Waitakere United Match Day Programme, NZFC Grand Final

By Andrew Dewhurst

Big occasions do funny things to people. Seemingly unbeatable teams or individuals can crumble while rank outsiders play the game of their lives and win against the odds.

The physical preparation is complete and everyone is or should be ready to play. If they are not then they shouldn’t be out there, a final is not a place for the faint hearted of mind or body.

I once interviewed John Walker and he told me about his final moments before his historic 1500m win at Montreal in 1976. He described his preparation as having gone perfectly, the training exactly as he had hoped and the build up to the Games as per his and his coach Arch Jelley’s expectations.

He was the favourite and had it all to lose but he took that favouritism and the knowledge he had prepared perfectly and turned it on his opposition. In the ‘holding pen’ before the race (a room beneath the stadium and away from the cameras and public), Walker stood tall and stripped off his track suit jacket.

He then grabbed the silver fern on that huge chest of his in his fist and proceeded to walk around the room, taking time only to stare (down) at each of his opponents until they met his gaze.

He said nothing, he didn’t have to. And neither did anyone say anything to him, they didn’t know where to look, let alone say.

Once the field had been addressed individually such, he calmly put his jacket back on and sat down again and from that point ignored all who dared to run against him that day and, in his words knew that, “from that moment, each of the others knew that they were running for second.”

While not an Olympic 1500m final, today brings its own pressures and presents an opportunity for 11 Waitakere United players to walk out on to Douglas Field knowing that they hold the edge, that they will win the personal battle over the following 90 minutes and that they can enjoy the spoils of victory once - but only once, they cross the finish line.

So grab that Waitakere United crest on your chests as you walk out today boys, we are right behind you every step of the way.