Harry Edge (On tour | UK)

Vicenza are hardly a "semi-pro" team but rather a larger Italian club fallen on hard times comparable to say some of the top-flight English clubs who've been down the divisions in the last dozen years like Sunderland, Man City, Southampton, Leeds, Wolves.

Mostly a Serie A and Serie B team throughout their history; relegated to Serie C this year only.

The third tier they play in is professional as the third tier in England is, as evidenced by the league's name: "Lega Pro Prima Divisione."

Played in Serie A most seasons 1955 - 1980's, yo-yoed in 1980's due to match-fixing scandels etc., in Serie A 1995- 99 & 2000- 2001

2001 - 2013: 12 consecutive seasons in Serie B

Matches in Serie A : 986 (30 seasons)    

Won the Italian Cup 1997 & made the UEFA Cup-Winners' Cup semi against Chelsea 1998

Have boasted major players in the past like Roberto Baggio, Paolo Rossi, Luca Toni, Francesco Coco, Benito Carbone, Paul Okon, Mohamed Kallon, Joachim Bjorkland...

Their stadium has a capacity of 21,000 (12,500 seated).

Also has a new Training Centre: 

"Since 2006 the firm has a modern Technical Center, located at Isola Vicentina. The property is spread over an area of 65,000 m² and is divided into two symmetrical units, one dedicated to the first team with locker rooms, warehouse, medical rooms, a gym and outbuildings executive offices, meeting rooms and a conference room, and one dedicated to the Youth team with the same services, in addition to a large gym. Outside the surface is structured in 5 training pitches, of which 4 grass and a further one in clay."

Jesse, like another Kiwi playing for a club in the same division, Liam Graham, will be fulltime & won't have to have another job....

I'd imagine he's better-off at Vicenza than ASB Premiership with the standard of coaching, play and facilities, plus will look good on his CV and help to get a pro contract in future.

Maybe Harry will try out with the youth teams there & get signed if good enough...nothing to lose, I reckon.

 Italian Wiki on Vicenza Calcio: http://translate.google.co.nz/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicenza_Calcio&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dvicenza%2Bcalcio%2Bserie%2Ba%2Brecord%26rlz%3D1C1AFAB_enNZ468NZ468%26espv%3D210%26es_sm%3D93

VICENZA: Stadio Romeo Menti

Totally agree - playing for a professional club in Italy is a no-brainer (Vicenza have financial probs but they're survivng) - Jesse's played for the reserve team already as well as the youth team in friendlies while he waits for his international clearance etc. to come through.

(But note Jesse's playing for Vicenza, not Venice ("Venezia") - different city, bro...)

Plus who wouldn't love the food and culture: https://twitter.com/JesseEdge

Jesse Edge ‏@JesseEdge    13 Oct

Just had the best lunch I have ever had! #sundaylunch #italianfood #omg ????

Jesse Edge ‏@JesseEdge  19 Oct

Chocolate festival in the centre today. ?? #omg #cheat #cheatday zoeee56 #save #me #love #italy #edit… http://instagram.com/p/fpxCU-

Jesse Edge ‏@JesseEdge    17 Oct

Played today for Vicenza Reserve team vs Legnago 1st team. Ended 0-0. Not bad from the boys!

Harry will be having a great time there too - and who knows, might end up playing somewhere in Italy (both brothers have rights to UK passports through British grandparents, so get in as Euro citizens).....

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/soccer-football/news/article.cfm?c_id=86&objectid=11249099

He was terrible at Hawkes' Bay

Good PR by Zwolle. Keep Declan sweet so he sends more lollies.

Perhaps they believe he has the technical skills and attitude to make it and believe they can coach him to learn the role better positionally etc.

Technically I imagine he would be very good given Edge's 10000 hour rule - just needs game time?

I wonder if he's sitting back a little laughing at his detractors. Seems like his pretty much fullfilling what he promised. Jesse, Harry and Ryan are all at pro clubs now.

Was Boyd one of his as well?

yeah good on him for getting the deal! but from what I have seen of him their are plenty of better young players about the place. 

Of all the players that Declan has, Harry would be the one most would deem least likely to succeed based on performance shown. He did nothing in the NYL game I saw for HBU. He might be technically ok, but is very much a plodder. 

Good result then for "a plodder." LOL

He is only a young fulla....Great opportunity, good luck to him.

Yes.

6' 3 & 1/2 JV .... maybe they'll get him into the gym and turn him into a defensive hard man.

Just you and me.

ACFC had him at LB for a period there but I think he is a bit ungainly for the role. I think a ball playing CB is a better role for him. More towards Ivan Vicelich in style than Ben Sigmund if that makes any sense.

Well Declan's still got him at Ole, and now we all know Declan is the NZ uber-coach, AT could be well on his way to becoming the next Franz Beckenbauer. But only if he does that 10,000 hours.

As I've remarked before, his "disappearance" after showing so much promise is a bit weird. Maybe Declan just can't let go of him - yet.

Yeah all those kids upped and buggered off to Welly. I think he has a thing in any deal he does with a player that they have to play for him if there is a choice. Its why Adam left ACFC because Declan was coaching Waikato. Does he perhaps know when to let go cause the kid (and rightly has talent and ability) has disappeared entirely. He would surely have been an automatic for TW this summer.

I may have questioned Declan a little more 6 months ago, but might cut him some slack and say lets just wait for a bit and see what happens.

Perhaps Declan thought the coaching he was going to get at TW would be counter productive?

I recall the likes of Boyd and Ryan Thomas suiting up for club sides down in Wellington, did Adam ever do that?

Not allowed to leave before he's done his 10,000 hours?

adam thomas is listed with western suburbs - haven't seen them play so i have no idea if he's been on the pitch

it would be good to see this guy press on with things pretty quickly

good luck to harry edge too, 12-month contracts aren't given out lightly

Still, he had a nice holiday.

Harry appeared for PEC Zwolle's youth team as recently as March 24:

http://www.peczwolle.nl/nl/nieuwsarchief/jong-pec-...

However that was a one-off friendly against a visiting University of Pretoria side from South Africa in which he was given a run in the second half.

He doesn't seem to have been in the squad for any youth league games for months.

So it seems they didn't rate him that much and he's back to Godzone.

It will be interesting if he comes back a much better player.

he was coaching young wests kids on friday night, back in nz for now/visit at least

Played 90 in Wests v Miramar

Dad got two shut up calls or your gone.

Harry Edge has now become the 3rd Kiwi to sign in the ABSA Premier Soccer League (South Africa). He's joined University of Pretoria in the nation's capital. Don't be put off by the name, they are bankrolled by the Afrikaans uni in the city but they're a pro outfit with some good players...

Article Here

Wonder why he never played for the U-17s or U-20s

hint: cause he was not good enough

What level did you play Jeff? There are a lot of players that didn't make specific teams and are "Good Enough".. 

And lots of players legitimately miss out on teams without it being a conspiracy of any kind.

What level did you play at Dino?