By Sam Jeffery

On any given Friday around 3pm many of us will generally be winding down from professional servitude and beginning to ramp up for the impending weekend frivolities. However on this Friday just past, patrons of the Eastern Suburbs were treated to a spectacular pre-weekend treat as Madills Farm hosted Ernie Merrick and his Wellington Phoenix to train in front a throng of excited football fans of all ages.

As part of their Football United 2014 tour, that will see Premiership sides Newcastle and West Ham head to New Zealand, the Phoenix were in Auckland and made the home of Eastern Suburbs their own for the afternoon. Two Suburbs first team players, Ernest Wong and Haidar Jabir, were also lucky enough to get the opportunity to train with the players, whilst the generous swell of fans were able to have their photos taken and shirts signed once the session came to its conclusion.

Having trained earlier that morning the session was a relatively light affair but was equally an excellent opportunity to observe the showcase of talent that the Phoenix have. Stars such Tyler Boyd, Kevin Durante and Matt Ridenton could be seen caressing the ball around Madills with aplomb, under the watchful eye of Ernie Merrick, whilst the Lilywhites own Jabir fitted in with pleasing ease.

Suburbs keeper Wong worked separately under the guidance of former Celtic and Scotland keeper Jonathan Gould, now Phoenix GK coach, and was thrilled at getting the chance.

“It was great to play with professional players and get the chance to be coached by someone like Jonathan Gould. I really enjoyed it, particularly as it was at Madills and the club I play for.”

Whilst only two Suburbs players were lucky enough to get the chance to actually train with the Phoenix, hundreds of young fans got the opportunity to interact with the players once the session was over and it is to their great credit that not one fan would have been left disappointed with the time the players took to sign and be photographed with.

Suburbs Chairman Chris Ruffell, responsible for orchestrating the successful event, was left satisfied by what was achieved.

“I think it was a good day all round, we had a big crowd which is great and I thought the Phoenix were certainly very approachable and interacted very well. Overall it’s been very worthwhile and we thank them for their efforts and would love to welcome them back anytime”.

It was a sentiment echoed by the Phoenix hierarchy.

“It’s been a great day”, Coach Merrick commented, “both the Suburbs boys are clearly very talented, and this really is what it’s all about [regarding the swarms of jubilant youngsters running around]”.

It would be impossible to disagree with the affable and thoroughly likeable Merrick, and with the sun beginning to set late on Friday it was with great thanks that Eastern Suburbs bade a fond farewell to its guests.

The Phoenix return to Auckland next month to take on West Ham at Eden Park, and it would be a shock should there not be a whole host of young Suburbs players present, clad in the shirts signed by their heroes. The tour is dubbed Football United, and anyone present on Friday would not testify to a more appropriate title.

There was great news last week with the announcement that resource consent has been granted for the total flood lighting of Glover Park. Coupled with the renewal work at the ground, this will have significantly positive impact on our training.

Work began early February by the contractors and they are making good progress on site, despite being hampered at times by dust conditions caused by the very dry weather. The recent rain has allowed work to continue this week.

Significant gains have been made with the irrigation system now installed, but at this stage we do not have a connection to the water supply. The new footpath around the fields is about 80% complete and the main earthworks were completed some time ago. Horticulturists among you will be pleased to note that the kikuyu is regenerating nicely.

The main and collector drains have been installed, and only the installation of slit drains and sand carpet remains to be completed, which should happen within the month, subject to weather conditions.

Application for training lights has been approved subject to a number of conditions and the council will now go to tender for the installation of the lights in a few weeks’ time. There is (flood)light at the end of the tunnel thankfully.

The sports fields will remain fenced off once the drainage and sand carpeting are complete to allow the grass cover to establish properly and mature. The soccer games that are usually played on this park over winter have been transferred to Pt England Reserve for the season.

It’s with great pleasure that we can report all of the above and Eastern Suburbs will update you once we’ve got some finality around an official floodlit opening.

It’s that time of year again. The time of year where optimism grows, new boots are unwrapped and excitement reaches fever pitch. After a summer of sunshine and siestas for the social players amongst us, and gruelling campaigns for the more skilled pros, it’s time to brace ourselves once again for the start of another season at the Eastern Suburbs.

After what feels like months of  reacquainting themselves with the lung-bursting, sweat-inducing rigours of  pre-season training,  the 1sts and Reserves kick off their respective campaigns next weekend against Metro FC at Michaels Avenue.

Across a raft of friendlies the relatively young 1st team has grown in stature and confidence, under the watchful eye of coach Mark Holt. A successful 1st team filters  down through the club and chairman Chris Ruffell believes the Lilywhites are destined for a good season.

“ESAFC are expecting a successful season with strong squads in the Mens and Womens Premier and Reserve teams. Furthermore with the two artificial turf surfaces being built at Ngahue Reserve, the expectation that we will have access to these grounds will overnight solve many of our training facility problems too”

Of course the start of a new season  also couples hand in hand with the need to spruce up the Suburbs changing rooms and club house. So under the all-seeing, all-knowing gaze of General Paul Marshall, ably assisted by Lieutenants Chris, Mike and Tony, this weekend saw the would-be superstars of the Eastern Suburbs reduced to painting, shoveling, wiping, sweeping and even unclogging, in the name of fostering team unity and giving Madills Farm a pre-season facelift.

After hours of hard work (and conveniently devoid of coaches Mark and Drew…) the hardy Suburbers had restrengthened the foundations and polished the walls to Fortress Madills, where many battles will be fought (and won) this season, and earned themselves the rich reward of a Hells Pizza each.

The scene is set, the anticipation levels simmering away, and all that’s left is to stride forth into battle. It promises to be a great season up at Madills Farm.