Greg Draper (The New Saints | Wales)

The former Wellington Phoenix player will base himself in his mother's home town, Yeovil, in Somerset." - The Press

Draper was very very poor for Ferrymead against Nelsen Suburbs the other week. English conference at best I reckon.

I seem to recall Draper saying the top two clubs in Welsh Premier were at a similiar standard as Auckland City and Waitakere. 

From Ferrymead Bays obscurity and crowds of a few seagulls and a dog in 2010 to top-scorer in the Welsh league for league and cup winners the New Saints and now Europa League qualifiers (and interviews on the BBC Sport site):

(er..hmm.. well, he is playing in front of crowds up from Mainland Premier level, but not matching Canterbury United level. I'm surprised how small crowds are in the Welsh Premier League: "An average gate across the league of 329 represented a slight decrease on the previous season, but was still the second best figure in the league’s 20 year history.The New Saints bucked the trend with a 28 per cent increase to an average of 436 at Park Hall...")

You wonder how the standard compares to over here too.

However, the Champions Lge is a big deal and the Saints should pack them in for their two-legged Champs Lge qualifier in ten days against Swedish champions Helsingborgs in the second qualifying round of the 2012-13 Champions League:

"TNS will play one of the tournament's current top seeds.  Welsh league and Cup double winners TNS will host the first leg of their Helsingborgs tie at their newly-revamped Park Hall ground on either 17 or 18 July before travelling to Sweden for the second leg on either 24 or 25 July. "

The New Saints v Helsingborg Champions Lge qualifier:

NZST

 Bound to be live streams somewhere. Try:

http://eurorivals.net/live-football/20120717-the-new-saints-vs-helsingborgs-if

http://www.oleoletv.com/

http://www.coolsport.tv/schedule.php

http://www.atdhe24.net/

http://www.wsn.com/bookmakers/live-streaming/

The New Saints were unlucky not to win today in the 0-0 draw with Helsingborg. Draper didn't get many chances, but almost snuck a goal off a corner in the second half.

The Saints were popping the ball about with real tempo, Greg Draper worked tirelessly up front, and the midfield five buzzed with energy as Helsingborgs struggled to get up to speed, despite being in the midst of their league campaign - unlike TNS.

http://www.countytimes.co.uk/sport/114537/tns-set-themselves-up-for-success-in-sweden.aspx

Second away leg v Helsingborg in Sweden this morning at 5.15am NZT (18.15 BST)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18960417

The New Saints skipper Paul Harrison insists that his team are still in the tie as they prepare for Wednesday's Champions League second qualifying round second leg against Helsingborg.

TNS held the Swedish champions to a goalless draw in last week's first leg.

And Helsingborg spokesman Fredrick Eriksson insists: "They took us by surprise in the first leg, but that won't happen again."

But Harrison said: "The pressure's on them, not us. We've nothing to lose."

The TNS skipper added: "We had a lot of chances first half and could have taken two or three goals into the second leg.

"And I thought they looked a bit vulnerable, so we've got every confidence in casing an upset.

"We've just got to play our own game and give it our all.

"Helsingborg are a very good team but they're not a million miles better than us.

"We showed in the first leg we can create chances, but we can defend really well, as Pip Baker and Steve Evans showed in the first leg, and, if we can stay tight again and nick one on the break, who knows."

Welsh Premier League champions TNS reached the Champions League third qualifying round in 2010 before losing 6-1 on aggregate to Anderlecht.

"All European ties away from home are tough," said TNS manager Craig Harrison.

"We'll be playing in front of a 15,000 sell-out crowd, so it's really important that my players play the game and not the occasion.

"With no disrespect to TNS or any other Welsh League side, the fan base isn't huge - and you know in Europe there'll be thousands rather than hundreds.

"But I'm very proud of my players. We showed a lot of quality in the first leg and created chances against a team full of internationals, ex-internationals and a side who won the Swedish treble last season.

"We've got a slight advantage now, because if we go out and get a goal they've got to score two - and that would change the dimensions completely." 

By the way, the game against Helsingborg was played on Thursday morning, and the Swedes won 3-0, winning the overall tie 3-0 on aggregate.

BBC report on New Saints v Helsingborg second leg loss mentions Greg having chances:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18960417

Welsh champions The New Saints failed to progress past the second qualifying round of the Champions League after losing to Helsingborg of Sweden.

A goalless first leg had given TNS hope against the Swedish champions, but two early goals proved their undoing.

Walid Atta settled any potential Helsingborg nerves when he headed in an eighth-minute corner.

Thomas Sørum pounced on poor defending to stab home 19 minutes later, and Alvaro added a late third.

TNS responded well after falling behind, enjoying their best spell of the match as Greg Draper failed to capitalise on Alex Darlington's through ball and then shot inches wide from a Craig Jones cross after he weaved his way through the home defence.

But Helsingborg took firm control of the tie when Sørum scored from close range, and Alvaro's 89-minute effort completed the victory. 

Rumour doing the rounds that Cheltenham are looking to sign Draper but describe him as a winger in the article

League 2 would be a much better level to play compared to Wales! Specially with cheltenham last season close to earn promotion to league1

Yeah would be a great move for him - I guess his goalscoring record is worth taking a punt on for them

Found these "rumours" too

18 Aug 2012 14:43:54
Cheltenham are signing TNS winger Greg Draper.

10 Aug 2012 21:10:04
york city will sign tns striker greg draper

29 Jul 2012 22:38:35
port vale have agreed a fee in prinicipal for tns striker greg draper. the deal will go through ounce keith ryders takeover deal is approved by the football league

With Greg Draper waiting in the wings and Matty Williams continuing his comeback from a knee injury, the Saints have an abundance of options up front, although Scott Quigley has joined Welsh Premier rivals Carmarthen on loan.

http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/2012/10/12/boss-tells-the-new-saints-to-be-wary-for-derby/

Conwy frustrated the full-timers for long periods with debutant keeper Kristian Rodgers pulling off a string of fantastic saves to deny Greg Draper, Chris Jones and Sam Finley.

http://www.northwalesweeklynews.co.uk/conwy-sport/conwy-county-sport/2012/12/13/cup-display-a-delight-for-conwy-boss-55243-32414544/

Wilde was also on target for the defending champions as The New Saints scored five for the second time in as many days following their Welsh FA Cup win over Rhyl, to leave Craig Harrison's men celebrating a job well done in their quest to emulate last season's double-winning campaign.
But there is still some way to go before The New Saints can be assured of defending both titles although Greg Draper and Ryan Fraughan gave fans even more reason to be confident as both players added to the scoreline late on.

http://www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk/sport/119876/saints-hit-five-to-open-up-gap-at-the-top.aspx

Greg Draper is the most interesting character of The New Saints, rival Legia Warsaw in the qualifying round of the Champions League. Draper is a representative of New Zealand.

 



Greg Draper is a single representative of New Zealand last season was less successful than the previous one. He scored only five goals and did not count in the battle for the title of best sniper. In the season 2011/12 was the viceroy of the Welsh league scorer with 21 hits.

 

Some sources claim he was born in England, but according to the official website of TNS is a native New Zealander of Sommerset, although it also has English passport.

 

The staff of the U-23 participated in the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008. Was there as a substitute in two lost matches, with Brazil (0:5) and Belgium (0-1). He met on the field such as Ronaldinho, Marcelo, Alexandre Pato and Thomas Vermaelen. In the same year he scored a debut in the adult representation. The New Zealand team for Olympics 2012 has not caught on, even though he scored the decisive goal in a promotion spot in the match against Fiji (1:0), and all preliminaries were three gates leading scorer, ex aequo with two other players.

Substitute Greg Draper sparked the rout with a 12 minute hat-trick as he replaced last season's top goal scorer and Golden Boot winner Michael Wilde.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/amateur-football/welsh-premier-league-new-saints-5782682

Sounds to me like he's found his true level.

I second that, is he worthy of discussion?