Let us reminisce...

Let us reminisce...

Well, with the V4 edition of HAL now behind us, and with almost 6 months ahead of us before the Nix take the field in V5, the forum's probably going to get a bit quiet.

So I thought, in order to keep everyone's minds on the Nix in the longest off-season ever, I thought we could talk about past Nix games and our memories of them...talk about anything really, whether you were at the game, watched it on TV/Interwebs, listened on the radio. Your lasting impressions, what you remember fondly (or not so fondly), any amusing anecdotes, basically this thread can be your canvass.

I was originally going to do a thread a week for each regular season game the Nix played, but then thought better to keep it all in the same thread.

So I'll start - HAL V-3, Nix first season in the league, 26 August 2007, Ring of Fire, Wellington Phoenix 2 Melbourne Victory 2.

What can I say - the first ever Nix game in the league, great crowd of 14,500. Awesome atmosphere, genuine excitement in the air over having a professional football club in Wellington. Great game too - we were very nervous early on, and Clebo gave away a penalty (for handball) in the first 20, which the c**t put away.

We come back to life in the latter stages of the half, and win a penalty late on for Allsopp's handball after a corner. Absolute euphoria in the Fever zone, only for Daniel to put it against the bar. 0-1 at HT, but I'm feeling positive, we're looking OK against the defending champions.

The second half starts with Victree looking dangerous on the counter, and sure enough Allsopp scores from a fine individual effort on the break. 0-2 down with half an hour to go. I'm thinking "crap, I can see the news headlines - another NZ team gets spanked" followed by those stupid smirks some of our sports reporters put on when talking about NZ football. And I'm thinking, "It's not fair, we've actually played some good stuff..."

Fast forward to the last ten minutes. We get a corner, the ball flies into the box and one of the shortest guys on the field gets on the end of it, and thereby creates history by scoring the first ever Nix goal in the A-league. Daniel, take a bow. The next 10 minutes it's a Nix avalanche towards the Melbourne goal and just as it looks like we'll have to be satisfied with a heroic defeat, Lochy sends a long cross into the box from the left, Smeltzy gets to it and loops the header over Theo - time seems to stand still until the ball's in the back of the net and absolute chaos ensues...The Phoenix have arrived.

f**k yeah.el grapadura2009-03-02 14:23:48

Who could ever forget that game?? A great crowd, great atmosphere, people in full song, perfect weather etc. more Brazilians on the field than in the crowd. A team that didn't give up and got a point. Lonegunmen2009-03-02 14:30:15

KP waz there!

Yep and Royce Brownlie had the chance to win it for us but he unfortunately hit the post.......

Amazing night that one......

Other fave moments were the taste of victory and shirts off in the freezing 10deg night when we beat Perth at home 4-0...

And beating Melbs for the first time 2-1 this season with Smeltzys wonder goal and the pure elation and exuberance that spilled into the concourse for the impromptu singing and madness that ensued....

Being in Sydney for my 2nd away trip when we beat Sydney in November too, with a great bunch of travelling fans and taking over the Captain Cook for our Phoenix post match celebrations rates extremely highly too....

Its all been FOOKIN magic so far....

Glad I was there for that game.

Too bad about the 2nd game I went to...QLD this season when Leo missed a sitter.
valeo2009-03-02 15:06:08

To be honest el grapadura, the emotions and excitment at the first game lasted all of that first season for me, whether watching the home games at the stadium or the away games down in the dungeon at the Four Kings.  It didn't matter that we finished last because the thrill was at max -  everything from the large crowds to the entertainment on the pitch I'll remember for along time to come.

oh how i remember it! sitting right by the goal with my dad and his friend
great memory

First game.  If Brownlie had scored things would've been different.  He actually would have gotten some good game time which he deserved.  Frustrated that about 2 000 weren't able to get in for whatever reason, because if they had then the crowd would have been even better.

Can't forget Brownlie's rugby tackle in season 3 when we were away to Newcastle.

I still have my programme for that first game.

Same here, good memories. Griffiths red card in round 12 (this season) is another highlight, as is when our last goal against Perth went in (Tony Lochhead in round 6 V3)

Yup i also have the program

Being in Sydney for our first A-League win - magic!

Going nuts on the concourse?

Thats way up there for me
HK_Keeper2009-03-02 19:12:56

Standing in the Dickens when we beat the Tards 2 - 1 this season...Priceless!

My first Phoenix experience - Well first proper one - The pre season cup final. I know we lost but the atmosphere got me hooked.

Have been down to two games now - v Sydney in "season 1" and v Melbourne last November, which is the one I will write about here... s2art2009-03-02 22:14:28

My favourite Nix memory is actually from Pre-Season in Season 1 v Sydney, a 3-0 win with 2 to Smeltzy and an OG for the Bling. I seem to remember Plodder was absolutely stunning but not sure of who else played in that game. Topped off a great week for me which had included my 21st, a tui party with the tui girls, an all black win and my first ever experience of live football in NZ. I was watching some videos of it the other day and listening to us laughing as we here the words of the songs is priceless.
Also Melbourne 2-2 was pretty amazing, the way everyone was talking about it all week in Wellington really topped it off

Mark Rudan scored the OG if I remember correctly. You're right, that was another great experience. I also remember Clebo going absolutely ballistic after Smeltzy scored our third. Was a great sight.

Also, I can't believe I didn't say anything about Brownlie hitting the post in that Victree game - if he'd actually scored I'm sure I'd have shot my load there and then....he'd have become an instant Phoenix legend with that, although don't think that his whole career with us would've turned out differently if his shot had gone in.

He missed by a foot or so after a the ball took a wicked deflection off the turf...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5RDn5Y0D_0

Friday night, it was late
I was staggeringto the ring
We got down to the gate
And I was dreaming of the night
Would it turn out right
How to tell you 'nix
I wanna build my world around you
Tell you that it's true
I wanna make you understand
I'm talkin' about a lifetime plan...

Beating Perth in Perth 1-0 first time ever( I was there) 

Genius. The more Little River Band the better I say.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgyBazanaq4

That bastard Smeltz won't be around,
To score for the Nix.
He'll be on the beach,
While we freeze,
at 80 minutes.
We had it all, Mister Smeltz, why won't you re-sign agaaaaaaaaain.


wilso2009-03-03 10:33:24

Royal2009-03-03 09:36:26

Legend

Our first home victory I believe.

I saw the first three goals before I realised that it wasn't the cold that was making me shiver and that I needed to leave.  I spent the next week in bed with food poisoning.

Yes it was. Although the score was 4-1. Coxey probably arrived late on his way from BB and missed Billy Celeski opening the scoring very early on for Perth...

That was a terrific game, I was a ballboy and got blown away with the noise aisle 22 were making. I remember Dodd and Cleberson being fantastic in defence, OMG!

And Cleberson giving that Phoenix wave for the first time.

Yep thought it was our first home win but didn't put that in case I was wrong.....and then got the bloody score wrong anyhoo.....DOH!!!

I stand corrected EG....and don't mind it being by you.....oh man of great knowledge!!!

He is isnt he? Best of all, his avatar makes me hungry!

So far? ALL OF IT! 

You know that's bollocks...sometimes I can barely string a sentence together.

But since the compliment is coming from such an esteemed source, I shall gratefully accept it...

Seafood chowder. Nom nom nom nom...

Hadn't Clebo been in the Country for about a week aswell?

Actually, the first half of that game was when I had my first misgiving about Clebo as a defender - remember him missing some easy defensive headers which put us under pressure.

He had a much better second half in that game - was very (maybe even too much) aggressive and put a lot of pressure on Sydney forwards quite a long way from our goal.