It doesn’t get any better for footballing teenage teammates Finn Cookson and Milan Campbell, who are off to the Wellington Phoenix Academy next year.
Sixty youngsters were vying for 20 places in the Phoenix Academy. Six Suburbs players trialled in August, three were invited back this month, and Finn and Milan made the final cut.
It is probably a good thing they are friends rather than rivals, as the Nelson Suburbs Academy players were both trialling for central midfield spots with the Wellington club.
The 13-year-olds were both grateful and also nervous, ahead of that second trial.
“It is brutal with that play cull, so they performed incredibly well. To have one kid selected for the academy is amazing, but to have two from our same team is incredible for them and the club. There is a real feeling of pride,” declares Suburbs U13 Academy coach Steve White.
Also helping with that pathway is Suburbs’ director of football Ryan ‘Skippy’ Stewart, who has strong connections with the Wellington Phoenix.
Finn and Milan had the perfect build up as part of the Suburbs U13 Academy, which competed at the Premier Invitational tournament on the Gold Coast during the recent school holidays.
“We won our pool by a point so got to play against the really good Australian academy sides. It was a privilege and a good opportunity to challenge ourselves.
They love to score goals and have crazy celebrations. We scored 10 to 15 goals ourselves and finished 18th out of 82 teams,” says Finn, who goes to St Paul’s School.
“They were very physical, and I liked that as I am more a defensive player,” adds Milan, who attends Broadgreen Intermediate.
The pair has come through the age grades together at Nelson Suburbs and did play against each other at school level a few months ago.
“Milan’s team beat us by quite a lot,” confirms Finn.
“The Suburbs academy taught us some good stuff so I am kind of sad to be leaving, but excited too. Finn’s my best friend so it is good he will be in Wellington too,” says Milan.
Finn was born in Wellington, has lived in Nelson for about 10 years, and his family plans to return to the capital next year.
“It will help make Finn’s transition a bit easier. It is daunting, but exciting,” says his mother Rachel. Finn has followed the fortunes of the Phoenix since he was six or seven and has been to a couple of their matches.
The boys are going to be busy with four, three-hour training sessions a week, matches on Sunday and settling into high school.
Steve is delighted to see “little kids” become impressive young men on and off the field.
“There is a great culture in the academy group. It is fantastic, and so rewarding that we are developing these kids for the next step up. It would be nice to be going to Wellington with them,” quips the probation officer who first came to Nelson from Scotland 30 years ago and has been back permanently since 2012.
“Coaching is a great stress reliever.”
Also off to the Phoenix is Layla White, no relation to Steve, to join the Phoenix U18 Women’s team after successfully trialling in Wellington as well.
