‘Born to score’: Chris Wood’s journey from Hamilton to Premier League ace Ex-All Whites international Mike Groom recalls striker who stunned him with ‘audacity, self-belief, awareness and skill’.
In a rugby-infused country such as New Zealand, and with England’s cricketers in town for a Test match this past week, Hamilton on the winding Waikato river could feel every bit the other side of the world from the Premier League that it, well, very much is.
He is a lighthouse, a neon sign, and for all those young kids here the possibilities could be infinite.” Those kids were keen already, in fairness, with football not the niche pursuit in New Zealand some in England could assume.
Chris Wood, their boy and New Zealand’s captain, is leading a stirring rise at Nottingham Forest this season; one that has them fourth in the league, ahead of the champions, Manchester City.
The All Whites have appeared at two men’s World Cups – the last an unbeaten group stage exit in 2010 – and the Football Ferns have played on the highest stage of the women’s game an impressive six times.
