New Zealand Football is celebrating the history of the ISPS Handa Premiership this week in the Heritage Week. To mark the occasion, we caught up with midfielder Jake Butler (Waitakere United) and defender Dan Terris (Canterbury United Dragons). Both have played since its inception of the Premiership in 2004 and will be in action this weekend.

What are your early memories of the ISPS Handa Premiership?
JB: Yeah it is a long time ago now. I remember joining the squad as a youngster. I was 17 or 18 at the time. I initially signed on as a youth player and that same year I signed a senior contract with the club. The early years were good. There were a lot of great players around the club. I had a lot of good learning experiences learning from players who had played overseas professionally and all sorts of experiences. I bided my time. I was a bench player or a bit-part player for the first couple of years and then eventually got my chance and took it and never looked back. It has been good fun.

DT: One of my standout memories from the early days was the way the Canterbury crowd used to get behind the team. I remember playing here at English Park for the first time when it was grass. We had a huge crowd for our first home game. In those first couple of seasons, the crowds away from home were big for our league. Those memories stand out.

Who are some of the best players you have played with and against in the National League?
JB: That is a tough one. I have played with so many players. For the guys I have played with, there are a couple who stand out. I love watching Allan Pearce. I always thought that Allan in his prime was one of the best players around. As a midfielder myself, it was great having him up front, it made my job very easy. All I had to do was give him the ball and he would do the rest. He was a real standout. Roy Krishna was a superb player. In the midfield, I have had some really good partners over the years. Martin Bullock, who had played in the English Premier League, I was lucky enough to play with him. Chris Bale, we had a really good combination in the midfield for a number of years. Those guys really stand out for me. And for against, Keryn Jordan, Grant Jordan, Raf de Gregorio and Dan Terris who is still playing the league as well is always a very good defender. They were all really special players in their own right. 

DT: There have been loads of players over the years. For Canterbury, the likes of Ben Sigmund and Claps [Aaron Clapham] stand out. Others like Andy Barron and Brent Fisher. There are too many to name really. In terms of playing against I can’t look any further than Keryn Jordan and Grant Young. Both were difficult to play against and really top quality players.

You have been with WU since 2004, what does it mean to you to play for the club?

JB: They were the first club that gave me a chance and they were the ones who invested in me and developed me when I was quite a bit younger. To play this many years for them, it is a privilege. I was lucky to be there when we were the best side around. We won the league four times in a row. I was lucky to be the captain for all those wins. We are currently going through a bit of a tough patch, but every time we get out there we like to do the best for the club and all the people who have supported us along the way. I keep in contact with so many people who have watched us over the years and they are always interested in how the team is doing. You play for them a little bit. It is nice to be involved still and hopefully still more to come.

DT: It means everything really. I have been here for a long time and I really enjoy playing for the region and the team. I enjoy the culture and people in this area really make you feel welcome. It is a club that I have put a lot of time into and you get rewards out of the people you meet and playing the game. I get a bit of grief from the younger lads but I like to give a bit back as well.

How has the National League changed over that time?

JB: It has definitely changed that is for sure. In the earlier years it was made up of a lot of older players. Players with a lot of experience. Games were very hard and physical. Nowadays, they players are a lot younger. They are technically better, but not necessarily as game smart as the earlier years with the older players. Today the players are younger and faster and harder to keep up with these days. The league is heading in the right direction. It serves a really good purpose elite football and you are starting to see the fruits of that, with players from this league going to professional clubs all around the globe. It is not an easy league to play in that is for sure. 

DT: It has been a bit up and down. There used to be a lot more games and then they cut the games back. The format has changed slightly and they had added in some more teams. The style of play has changed a huge amount. It was a bit more direct when it first started. Now we are seeing a shift in the style of football in this country. There is a lot more technical ability and tactical awareness. The league is run a lot more professionally these days.

What has been your best moment at your club and why?
JB: The Club World Cup, playing against Adelaide United over in Japan was special, but one moment that I will never forget was the 2012 / 13 Grand Final against Auckland City at Fred Taylor Park. They were up 2-1 and then it was us 3-2 and then 3-3 and we went into extra time an Alan Pearce popped up and scored the winner. It was madness and one of the craziest games I have ever been involved in. I will remember that one for a long time.

DT: I wouldn’t say one moment but the seasons where we were able to get to the finals stand out. Also captaining the side for the first time is something I was really proud of and doing that on a number of occasions I would stick by those sorts of times.

Article added: Friday 02 November 2018