Greg Draper (The New Saints | Wales)

If Kris Bright is worthy of discussion then Greg Draper must be......

hate to rub salt in jeff, but kris bright is a current all white, therefore you need to respect his awesomeness regardless of what everything you know about football tells you!!

I know what you are saying Reg.

just stirring you up mate, i hadn't seen much of bright before he left NZ, but i thought he was decent without ever appearing to be a future star

No thats ok. I have seen a bit of Bright for Waitakere, the Knights and Canty.

Yes players can improve so potentially, he could be much better than the last time I saw him, but I actually do not believe that will be the case.

I don't pick the national side so its not my job on the line...

Town had a rare chance in the 37th minute, but despite regrouping at half time they seemed unable to pose any real threat going forward as the hosts continued to go close for their sixth, which eventually came in the 75th minute when unmarked sub Greg Draper controlled the ball before having his fierce shot from the edge of the six-yard box well blocked by Cann with a fine reflex save, but the loose ball rebounded back off Draper and rolled into the unguarded net to seal the match.

http://www.newsnorthwales.co.uk/sport/126965/six-of-the-best-for-rampant-tns-over-rivals.aspx

Scored a hat-trick in a 9-2 win. Had almost forgotten bout that

Actually, the score was 9-1, a Welsh Premier League record. Draper's New Saints are tearing up the record books it seems in the Welsh league. What an amazing score  - nine goals against fourth-placed Bangor City who have been one of the stronger teams in the Welsh league (last champions in 2011; second and third the last two seasons) and have played in European competition many times since the 1960's. This game was a record Welsh league winning margin; TNS now have a record number of league titles.

Draper TNS's equal leading scorer with 16, fourth highest in the league. Final round of games this weekend.

New Saints are also the third - highest scoring team in Europe this season after Lusitans (Andorra) and Olympiacos (Greece):

http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=2032035.html#europes+highest+scorers

THIRD: 3.00: The New Saints FC (WAL) 15/45

"The Welsh Premier League champions have been in rampant form, especially at home where they have scored 28 without conceding in seven games, including two 6-0 victories. "Twelve different goalscorers this season shows we are reaping the benefits of having competition in every position," New Saints director of football Craig Harrison told UEFA.com. "We have tweaked our game slightly in terms of passing the ball and rotating players into different positions, and we have really worked hard on improving our set plays."

Match report - Draper could have had four but made "the miss of the season":

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bangor-city-1-new-saints-7008749?

Third title in a row and now the most league titles in history of the league. Welsh Cup Final May 3 (4th NZT)

http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=wal/news/newsid=2089668.html#new+saints+crowned

Scored 2 goals in a 3-2 comeback win in the welsh cup. Scored the goal to make it 2-1 and also to wen even it up

unsure if Greg played in this champions league match today...but they are only one goal down for the second match..

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28278517

actually he came on in the 83rd minute and nearly got a goal in injury time

Some quality extended highlights, mostly of the extra time with Greg on the pitch. Great goal by the Slovan striker but slack defending too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud8WqIBGrLo

Second leg morning of Wednesday 23 next week in Wales.

scored 10 goals so far this season

they also had a player sent off when they were 0-1 down. came back from 0-2 to win 4-2.. 

He has scored a bucketload of goals there over the last 3 years.

There was alot of talk a while back of him going to a league 1 side (Portvale) but nothing ever happened for him.

The Welsh league must be really bad but it still surprising that he hasn't picked up an offer to play in England given his record.

Its about the Northern League's Premier division skill wise.

By memory he did ok, but moved as the Welsh club played in Europe, albeit at the very early stages of the comp and that would put in potentially in front of a bigger window.

Draper hits FIVE goals in a 7-1 demolition of Holywell Town in the league cup.

I hope Greg comes back to play for Canterbury United one day....

A regular goal-scorer is always handy.

Full 90 in a 2-0 win over Bangor City. Was only the 3rd start, and 1st full game in the league this season for Draper.

A brace for Draper in a 3-1 win over Haverfordwest County in the League Cup which sends TNS into the Semi-Finals.

For the amount of goals he scores he does start on the bench a lot.

any reason why he hasn't tried a more difficult league?

He isn't good enough.

Draper scores both goals and is subbed off after 71' as TNS remain on top of the Welsh Premier League with a 2-0 win over Haverfordwest County.

Video of Draper's goals here, although I can't get it to play for me. 

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36645872

Draper plays in champs league qualifing tomorrow

1 goal today vs Tre Penne (San Marino) for the Champions League quals

article about that here http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/81934600/kiwi-striker-greg-draper-scores-in-uefa-champions-league-qualifying-game

Would he be getting paid for his matches at club level? I assume the club foots the airline bill for these ties

Yes The New Saints (a merger of Llansantffraid & Owstery Town) and previously known as Total Network Solutions) are a fully professional club. They are based in Owstery (which is actually in England) mainly because the stand there holds 1000, which is the total population of Llansantffraid!

while professional I don't imagine the wages are that great, probably below English conference level

Had a 0-0 draw in the first leg of Second Qualifying Round for Champions League against APOEL this morning.

Pretty good result for them, gives them hope for return leg in Cyprus (though they'll be heavy underdogs).

Draper was an unused sub.

Lost the return leg 3-0, although they did well holding on to 0-0 into the second half. Draper came in with 5 minutes to go with TNS already 2-0 down.

Sounds like the club has gone past his level or something - was a frequent starter & scorer over past few years

Scored a brace this morning v Carmarthen in WPL

T.N.S 8pts clear after 9 games goal dif +31