The 15-year-old former St Peter’s College pupil spent the school year playing football for the Wellington Phoenix Football Club under-17 team.
He is a member of the club’s academy, which prepares young players to play for the club in the Australian A-League.
He attended St Patrick’s College, Silverstream, boarded at the school’s hostel and trained with the club.
Football took up a large part of his life from March to September with four trainings a week, two gymnasium sessions, a game and a video analysis session , Dan said.
"That’s like the average week."
Most of the team were under-15 but played in the next grade up.
"We got second in the league."
It had been an enjoyable year and he was pleased with the progress he had made developing his game.
"I just feel sharper, feel [my] decision-making is improving, being stronger and faster."
He played either left back or left wing and enjoyed being more of a support player than a goal scorer.
"I’m more [about] creating the goals than scoring."
The environment at the academy was "competitive and encouraging", he said.
Despite being busy with football he still completed NCEA level one.
"We train in the afternoons so there’s not much time after school."
The hostel pupils were required to study between 7pm and 8pm.
Training started again in Wellington this week but hehad been keeping himself fit.
He was grateful for the sponsorship of the Gore and Districts Memorial RSA and the Mataura Licensing Trust.
- By Sandy Eggleston
