Defender's Life Not The Same Old Story

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday September 13, 2006

James Gardiner Back of the net

JETS defender Steven Old likes to pick the brain of captain Paul Okon on away trips.

Old follows Okon alphabetically on the team roster, which ensures they sit beside each other on flights.

"I ask him about different things, his football experiences," Old said.

A case of the apprentice trying to learn from the master.

But if they ever decided to swap life stories, Okon may be the one intrigued.

At 20 years of age, Old already has 14 caps for New Zealand, including one against a Ronaldinho-led Brazil.

Though impressive, his playing record is only part of the story.

From day one, Old has lived outside the square.

The son of a former All Black, Old was born in Palmerston North, the home of New Zealand rugby.

But, surprisingly, Old junior chose soccer ahead of rugby.

"My brother played soccer, and I just followed what he did," Steven said.

"Dad was good like that; he did not pressure us to play a particular sport."

Old eventually tried his hand at rugby, albeit in Holland.

"Dad took a coaching job in Leiden, about 30 minutes from Amsterdam and The Hague. I had a couple of seasons playing rugby but also kept the soccer up." Soccer in New Zealand. Rugby in Holland. Strange.

But that was only the start.

On completing school and with a soccer resume which included national selection at under-15s, 16s, 17s and 23s Old took up a soccer scholarship at the famed St John's University in New York City. He went from a quiet farm life near Palmerston North to the mean streets of Queens.

"New York is the melting pot of the world," Old said.

"Queens is right in the middle. I lived in a house with six other soccer players in a part of Queens called Southside, Jamaica.

"It is the old neighbourhood of rapper 50 Cent and is down in the hood, to say the least.

"It was an interesting place to live."

Old studied marketing and in two years helped guide St Johns to the elite eight and sweet 16 in the Division One national tournament both times losing to the University of Maryland.

"It was an amazing couple of years," he said.

"I studied full-time and we trained five times a week as well as playing two games."

On returning to New Zealand in June for the summer break, Old decided to leave university and turn professional, despite not having a contract.

"I had been picked in the All Whites team for a tour of Europe and there were a number of other national games coming up," he said.

"It was a difficult decision to leave St Johns, but I thought the time was right."

In need of a defender after Craig Deans had been ruled out for the season, Jets coach Nick Theodorakopoulos invited Old for a trial.

Two days later he was a Newcastle Jet.

"It all happened pretty quickly," Old said.

"Compared to Queens, Newcastle is a lot more peaceful. I love the weather and beaches and the people have been great."

While happy with his new home, Old, who is on a one-year deal, has not finished seeing the world just yet.

"Like every footballer, I'd love to play in Europe," he said."This is the next step towards that. I need to work hard, develop my game and see how far it takes me."

© 2006 Newcastle Herald

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