July 19, 2025 • 9 mins
The Wellington Phoenix stunned famous Welsh football club Wrexham 1-nil in their pre-season match in the capital.
Wellington Phoenix academy striker Luke Flowerdew was the hero of the match, having scored the second-half strike that helped the team win.
Phoenix reserves coach Chris Greenacre joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB Oday.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
With twenty five thousand turning up to watch the Wellington
Phoenix beat Wrexham one nill in their pre season football
friendly at Sky Stadium, Phoenix right on the edge of
the box.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
That's time to truss Isco a moment.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
For the Phoenix Loop Flower to.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
What a moment for the young man. Didn't think it
was going to quite get to it and it was
a great little bit of play down the left hand
side and it's a fantastic ball just out of the
reach the goalkeeper. I don't quite know what he did
with it, did he get a touch on it at all?
But Flower two is there to do the rest and
that will be one he will remember for a hell
(00:53):
of a long time.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Indeed it will be not many would have known the
name yesterday, A few more do today. Luke Flower Jews
scoring the winner for the Phoenix early in the second half.
He was one of ten outfields at halftime as the
club's youngsters were given the opportunity to play the biggest
forty five minutes of most of their careers. Former Phoenix
(01:15):
striker Chris Greenacre is now Phoenix reserve team coach. He
was interim assistant coach for yesterday's game and actually took
charge in the second half because he knows the club's
young players so very well. He joins us now Greeney,
congratulations on the win. What was your message to these
young players as you sent them out for the second half.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
Thanks, Painy. I think the week it was important that
we kept it as low key as possible. We probably
did less preparation in terms of Wrexham because it was
important that we kept the focus on the players and
all the hype and the social media around the game,
and rightly so it was huge for them, and it
(02:00):
was just trying to take the pressure off as much
as we could. And yeah, we just tried to keep
everyone like now some relaxed and more excited, I suppose
about the opportunity again, not trying to overall them because
you know, the the enormity of the challenge obviously, can
you know, could could harm them, So you know, it
was it was a relaxed, you know process leading into
(02:22):
the game.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
So when you reflect on that second half in particular,
what what do you take greatest pride from?
Speaker 4 (02:29):
I think it's the way that the boys kind of
went after Wrexham. We said from the kickoff that we
were we were just going to get the ball down
and play, not playing to sort of their strength, which
is their their height and their strength and their experience,
and and from the kickoff we just got the ball
down and played and tried to get as many players
as possible on the ball. I think it's beyond everyone's
(02:49):
wildest dreams that we would we would score so early.
You know, we'd recognize some of the movement patterns in
our process of how Rexham defended, and we got down
the left hand side and Ryan Lee's put a great
crossing and we had a few few numbers in the
box and had a lot bit of look but we
we knew we could get opportunities and you just kind
(03:11):
of hope that you take it. And thankfully Luke flowered
Dow was sort of Johnny on the spot and we
put the ball in the net. But to see the
players celebrate the way that they did, and especially in
front of the Yellow Fever, that's that's an experienced very
few people get to experience, and to actually do it
at that end of the stadium is pretty cool and
(03:33):
just to see them all together was was was a
wonderful sight, I think, and memories they'll cherish.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Forever and what a moment for them all, in particular
for Luke flowered you. He gets the final touch, he
gets the goal, he gets the headlines like this tell
us a bit about him.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
Yeah, he's an up and coming young striker. He's kind
of a throwback kind of striker. He's comfortable with his
back to play. He's exceptionally quick. It's kind of one
of those players that doesn't look that quick but actually
in full flight when you you kind of you know,
raise against him, he's pretty quick with the ball at
(04:08):
his feet. And you know he's still got a lot
to learn, but he's a brave character, is at times
a real handful and I kind of quite like that
with him. There's I say, lots of work on but
you know, he needs to get himself into goalscoring positions.
We talk about this sort of every week when we
play against our opponents in the Central League. And it's
(04:30):
great that he took that on board to do it
against Wrexham and rightly so he's got all the plaudits
today and and I'm sure he didn't sweet sleep or
wink last night.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
It's probably clearing his messages. And you say, you say,
Greenie that you know you keep their feet on the
ground during the week and tried not to get them
overawed by the occasion. But afterwards, did you you know,
allow them the moment, allow them to celebrate what they've done.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
It was pretty incredible, actually I tell you a story.
But after the media stuff was done with the coaches
and I think Luke did an interview as well, all
the player is waited in the in the dressing room
for him and then as soon as he came in,
flowers and fire it came on and there was water
sprayed everywhere. So just to let them enjoy the moment.
(05:18):
But to see all his teammates and all his friends
wait for him and want to do that shows the
camaraderie in the team spirit that they've got themselves in
their dressing room, and yeah, it was it was great
to see. So again, really really proud of them the
way they dealt with the occasion. You know, we're under
no illusions of where it was I think the experience
(05:41):
that Rexham had, but where they were in pre season
and obviously where three quarters of the way through our
centrally campaign kind of makes it more of a level
playing field, I suppose, but it's it's a level that
they've never played for before and they'll be all the
better for that experience.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Just to finish screen, you see a lot of young
players you know they can they go not even a
young players going to make it. That's the nature of
elite sport. What do you look for in a young
player that tells you they might hear what it takes.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
There's lots of things, you know, both on and off
the field. For me, you know basic you know, players
that are comfortable with the ball at their feet Initially,
for me, I think is a huge one. You know,
you can talk about tactics and all this kind of stuff,
but if you can't handle the football, that doesn't give
you the best start. And then lots of things attitude,
(06:37):
you know, towards their craft. It's really difficult for sometimes
young players to come into a full time environment and
what you see on a Saturday as a fan isn't everything.
There's a whole heap of stuff that go on goes
on during the week. You know, how the players are
in the gym, their lifestyle, their diets. There's a whole
(06:59):
heap of things things that go on, but everyone's judged
about what happens on a Saturday. And being a true
athlete in in probably any sport, at any high performance sport,
it's a lot of the stuff away from the field.
That's the important stuff. But that's not for everyone, and
that's hard, and it's a really difficult, difficult place to
(07:21):
be as an athlete, and it's not for everyone. But
the ones that overcome that give themselves the best opportunity.
So the ones that are kind of consistent over all
everything are usually the ones that give themselves the best chance.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Brinny, congratulations on the significant part you've played in the
development of the club's young players which lead to the
occasion that you've enjoyed yesterday. I really appreciate your time
this afternoon.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
Thank you very much. TS Piney, thank you Chris.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Chris Greenecker. Yeah, club legend on the field and building
the next generation of players off that. He is the
he's the second team coach if you like. The reserve team.
They play in Central League in and around the Wellington
region and the central North Ireland and has been brought
on board at the moment anyway as an interim assistant
(08:05):
coach and the side's new assistant coach can get his
work visa. There is a new man coming on board
to assist gian Carlo Italiano, the head coach of the side.
The new right hand man is Kelly Guimardes. He is
a Brazilian and has spent the last decade or so
(08:25):
coaching in some pretty decent leagues in Brazil. He had
a successful nineteen year playing career in Spain, Japan and
the UAE. So he's the new man, Kelli Guimdes. So
we'll wait to see how he goes. But yeah, Chris
Greenaker doing some great things with the Wellington Phoenix reserve
side and helping out with the first team as well,
(08:46):
particularly with so many those young players they yeesterday, What
a moment for the day, twenty five thousand there at
Sky Stadium. You know, it's ten times more than most
of them would have played in front of before, if
not more, and they went out there and just played
without fear. Good on them, I reckon good on them.
What an occasion for them.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News talks at B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB Oday.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
With twenty five thousand turning up to watch the Wellington
Phoenix beat Wrexham one nill in their pre season football
friendly at Sky Stadium, Phoenix right on the edge of
the box.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
That's time to truss Isco a moment.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
For the Phoenix Loop Flower to.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
What a moment for the young man. Didn't think it
was going to quite get to it and it was
a great little bit of play down the left hand
side and it's a fantastic ball just out of the
reach the goalkeeper. I don't quite know what he did
with it, did he get a touch on it at all?
But Flower two is there to do the rest and
that will be one he will remember for a hell
(00:53):
of a long time.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Indeed it will be not many would have known the
name yesterday, A few more do today. Luke Flower Jews
scoring the winner for the Phoenix early in the second half.
He was one of ten outfields at halftime as the
club's youngsters were given the opportunity to play the biggest
forty five minutes of most of their careers. Former Phoenix
(01:15):
striker Chris Greenacre is now Phoenix reserve team coach. He
was interim assistant coach for yesterday's game and actually took
charge in the second half because he knows the club's
young players so very well. He joins us now Greeney,
congratulations on the win. What was your message to these
young players as you sent them out for the second half.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
Thanks, Painy. I think the week it was important that
we kept it as low key as possible. We probably
did less preparation in terms of Wrexham because it was
important that we kept the focus on the players and
all the hype and the social media around the game,
and rightly so it was huge for them, and it
(02:00):
was just trying to take the pressure off as much
as we could. And yeah, we just tried to keep
everyone like now some relaxed and more excited, I suppose
about the opportunity again, not trying to overall them because
you know, the the enormity of the challenge obviously, can
you know, could could harm them, So you know, it
was it was a relaxed, you know process leading into
(02:22):
the game.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
So when you reflect on that second half in particular,
what what do you take greatest pride from?
Speaker 4 (02:29):
I think it's the way that the boys kind of
went after Wrexham. We said from the kickoff that we
were we were just going to get the ball down
and play, not playing to sort of their strength, which
is their their height and their strength and their experience,
and and from the kickoff we just got the ball
down and played and tried to get as many players
as possible on the ball. I think it's beyond everyone's
(02:49):
wildest dreams that we would we would score so early.
You know, we'd recognize some of the movement patterns in
our process of how Rexham defended, and we got down
the left hand side and Ryan Lee's put a great
crossing and we had a few few numbers in the
box and had a lot bit of look but we
we knew we could get opportunities and you just kind
(03:11):
of hope that you take it. And thankfully Luke flowered
Dow was sort of Johnny on the spot and we
put the ball in the net. But to see the
players celebrate the way that they did, and especially in
front of the Yellow Fever, that's that's an experienced very
few people get to experience, and to actually do it
at that end of the stadium is pretty cool and
(03:33):
just to see them all together was was was a
wonderful sight, I think, and memories they'll cherish.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Forever and what a moment for them all, in particular
for Luke flowered you. He gets the final touch, he
gets the goal, he gets the headlines like this tell
us a bit about him.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
Yeah, he's an up and coming young striker. He's kind
of a throwback kind of striker. He's comfortable with his
back to play. He's exceptionally quick. It's kind of one
of those players that doesn't look that quick but actually
in full flight when you you kind of you know,
raise against him, he's pretty quick with the ball at
(04:08):
his feet. And you know he's still got a lot
to learn, but he's a brave character, is at times
a real handful and I kind of quite like that
with him. There's I say, lots of work on but
you know, he needs to get himself into goalscoring positions.
We talk about this sort of every week when we
play against our opponents in the Central League. And it's
(04:30):
great that he took that on board to do it
against Wrexham and rightly so he's got all the plaudits
today and and I'm sure he didn't sweet sleep or
wink last night.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
It's probably clearing his messages. And you say, you say,
Greenie that you know you keep their feet on the
ground during the week and tried not to get them
overawed by the occasion. But afterwards, did you you know,
allow them the moment, allow them to celebrate what they've done.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
It was pretty incredible, actually I tell you a story.
But after the media stuff was done with the coaches
and I think Luke did an interview as well, all
the player is waited in the in the dressing room
for him and then as soon as he came in,
flowers and fire it came on and there was water
sprayed everywhere. So just to let them enjoy the moment.
(05:18):
But to see all his teammates and all his friends
wait for him and want to do that shows the
camaraderie in the team spirit that they've got themselves in
their dressing room, and yeah, it was it was great
to see. So again, really really proud of them the
way they dealt with the occasion. You know, we're under
no illusions of where it was I think the experience
(05:41):
that Rexham had, but where they were in pre season
and obviously where three quarters of the way through our
centrally campaign kind of makes it more of a level
playing field, I suppose, but it's it's a level that
they've never played for before and they'll be all the
better for that experience.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Just to finish screen, you see a lot of young
players you know they can they go not even a
young players going to make it. That's the nature of
elite sport. What do you look for in a young
player that tells you they might hear what it takes.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
There's lots of things, you know, both on and off
the field. For me, you know basic you know, players
that are comfortable with the ball at their feet Initially,
for me, I think is a huge one. You know,
you can talk about tactics and all this kind of stuff,
but if you can't handle the football, that doesn't give
you the best start. And then lots of things attitude,
(06:37):
you know, towards their craft. It's really difficult for sometimes
young players to come into a full time environment and
what you see on a Saturday as a fan isn't everything.
There's a whole heap of stuff that go on goes
on during the week. You know, how the players are
in the gym, their lifestyle, their diets. There's a whole
(06:59):
heap of things things that go on, but everyone's judged
about what happens on a Saturday. And being a true
athlete in in probably any sport, at any high performance sport,
it's a lot of the stuff away from the field.
That's the important stuff. But that's not for everyone, and
that's hard, and it's a really difficult, difficult place to
(07:21):
be as an athlete, and it's not for everyone. But
the ones that overcome that give themselves the best opportunity.
So the ones that are kind of consistent over all
everything are usually the ones that give themselves the best chance.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Brinny, congratulations on the significant part you've played in the
development of the club's young players which lead to the
occasion that you've enjoyed yesterday. I really appreciate your time
this afternoon.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
Thank you very much. TS Piney, thank you Chris.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Chris Greenecker. Yeah, club legend on the field and building
the next generation of players off that. He is the
he's the second team coach if you like. The reserve team.
They play in Central League in and around the Wellington
region and the central North Ireland and has been brought
on board at the moment anyway as an interim assistant
(08:05):
coach and the side's new assistant coach can get his
work visa. There is a new man coming on board
to assist gian Carlo Italiano, the head coach of the side.
The new right hand man is Kelly Guimardes. He is
a Brazilian and has spent the last decade or so
(08:25):
coaching in some pretty decent leagues in Brazil. He had
a successful nineteen year playing career in Spain, Japan and
the UAE. So he's the new man, Kelli Guimdes. So
we'll wait to see how he goes. But yeah, Chris
Greenaker doing some great things with the Wellington Phoenix reserve
side and helping out with the first team as well,
(08:46):
particularly with so many those young players they yeesterday, What
a moment for the day, twenty five thousand there at
Sky Stadium. You know, it's ten times more than most
of them would have played in front of before, if
not more, and they went out there and just played
without fear. Good on them, I reckon good on them.
What an occasion for them.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News talks at B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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