Top scorer of the Welsh Premier League. 13 games 10 goals, 9 in the WPL and 1 in Champions League qualifying.
Greg Draper (The New Saints | Wales)
scored a hat-trick for TNS against Forfar Athletic in the Scottish League Challenge Cup yesterday
not sure how a Welsh team is playing in a Scottish cup competition but they are
scored a hat-trick for TNS against Forfar Athletic in the Scottish League Challenge Cup yesterday
not sure how a Welsh team is playing in a Scottish cup competition but they are
Yep Kris Bright's Linfield played Queen Of The South today too and lost 2 nil
playmakerstats@playmaker_EN Oct 17
HANDY. @GregDraper1 has 5 goals in his last 5 games in the Welsh Premier League.
Three of the top five goal-scorers in the Welsh league this season are from the New Saints.
Five goals in his last five league games for Greg takes him to 100 career goals apparently..
Good to see him returning to prolific form after a relatively quiet time last season.
76 goals in his five and a bit seasons with the New Saints now.
90 goals scored in European leagues makes him our most prolific striker after Wynton Rufer (who scored about 162 goals for European clubs).
Draper has also scored 19 goals in domestic cup competitions in Europe.
The New Saints FC @tnsfc Oct 17
Greg Draper in action against Llandudno!
so better than Rory...
On 23 and 30 October Draper played 63 and 55 minutes in two wins, however he didn't score. On 5 November Draper scored and played 74 minutes in a 2–1 away win against Bangor City. TNS, remarkably, are still perfect having won 14 of 14 matches in the Welsh Premier League. They have a 12 point lead over Connah's Quay (who have played 15 matches).
On 13 November he played 71 minutes in an away win in the Scottish Challenge Cup against Livingston. They are now the only remaining non-Scottish team. The semi-finals have been drawn and on 18 or 19 February 2017 they will play away to St Mirren. St Mirren play in the Scottish Championship where they are currently 10th, last. I guess the Challenge Cup is like the FFA Cup where the Phoenix are never allowed to play at home.
For some reason they now don't play until Tuesday 29 November when they will be playing away to Rhyl FC (9th).
On 18 November he scored in a 4–2 away win against Carmarthen, playing 74 minutes. On 25 November he played 90 minutes in a 4–0 home win against Airbus UK FC. He has now scored 11 goals in 16 league appearances and 15 in 21 overall.
Their next match is on Saturday, 10 December (Sun 4:30 am NZ) at home to Cardiff Metro, who are currently 5th.
The New Saints remain perfect having won 16 out of 16 matches in the league this season. They already have a 15 point advantage over second-placed team Connah's Quay. TNS have a ridiculous goal difference of +51 (60 goals scored, 9 against).
On 10 December Draper played 65 minutes in a 3–1 home win against Cardiff Metro. On 14 December he played 75 minutes in a 2–1 away win against Rhyl FC and yesterday he scored in a 3–0 away win against Connah's Quay.
TNS now have 19 wins out of 19 matches which is equivalent to 57 points. They have a goal difference of +57 and have a 21 point advantage over second place Connah's Quay. Next match is on the 27th at home to Cefn Druids.
Draper's New Saints about to enter Guinness Book of Records for most consecutive wins by a pro club, until now held by Ajax:
"Ex-All White Greg Draper Set to Emulate Johan Cruyff's World Record for Most Consecutive Football Victories."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/8...
Be a bummer if they don't win the game on December 31 to claim the world record...
Are we no longer counting East Kilbride for this record?
Are we no longer counting East Kilbride for this record?
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11781/10646...
They got their crate of pies from Ajax and a well done card. But as amateurs in the 5th division they are not record holders. Pros only go into the record book. Read the article above yours gov. Or insert smilely face if taking the pies.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38397784
"Two goals by Adrian Cieslewicz and one-each for Alex Darlington and Greg Draper clinched win number 26 on Boxing Day."
Brilliant stuff
They can break the record at 8:45am December 31st NZ time against Newi Cefn Druids away.
I hope Antony has a wee flag on his world map planted in Wales with Draper's name on it. It would be nice to get Greg to sub in for Rory in the near future.
I hope Antony has a wee flag on his world map planted in Wales with Draper's name on it. It would be nice to get Greg to sub in for Rory in the near future.
Only issue I have with that was that Rory was playing English Championship football at the age that Greg is now. Major step up in quality.
Yes. Must hard for Draper to leave the Saints. Maybe getting game time for a championship team vs starring for the Saints week in week out with win bonuses - might not be a quality thing - maybe lifestyle and convenience?
I guess he would not be replacing a Championship Rory but a Conference/ semi retired Rory. Draper must be sharper as it stands.
Their world record run of consecutive wins has ended - with a draw.
I wonder when was the last time the New Saints actually lost a match?
Having attained such standards, a draw would almost be shattering for them...
Wonder what the record is for the longest undefeated run by a pro club?
Next target for them?
Seems he has signed a 2 year extension to stay at TNS, according to this article.
Their world record run of consecutive wins has ended - with a draw.
I wonder when was the last time the New Saints actually lost a match?
Having attained such standards, a draw would almost be shattering for them...
Wonder what the record is for the longest undefeated run by a pro club?
Next target for them?
BALA TOWN AND CARMARTHAN TOWN THE NEW SAINTS' TWO NEMESES:
New Saints lost the Welsh Cup Final 2-1 to Bala Town last weekend.
Greg Draper scored the opening goal on 55 mins but Bala replied with two:
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39750763
Saints had beaten Bala 6-4 away in their final league game the weekend before.
The New Saints' undefeated league run ended on 11/2/17 with a 1-0 away defeat to Carmarthen Town:
http://www.s4c.cymru/sgorio/e_/2017/y-seintiaun-co...
Sunday, 12 Feb 2017, 17:00
"After 31 games without defeat in 2016/17 (won 30, drawn 1) The New Saints’ unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of Carmarthen on Saturday afternoon.
A week after beating gap Connah’s Quay (0-1), the Old Gold caused another upset as Liam Thomas headed in the only goal of the game late into the first half.
Before the defeat, Newtown were the only other club to take points from TNS this season when they scored a last minute equaliser to make it 3-3 back in January which brought the Saints’ world record breaking run of 27 consecutive wins to an end.
Airbus UK were the last team to beat TNS in the Welsh Premier League and that was back in April 2016 (3-2)."
They also lost two league games on 21/3 and 14/4 to finish the season with three defeats.
But they won the league by 27 points from their nearest rivals:
http://us.soccerway.com/national/wales/premier-lea...
Greg scored 15 goals for the season, equal with team mate Darlington.
Former Wrexham midfielder, the Pole Adrian Cieślewicz contributed 12.
League's top scorer was J Oswell of New Town with 22 goals.
Would he be good enough for NZ call up?
Is he eligible?
For an NZ call up, I say yes and no.
He's at a standard, which isn't exactly flash, but we only really have Wood who can play a centre forward role. Smeltz is too old, and I don't think Patterson is ready yet. Who else do we have?
For an NZ call up, I say yes and no.
Brockie
He's at a standard, which isn't exactly flash, but we only really have Wood who can play a centre forward role. Smeltz is too old, and I don't think Patterson is ready yet. Who else do we have?
Im no fan of Brockie but he's got a better case for it than Draper
For an NZ call up, I say yes and no.
We have Myer Bevan who is a great talent with 25 goals this season, but have to have a look at what he can do in the u20 WC. He's at a standard, which isn't exactly flash, but we only really have Wood who can play a centre forward role. Smeltz is too old, and I don't think Patterson is ready yet. Who else do we have?
Would Draper be good enough for championship or lower leagues in England?
if he was good enough for a lower league he would be in the lower league. Looking at players that have come from ghe welsh league to play for napier/hawkes bay few years back I would say nowhere near a call up.
For an NZ call up, I say yes and no.
We have Myer Bevan who is a great talent with 25 goals this season, but have to have a look at what he can do in the u20 WC. He's at a standard, which isn't exactly flash, but we only really have Wood who can play a centre forward role. Smeltz is too old, and I don't think Patterson is ready yet. Who else do we have?
Would Draper be good enough for championship or lower leagues in England?
Championship no, could just about cut it at League One but if he really wants to move across the border it would likely be at League 2 level.
Is he eligible?
Yes he has already played 1 game for NZ a 2-0 loss to Fiji in 2008
The Welsh league is semi-pro, so probably a big step up to even go to League Two. If he was close to good enough for that level wouldn't Conference sides have been after him by now (he's been at TNS for 5-6 years)?
Is he eligible?
Yes he has already played 1 game for NZ a 2-0 loss to Fiji in 2008
Sure - and that's long enough ago that there may have been different regulations in place, but as far as I'm aware, he doesn't meet any of the 4 questions.
Is he eligible?
Yes he has already played 1 game for NZ a 2-0 loss to Fiji in 2008
Sure - and that's long enough ago that there may have been different regulations in place, but as far as I'm aware, he doesn't meet any of the 4 questions.
except he has played a competition game for NZ so that's it, he can't play or anyone else, doesn't matter what the regs are now
I think it's more the fact that he hasn't been anywhere near the NZ team since 2008, even when Hudson was doing his scattergun selecting and that he's only playing in the Welsh league, which is probably on a par with the SSpremiership, that he shouldn't be selected - just because a player plays outside New Zealand it doesn't make them International quality
The Welsh league is semi-pro, so probably a big step up to even go to League Two. If he was close to good enough for that level wouldn't Conference sides have been after him by now (he's been at TNS for 5-6 years)?
As a whole, the Welsh league is probably ranged between the 5th and 6th tiers of England, so one of their top players (e.g. Draper) could sneak into League 2, but yeah it would be a big challenge for him. I'm really not sure why he hasn't moved, maybe he's happy and settled in Wales?
The Welsh league is semi-pro, so probably a big step up to even go to League Two. If he was close to good enough for that level wouldn't Conference sides have been after him by now (he's been at TNS for 5-6 years)?
As a whole, the Welsh league is probably ranged between the 5th and 6th tiers of England, so one of their top players (e.g. Draper) could sneak into League 2, but yeah it would be a big challenge for him. I'm really not sure why he hasn't moved, maybe he's happy and settled in Wales?
absolutely, kinda Luke Rowe, playing in a lower division for his ability
Semi-pro, maybe he has a normal job too and is quite comfortably off with the combined salary. Married a local girl, quite happy at the club, a million reasons why he might still be there. For many of those playing lower division football, its not all about playing at as higher level as you can get a contract at.
He gets to play European football this way too