It’s an almost-unheard of situation in today’s world of media-managed sports organisations.
A reporter granted exclusive access to the All Whites in the build up to their “One Shot for Glory” FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bahrain in Wellington in 2009.
At the time, then-Sunday reporter Simon Mercep’s All White on the Night story covered the build-up and night of the big occasion.
“The access was amazing. To get alongside the players and the management in their hotel rooms, their lunch rooms, meeting their partners and getting a sense of what it was like as sportspeople building up to this massive game,” Mercep recalled.
“It really allowed us to tell our audience how significant it was to Ricki Herbert and Brian Turner, who’d been there and done that in 1982.
“It meant the world to them.”
Mercep said while the players were relaxed, the management team were “fizzing”.
Remarkably, Herbert even granted him an interview late at night on the eve of the clash.
Mercep paid tribute to cameraman Clint Bruce, who was tasked with getting the side-line reaction of the coaching team.
“Their reactions to the goal, to the [Mark Paston penalty] save, they were incredible shots.”
But the real television gold came when Brian Turner invited the Sunday team into the changing room for the post-match celebrations.
“It was one of the most memorable occasions, whether it’s sport or news, any event I’ve ever covered.”
