Green carpet unfurled for Phoenix
It’s the green grass of home for the Wellington Phoenix, but not as they know it.
Nearly 10 years since their formation, Phoenix footballers tiptoed across a pristine new training pitch for the first time on Tuesday, fresh off two victories from three home A-League matches and eyeing a trip to lowly Adelaide this weekend.
Judging by the way defender Tom Doyle’s face lit up, the players could scarcely believe their good fortune to be knocking the ball about on the lush, manicured new grass at Martin Luckie Park, which was funded by $550,000 of Wellington ratepayers’ money.
‘‘It’s got a good home feel about it. We’ve been at Newtown for a long time and this feels special. The ground is looking bloody good and it was nice to get out for a run. Hopefully a new start and we can bring some trophies to this training ground,’’ Doyle said.
Martin Luckie, a javelin throw from their old base at Newtown Park, was formerly known as the place rugby and league players feared to tread in mid-winter, in biting wind and ankle-deep mud.
Last March, Wellington City Council voted 8-6 to approve a budget overspend of $550,000 to upgrade two full-sized sand-based pitches to elite training level, and they were handed over this month.
The Phoenix stumped up some money too, and their football staff are based at the park which is surrounded by a wire fence and locked gates but can be booked for public use. Public access, and whether ratepayers should be funding a professional sports team’s facilities, were the big talking points during the council vote to approve the funding, with now-mayor Justin Lester and his deputy Paul Eagle both in favour.
Previously the Phoenix trained at the top ground at Newtown Park, apart from match eve when they were granted access to Westpac Stadium.
Pot-holes and an uneven surface were occupational hazards, which made Tuesday’s lengthy session under co-coach Des Buckingham in the morning sun seem well overdue.
‘‘It’s fantastic to have two pitches like that for us. We’ve been struggling a bit over at Newtown, it’s been difficult conditions. Here there’s no excuses now,’’ midfielder Michael McGlinchey said.
‘‘There were a few things like that [potholes], and the corners and what-not. No one here’s going to complain, you just got on with it, but here has really stepped up.’’
The question now is whether it translates into continued success, after the Phoenix moved into the top-six with wins over Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Victory, before a speed bump 1-0 defeat to Brisbane Roar.
Doyle, part of a largely watertight defence in recent times, said the run of three Wellington matches in eight days was tiring but set them up well.
‘‘We were looking for nine points for the week; seven would have done us justice especially with Brisbane Roar just one spot above us. I thought we played well and had our chances and created a lot.
‘‘It was unfortunate with that goal at the end but we’re pretty happy with our defensive shape. We’ve only conceded a couple of goals in the last five games. We’ll just keep doing what we’re doing and look for some more variations on attack.’’
Adelaide, their hosts on Sunday, are coming off a 2-0 defeat to runaway leaders Sydney FC and sit ninth on goal difference above tailenders Central Coast.
Wellington will be without defender Marco Rossi after his fifth yellow card, with Ryan Lowry likely to slot in ahead of Dylan Fox.
They get one more gallop on the new turf on Thursday before crossing the Tasman on Friday.