The Wellington Phoenix have signed one of Auckland’s brightest footballing talents in the week of the inaugural New Zealand derby.
Winger Nathan Walker has graduated into the professional ranks, putting pen to paper on a four year contract with the Phoenix, the first two years of which are on scholarship terms.
Walker, 18, is a born and bred Aucklander and played for Bucklands Beach AFC, Onehunga Sports, Auckland United and Fencibles United before joining the Nix academy at the start of this year.
The New Zealand age-group international has already made his first team debut. He was thrust into the Phoenix starting XI for the Isuzu UTE A-League season opener against Western United and didn’t look out of place in an unfamiliar wingback role, before featuring off the bench in the second round win over Perth Glory.
Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano is delighted to have secured Walker to a long-term contract.
“Walks was thrown in the deep end and did very well against Western United and did well when he came on against Perth too,” Italiano said.
“He’s very quick, he has good endurance and stamina and he’s dangerous with the forward runs he makes.
“Walks is playing as a wing back at the moment because that’s the only width in our current formation, but that allows him to be a little bit more expressive because he’s got four defenders around him.
“I could see him being a potential winger, a 10 or even a nine for the Phoenix, so he’s another player with plenty of upside.”
Nathan Walker is pinching himself he’s now a professional footballer.
“Every kid dreams of it, but now that it’s actually happening it’s pretty surreal,” Walker said.
“I always thought becoming a pro footballer was possible. My father (Brooke Walker) played for New Zealand in cricket, and he’s always been very supportive and told me to just go for it while I’m young and I’ve got the chance.
“It’s always been something I’ve wanted to do but especially towards the end of pre-season I started to realise that it definitely could happen.
“I’m just grateful. I can now really put my head down and get to work for the next four seasons so I’m really looking forward to it.”
After some initial homesickness Walker is relishing living in the capital and has no regrets about leaving Auckland.
“I’m sure my family would have loved for me to stay at home, but I think I’m at the right club so I’m happy.
“Everything down here I’m enjoying, from the football to the lifestyle.
“I’ve got a lot of mates back home obviously and my family’s in Auckland, but they’ve all chosen to support the right team so I’m happy with that. It’s the right place for me now.”
He has thanked Phoenix academy coaches Chris Greenacre and Luke Tongue for the roles they’ve played in his development this year.
“Looking at me when I came down here to me now; I’m a completely different player.
“I came from a local football club into an academy, so I had a lot of details to work on and stuff you don’t really get taught at an amateur level.
“Greeny has kept on top of me when I’ve needed it and he’s always been there for me.
“I’ve talked to him a lot about missing home and my family. Same as Tonguey as well. They’ve both been unreal.”
And Nathan Walker believes he wouldn’t be a professional footballer if it wasn’t for one of his former coaches at Fencibles, Mikey Poulopoulos or Mikey P as he’s known.
“There was a point about three years ago when I was going to quit football.
“Then over summer I did some sessions with Mikey P at Fencibles and he’s basically the reason I’m still playing football because he reminded me it’s all about having fun, which at the time I was struggling with.
“He’s very special to me and I’m still in contact with him now.”Nathan Walker is the 26th player in the men’s first team squad and is in contention to play against his hometown club when Auckland FC visit Sky Stadium on Saturday.
