From Nottingham mud to N.Z. pastures

Press, 21 March 1983, Page 27

From Nottingham mud to N.Z. pastures

From DIANA DEKKER in London The minute the British soccer season finishes, Justin Fashanu will be cleaning the Nottingham mud off his soccer boots and heading for New Zealand. “I can’t wait to get there,” said the Hackney, London, born player, who is “on the easy side of 22,” but has built himself a formidable reputation in British soccer.

For the last three British soccer off-seasons he has played in Australia. He enjoyed that and made a multitude of new friends. Now he feels he needs a new challenge. Four years ago, he played in New Zealand with Norwich — “and we beat you.” “I always said I would like to go back. It’s a beautiful place. Now I cannot wait to get there.

“I do not expect it will be easy. I know it will be testing. When we played in Auckland with Norwich City it was a tough game.” He will spend the season with the Takapuna club. Park of his interest in New Zealand has been fuelled by the experiences of his brother, John, who played in Wellington last year. “He loved it. The way they looked after him was super,” Justin said.

It is possible that his brother might make another trip to New Zealand this year, “but not to play, just to keep me company.” Justin Fashanu is one of the soccer-mad East-end of London youngsters whose early dreams really materialised. He started with Norwich City at 17, under manager, John Bond, playing with stars like Martin Peters and Martin Chivers. He was moved from Norwich after 90 appearances to Notts Forest for £1,000,000 then went to Southampton on loan, at the beginning of this season. The move to Notts County came a couple of months ago.

Fashanu played for the England squad in the World Cup qualifying round against Rumania last year. He has also played 12 times for the English under-21

team which won the European under-21 championships.

Much earlier, he played for the England youth team, earning two English caps. One brush with New Zealand was when he played for the English team, “which beat New Zealand a couple of years ago.”

“I have been around a bit,” he said.

This season, he has played 12 matches for Notts County and six for Southampton. His scoring rate in the past couple of months has been “quite good,” with 12 goals in 18 matches. When he leaves in May for his Takapuna stint, he will be saying goodbye, for five to six weeks, to his girlfriend, a model.

“She does not mind too much being left behind. That is what is is like for the girlfriends of soccer players,” he said.