his role ever since. He’s been in and out of the starting line-ups, mostly out, and has been shifted around in his positions (midfield, wing, wide midfield, false nine). Garbs was dropped for undisclosed disciplinary reasons at one stage, something that he played down as a misunderstanding and which his coach later hinted was a ploy to get a positive reaction. He also had that situation where he was wrongly accused of a racial insult – an incident that caused a lot of stress for Garbett but which also led to the NAC fans rallying around him with a heart-warming show of support. Given that connection, it’s a shame that the partnership seems to be coming to an end so suddenly but that’s football. Garbs is going to have to do his thing elsewhere because the coach simply hasn’t seen enough development from him.
Carl Hoefkens: “It is a decision that has not been taken lightly. For me it was taken on the basis of returns on the football field. We want to continue to take the next steps in certain positions. Matthew has a lot of potential but I don’t think his development has been sufficient since the start of the season. And I want to make it clear once again that I have no problem with him. Of course I think he is a top guy. But purely football, in his position, it has been insufficient for me so far.”
By the way, if you’re reading this then you’re probably also signed up to The Niche Cache’s Substack newsletter. If not, get amongst because throughout January there’ll be the Flying Kiwis Transfer Tracker round-up. The Flying Kiwis articles tend to stick to the facts. The Transfer Tracker notes delve a little more into the rumours and hypotheses. Also, feel free to drop any tips in the ol’ DMs if you’ve got them.
Up Next: We wait and then we see
Ally Green - Aarhus GF (Danish Kvindeliga)
Strange things have happened with Ally Green at AGF this season. She missed the initial stages after being away at the Olympics, then she got injured which delayed her even more. But then once she got back on the pitch she was awesome, immediately bringing about a sudden surge in form for the club... until they suddenly stopped picking her again. Just like that. But there was a reason for that and that reason is as follows...
AGF.dk: “AGF Women's Football is now on a winter break and the first adjustments to the squad before the spring medal play have just begun before the training resumes after the New Year. And we must now say goodbye to defender Ally Green, who will stop at AGF by the end of the year. Ally Green, who is 26 and primarily used in the back field, has played in AGF since January 2023. During her time in AGF, she has played more than 40 matches in the league and cup, and especially in the 23/24 season she was a significant part of the team that, for the first time, qualified for the championship stages of the Gjensidige Women's League and went extremely close to making the cup final. This season, Ally has been out for a period of injury but came back great in the last matches. Now, however, it is time to say goodbye to Ally Green, who during her time in AGF made her debut for the New Zealand national team.”
That last bit is either a lie or a mistranslation because she debuted for the Ferns six months before she joined AGF. But we’ll let it slide because they also said some nice things about her both personally and as a player. That write-up also added that they don’t know where she’s going next. Initially she went back home to Sydney for the holidays but we can safely assume, like with Gabi Rennie, that she’s left the club with a future destination in mind. Could try a return to Sydney FC (who desperately need the help right now). Could head back overseas again. One more name for the Watch This Space list over the next four weeks.
Up Next: Hmm...
Marko Stamenic – Olympiacos (Greek Super League)
Olympiacos got back at it for 2025, resuming after a few weeks off, with a 2-0 win away against Panaitolikos to keep them top of the table. Ayoub El Kaabi scored from the penalty spot just before half-time, then the home side were reduced to ten men on 51’ when Facundo Perez got marched and it was one-way traffic from then on. Chiquinho scored the second for the Red and Whites (70’) and Marko Stamenic was subbed on for the final ten minutes to help close things out. Good to see him getting minutes because between the two week break, a yellow card suspension, and a couple of unused sub days... this was the first proper bit of action he’s had since the beginning of December.
Up Next: Olympiacos vs Aris at 7.30am on Sunday (NZT)
Tyler Bindon - Reading (English League One)
They want him to stay. He’s probably not going to but they want him to and they let him know it with that touching display of terrace chantery. This was after a 0-0 draw away against Charlton, itself following a 3-1 win away to Cambridge United. Bindon was excellent in both matches. These wins meant that Reading have taken 10 points from a possible 12 across four games in nine days during the Xmas/New Years period. They’ve risen to sixth in the standings, right there in the playoff spots. But of course there’s a long way to go and the ownership dramas continue to play out in the background hence the team remains on the precipice of collapse both on and off the pitch. Bindon’s also only got six months left on his contract and is clearly good enough to play up the divisions so, you know, sorry pals he’s not gonna stay.
Bindon nearly scored against Charlton, touching a low cross wide past the far post in the first half. Wouldn’t have been as dramatic as his bicycle kick winner last week but it turned out to be as close as either team came to a goal on that afternoon thus it would have been equally as valuable. So it goes. He also made a plethora of clearances alongside unfamiliar CB partner Harlee Dean who has stepped up in a couple games lately.
This is a squad that’s had to adapt throughout yet Tyler Bindon has been almost everpresent – missing 18 minutes for a concussion check in one game and that was it (Lewis Wing in midfield has literally been everpresent, the only guy in the Reading squad with more mins than Bindon). You don’t need to be reminded that no player born in 2005 or later has come even close to Bindon’s minutes in League One this season (same as it was last season). This is not a division where teenagers get anything handed to them. Next week is for FA Cup footy so we’ll see which team Tyler Bindon is playing for when kickoff arrives.
Up Next: Reading vs Burnley on Sunday at 4am in the FA Cup third round (NZT)
Max Crocombe - Burton Albion / Nik Tzanev – Northampton Town (English League One)
Oh mate the reaction of Max Crocombe there. The life plummeted right out of him as that ball deflected into his net, nothing he could do about it. This is the same fella who conceded an own goal that bounced off the post and into him a few games ago. Far too many of these awkward ones against him lately. That’s how it goes when your team is down on confidence and struggling for results. Bad luck multiplies. Worse still, this was an 86th minute winner for Northampton Town to prevent what would have been a third draw in a row for the Brewers. Not enough to get them off the foot of the standings but it would at least have been some kind of momentum.
Great result for Northampton Town though... Nik Tzanev included. This match was a clash between two kiwi goalkeepers and it nearly had the ideal outcome: a nil-all draw. Crocombe’s clean sheet was robbed but Tzanev held on to his, adding this to the 0-0 draw they got against Stevenage on New Year’s Day. That’s five points from three games for the Cobblers who’ve leapt up to 18th to give themselves some breathing room above the drop zone. At least one of the kiwi keepers is enjoying himself. Tanz was superb in both of these clean sheets. It wasn’t looking so flash when he allowed 15 goals in four games prior to this run (three in L1, one in the EFL Trophy) but he seems to have found his groove lately.
Elsewhere, Ben Waine was back in the mix for Mansfield Town this week, getting seven minutes in a 2-1 win against Bolton and then as an unused sub in a 2-1 win against Stockport. This followed two matches in which he was conspicuously out of the squad – fuelling rumours of an imminent recall to Plymouth Argyle (who recently sacked manager Wayne Rooney). That might still be on the cards but we shall see. Similarly, Matt Dibley-Dias may well head back to Fulham after an injury-plagued time at Northampton. These things will get taken care of in due course.
Up Next: Northampton Town vs Barnsley & Stevenage vs Burton Albion, both at 4am on Sunday (NZT)
Liberato Cacace – Empoli FC (Italian Serie A)
For the first time since November, Empoli started a game without Liberato Gianpaolo Cacace in the starting eleven. It was back to a 3-5-2 shape for the match against Venezia and he wasn’t the preferred choice at left wing-back nor at left centre-back. Fair enough. He did still get 11 minutes off the bench (at LWB) in a 1-1 draw – both goals having been scored in the first half.
This was an annoying result because Empoli were the stronger side away from home but they conceded after five minutes when a striker charged down a goalkeeper’s clearance and then, despite a well-worked equaliser on 35’ through Lorenzo Colombo, they never managed to turn their pressure into a winning goal. Empoli have only won two of their last 13 Serie A matches. It feels like they should be safe given how they’re 12th in the standings but somehow 12th is only three points above the relegation zone. It’s a very cramped table at the midway stage in Italy.
And there’s still no word whatsoever on his contract which, as far as we knew was supposed to expire at the end of the season. However, Transfermarkt are now claiming that it runs until the end of the 2025-26 season so perhaps there was a sneaky extension, probably a club option, that never got publicised.
Up Next: Empoli vs Lecce at 3am on Sunday (NZT)
James McGarry - Aberdeen (Scottish Premiership)
Had to mention Jimmy Mac because something strange happened this week and it happened twice: he got subbed on. After getting some decent minutes in the semi-preseason excursion that is the Scottish League Cup group stage, McGarry then disappeared behind the in-form Jack McKenzie. He was in the squad for all but two of the first eleven fixtures but never got a moment’s action. An injury to McKenzie finally opened up a three-game window of starts for McGarry during early December... but alas he looked kinda rusty and then compounded that impression with a horror moment when Aberdeen conceded after he kicked the ball off his own face.
That immediately led to three more unused sub days. But rejoice because JM got 11 minutes off the bench in a 2-1 loss to Ross County and 18 minutes off the bench in a 2-0 loss to Motherwell. Sadly, the Dons have lost five on the trot and have now gone ten league games since their last victory so we’re not in a good place here. Their excellent start to the season has capitulated amidst the heavier fixture traffic. At least McGarry’s been brighter in these last couple cameos. Thanks to the points they put on the board earlier, Aberdeen are somehow still fourth on the ladder.
Up Next: Aberdeen vs Hearts at 4am on Monday (NZT)
Henry Gray - Ipswich Town (English Premier League)
Another early deal in January, this one sees NZ age-grade goalie Henry Gray joining Braintree Town on loan for the rest of the season. Braintree Town are in the fifth tier of English footy, the National League, having been promoted via the playoffs of the National League South last time out. Funny thing about that is Gray sent a good chunk of that season playing for Chelmsford City in the same division, including a pair of 3-0 clean sheet wins against Braintree as part of a string of excellent performances that led to him being recalled by Ipswich Town to fill out their first team squad as the alternate on matchdays.
That’s a role that he’s continued this season after Ipswich Town were promoted to the Premier League. He’s effectively been the fourth choice keeper there, meaning that he was the next man up any time a keeper above him in the pecking order got injured (although it would have taken two injuries for him to make the bench and that didn’t happen). Along the way, Gray has regularly trained with the Ipswich Town seniors while popping up sporadically with games for the U20s (mostly home games to keep him available for the main stuff). Back in September, he signed a contract extension through until mid-2027.
Now the time has come for him to get some more senior football. Bit harsh on Chelmsford City to see him end up at a rival... but of course Braintree went on to get promoted and Chelmsford did not so this is how it goes. He played sixth tier last season, he’s playing fifth tier this season. The other difference is that Braintree are are sitting 20th out of 24 teams as things stand (with 23 points from 25 games) so the clean sheets are going to be a lot tougher to come by. This time he’s in a relegation battle. All fantastic experience for a lad on the way up.
Up Next: Gateshead vs Braintree Town on Sunday at 4am (NZT)
Josh Redfearn - Welling United (English National League South)
That’ll do nicely. Josh Redfearn’s had his contract with Welling United (in that same National League South division as Henry Gray played with Chelmsford City last season) extended through to the end of the campaign after the former Auckland United striker turned up and started banging in goals. He’s got three in nine appearances. Welling Utd have lost their three most recent matches but those Redfearn goals have helped them towards a couple of victories and that’s golden for a team trying to avoid relegation. Redfearn’s only been there a third of the season and already he’s second top goal scorer at the club. Hopefully he carries on the way he’s been going and sweet as.
Up Next: Welling Utd vs Weymouth at 8.45am on Weds (NZT)
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