It's nice that in NZ it's so easy to meet the players and staff (probably harder after Nix games?) - I've met and yarned with all the 1982 All Whites (and other All Whites) living in Christchurch over the last fifteen years, at games mostly when they've been watching with us regular punters or at after-matches.
I was at high school when the All Whites went to Spain in '82, so it has been great meeting your heroes as an adult. Steve Sumner is like a big teddy bear in real life, a very warm, friendly guy (I happened to sit next to him at a few games and had this image of a very intense, perhaps slightly angry guy from the 1982 campaign on TV, so was perhaps slightly intimidated by this at first) who enjoys yarning for hours to a total stranger like me.
Steve Woodin is a very funny Liverpudlian who has the air of someone who still can't understand what all the fuss is about.
Bobby Almond, also very funny and a very sharp dresser.
Alan Stroud, "Stroudie", All Whites custodian in the nineties, is popular with supporters in Christchurch for his banter and sense of humour mixing with the punters at games and is quite a character.
Fred de Jong I had a beer with at an after-match in the 90's when he played for a Wynton Rufer 11 against a Canterbury rep team for charity. Like most well-known people, quite different when you meet them socially - Fred was very relaxed, friendly and articulate and willing to answer all questions about his career with the All Whites and playing in the Dutch top flight against Romario, Bergkamp etc. in the early nineties. He has qualifications in computing and owns a computer business in Auckland I think, so has a sharp brain. I like the guy.
My abiding memory of Harry Ngata at a Football Kingz after-match at Lancaster Park when he was still playing was having a conversation with him whilst he lay down knackered on the floor in the function room - as relaxed and friendly in real life as he comes across on TV.
Big Pete 65, Christchurch
"Phoenix till they lose"