Players Drive All Whites’ World Cup Berth On and Off the Field

WELLINGTON: Saturday, 14 November 2009

New Zealand’s professional footballers today placed New Zealand football on the global stage when they qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa by defeating Bahrain 1-0 before a record crowd in Wellington generated through an innovative player marketing campaign.

The 36,000 fans – the biggest crowd in the history of New Zealand football – proved to be decisive on a cold evening in New Zealand’s capital.  A goal to Plymouth Argyle striker Rory Fallon and a penalty save from Mark Paston resolved the tie.

In the lead up to kick-off, the players drove the marketing of the biggest game ever played in New Zealand under the slogan – “One Shot for Glory” – conceived by All Whites and Wellington Phoenix midfielder, Tim Brown.  A marketing partnership between the New Zealand Professional Footballers’ Association (NZPFA) and advertising giant Clemenger BBDO with the support of New Zealand Football, Wellington council and a local business consortium featured a dedicated website and a top ticket price of NZL$39.00.

Brendan Schwab, the Chairman of FIFPro Asia/Oceania and Chief Executive of Professional Footballers Australia, warmly congratulated New Zealand for qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1982 and only the second time in history.

“The example set by the NZPFA and the players shows how much the players love football and their fans,” Schwab said.  “It has also enabled a small football nation to overcome great obstacles to qualify for football’s greatest event.”

“With Wellington Phoenix becoming increasingly competitive in the A-League, the opportunity now exists for New Zealand football to mirror the development in the game across the Tasman inspired by Australia’s equally dramatic qualification 4 years ago,” Schwab added.

Ten current and former members of Professional Footballers Australia were part of the All Whites’ squad for the match as players in the A-League or former National Soccer League.  They now have the opportunity to join their fellow Socceroos’ members in South Africa with the possibility of the famous Australia-New Zealand sporting rivalry to take place on the world’s biggest stage for the first time.

ALL WHITES MEMBERS OF PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS AUSTRALIA

Goalkeepers:

James Bannatyen (Team Wellington) – member (former)
Mark Paston (Wellington Phoenix) – member

Defenders:

Tony Lochhead (Wellington Phoenix) - member
David Mulligan (Wellington Phoenix) - member
Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix) - member
Ivan Vicelich (Auckland City) – member (former)

Midfielders:

Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix) - member
Tim Brown (Wellington Phoenix) - member
Michael McGlinchey (Central Coast Mariners) - member

Forwards:

Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast United) - member

For further information:

Brendan Schwab + 61 417 302 699

FIFPro Asia/Oceania is one of the 4 continental Divisions of FIFPro – the world players’ union – which represents 42 professional footballers’ associations around the world.  FIFPro members in Asia/Oceania are Australia, Japan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and New Zealand. Professional Footballers Australia is the exclusive representative body of Australia’s elite professional footballers including the Socceroos, A-League players, the Matildas, the many Australians playing professionally overseas and the scholars in Australia’s elite academy system such as the Australian Institute of Sport.