Footballers fight low light

Under the cover of darkness, while most Aucklanders are still fast asleep, the kids of Top Flight Football Academy gather to train.

Despite the brisk start time of 6.30am, they’ve only cancelled one of their training sessions at Bill Mckinley Park in the last five years.

And unlike a majority of New Zealanders still relishing the last remnants of daylight saving, Top Flight are looking forward to turning the clocks back at the end of March because they’ll finally be able to train with some natural light.

Daylight saving ends on April 2. In 2007 the government extended the period of daylight saving by three weeks.

However, the lack of a morning glow is the last thing bothering the 50 kids, aged seven to 11, that turn up on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

All they’ve got at present is a few pop-up halogens, parent Hamish Skeggs said.

‘‘They’ll train no matter what,’’ Skeggs said.

‘‘Every time there’s rain, frost, torrential rain, wind, they train.’’

If anything, the kids welcome the early start and daylight saving won’t change what time the alarm goes off.

‘‘I’ve had my kids getting out of bed at 5.40am for three years. Daylight saving will make more difference to the adults lugging the lights out.’’