Tim Brown declares he is not a “big one for records” but reaching 100 games for Wellington Phoenix will be a special moment for the midfielder when he takes the field against Perth Glory.
Tim Brown declares he is not a “big one for records” but reaching 100 games for Wellington Phoenix will be a special moment for the midfielder when he takes the field against Perth Glory.
Born in England but raised in Wellington, the 30-year-old has rarely missed a game since joining the New Zealand-based Hyundai A-League club from Newcastle Jets in 2007.
“It makes me feel old,” said the typically understated Brown when asked what it was like to be the first player to reach a century of appearances at the club.
“I’m not a big one for records, but this is a bit special. While you are still playing it is hard to appreciate it. But I’m sure that when I hang up the boots I will look back on it and feel very proud.”
“It’s been an interesting journey and a lot of fun. This is a very special club with special people in it.”
Brown has the Jets to thank for allowing him to join the newly-formed Phoenix almost five years ago.
The demise of the New Zealand Knights resulted in Terry Serepisos gaining the licence to start the club in Wellington with Brown’s New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert to take charge.
“It was fantastic to hear there was going to be a professional football club in my home town and that Ricki wanted me to be a part of it,” said the All Whites international.
“The problem was I had signed a two-year contract with the Newcastle Jets half-an-hour earlier.”
“I had been playing for the Jets and was delighted they wanted me to stay there. But the thought of being part of the Phoenix was exciting.”
“I am so grateful the Jets understood how I felt and released me from the contract.”
It has been a roller-coaster ride since. The club struggled in their first season but have steadily improved and have reached the finals series in the past two seasons.
Off field, Serepisos’ financial dramas meant he was rarely out of the headlines and he eventually relinquished ownership to the Welnix Consortium prior to this start of this campaign.
But Phoenix have also benefited from having Brown’s fellow New Zealand internationals Ben Sigmund, Mark Paston, Tony Lochhead and Leo Bertos in the squad, particularly following the All Whites’ 2010 World Cup campaign.
“It has been great having the New Zealand boys alongside me for the ride,” said Brown.
“The momentum the club has built up means just a little bit more to the Kiwi boys.”
However, all that will be forgotten on Sunday afternoon against Glory as Wellington go in search of back-to-back wins at home after accounting for Sydney 4-2 in midweek.
Having made it into the top four, cementing their place there and gaining home advantage in the first week of play-offs will be crucial for a team that has not travelled well away from home this season.
“It’s an important game for us. We have to get the three points,” said Brown.
“That we have a poor away record has been well documented so home points are like gold, but we are playing better on the road this season than in the past.”
“Wednesday-s win over Sydney was a good result. There were a lot of tired legs out there after the busy schedule we-ve had and it was to our credit that we ground out a result.”
“Now we have to go and do it again.”
