Teen leads way for Tasman
With regular captain Cameron Lindsay suspended, Paul Ifill seemed the natural replacement to lead Tasman United against Auckland City.
But no, it was 18-year-old Callan Elliot who was the surprise captain in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to the ISPS Handa Premiership leaders in Nelson.
Elliot, who has emerged as one of the competition’s top young prospects during a breakout 2017-18 season, is a quietly spoken individual but said he didn’t have any issues delivering a stirring pre-match speech in the changing rooms.
‘‘It was small but I tried my best,’’ he said.
‘‘Because Auckland would’ve been focused a lot on the O-League, I just told them to go in hard because they’ll have one eye on that already, so they might back off a bit.
‘‘And it was our last home game of the season so give the crowd something to remember us by.’’
After seeing 32 minutes of action in Tasman’s debut season, Elliot just wanted to break into the match-day squad on a more consistent basis this time around.
But he has easily exceeded that expectation already, playing 838 minutes across 13 matches so far this season.
He also has one goal to his credit, scoring the match-winner in a 1-0 win over rivals Canterbury United earlier in the season.
‘‘To be honest I thought I’d just come off the bench. But ever since Eastern Suburbs I’ve just been working hard and haven’t lost my spot since, which is good,’’ he said.
‘‘I’ve improved heaps. There’s always pressure on me compared to the winter season because it’s a lot faster. But I’m improving a lot to be honest and the older ones are helping me out and are looking after me.’’
It was Ifill who lured Elliot to Masterton, where he joined the Paul Ifill Football Academy,
‘‘I’m improving a lot to be honest and the older ones are helping me out and are looking after me.’’ Callan Elliot
boarded at Rathkeale College and played his winter football with Wairarapa United.
Twenty years his junior, Elliot wasn’t even born when Ifill began his professional career with Millwall but he credits a lot of his development to the former Wellington Phoenix star.
‘‘Paul’s had a huge influence,’’ he said.
‘‘He’s done it all so he knows what to do and what not to do, and he’s passed it all on to me and the other boys who were at the academy. I’ve improved heaps under Paul.’’
Having finished secondary school last year, the New Zealand under-20 hopeful is now weighing up his next move.
Born in Scotland, he is leaning towards trialling in Europe but said going on a scholarship in the United States remained another possibility.
‘‘Me and Paul are looking at sending me to Europe and then there’s also the US scholarship choice as well. We’re just looking at the pros and cons of each.
‘‘I’ve always wanted to be a professional footballer so my preference is going on trials and pushing for that contract. But it’s just whether I’m ready. But I’m working hard for it.’’
Once Tasman’s season finishes, Elliot will return to play for Wairarapa in the Central League before heading overseas, whether that be to Europe or America.