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Tredje delen i: Älska ett lag på distans. Här berättar Conrad Wildig om sin kärlek till Port Vale och denna gång kan man verkligen kalla det distans.
My name is Conrad Wildig and I currently live here in Wellington, New Zealand with my wife and son (aged 3), both of them are Kiwis. I moved over here about four years ago after having met my wife to be, in Ascot, Surrey. Since moving over here we have had a lot of fun and I have come to love the country and do not think we will ever move back to the UK. I travel to work every morning and get a wonderful view across the Wellington harbour, which, even on a winter’s day is an awesome sight.
With the different pace of life and lifestyle changes I had to make, it took a few months to settle in but everything is sweet now. We got married just after moving here in one of the many wineries on the East coast of the North Island and then moved here to Wellington.
I am currently working for one of the largest banks in the country looking after the internal network security and being responsible for over 3000 peoples’ access to systems and also high profile accounts. I like to spend my time with family and friends and during the summer enjoy going to many of the BBQs and outdoor events that are going on. A few of our friends and work mates are also from the UK, so quite often the topic of conversation is about the UK and often about football. I have even managed to meet another guy wearing a Vale top at away team clubrooms!
So why do I support the Vale?
I am originally from Stanfields, Burslem, where I went to school and then on to Cauldon College as it was. I first went to see the Vale at the age of about 8 and have followed them ever since. It scares me sometimes when I think about how long it has been but it’s great to see them where they are and the success they have achieved since I began watching them at the wrong end of the old 4th Division .I remember being amazed by the skills of the Chamberlain brothers, Russell Bromage and Phil Sproson.
As a young goalkeeper I used to watch Mark Harrison’s game and became the proud owner of a pair of his gloves at the end of the 1981 season. Other players I have on my favourite list include Robbie Earle, Andy Porter, Ian Taylor and Neil Aspin. But I have to say my all time favourite, purely from my own position as a player, has to be Neville Southall. Now I know he was only on loan and only played a few games but what he did during that loan period was awesome. I remember watching him warming up and thinking that he did more work in the warm up than some keepers did during the game! Then some of the saves he made were outstanding and you could see why he was going to go on to become such a top goalkeeper.
I have been to many amazing games including the win against Everton in ‘95, the 2-2 draw at Anfield in ‘92 and the Autoglass win at Wembley in ’93. But for me the game of all games was the win against Tottenham in 1989. I remember having to climb up one of the posts in the paddock to be able to watch some of the game! The atmosphere was like no other I have experienced since. The team played so well together and won when no one gave us a chance. Oh and the day before the game, my mate and me were playing footy in Burlsem park and were shown on the television news.
I have been to quite a few away grounds but my most memorable has to be the trip to Anfield. After meeting my wife to be I decided to take her to a Vale game (with her being a Kiwi she had never been to a football match). The nearest next game was away at Bournemouth, so she decided she wanted to go there!! To say she was bored was an understatement. She was busier counting the seagulls than watching the game. I never have got her into the game since, though she does come down to watch me play and bring our son.
I do miss my football but by way of the OneValeFan web site I am able to keep up to date with all the goings on at the club. I log on as NZ PVFC so if any of you find yourselves travelling this way drop me a note and we can meet for a few beers.
So why do I support the Vale??? They say you never forget your roots and that’s where my heart is! No matter how long I am over here I will always support Port Vale.
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