Alex Greive - San Antonio’s Newest All White, Via St. Mirren, Dundee United & Bohemian - E18

The boys welcome Alex Greive into the studio this week following his recent move to San Antonio. The New Zealand International discusses all things in his career to date, and how he ended up in San Antonio after taking a less conventional route to get there. The conversation covers a range of topics including Alex's experiences in college soccer, his transition to professional play, and his time in New Zealand. They discuss the cultural differences in soccer between New Zealand and the US, as well as Alex's All Whites national team call-up and playing alongside none other than Nottingham Forest bagsman, Chris Wood. Enjoy and subscribe!

00:00 Intro & Dom's Moment For West Ham vs Arsenal...

03:34 Back In The US With San Antonio

05:53 Greivo vs Dom & Jam...

12:16 Concussion From A Trialist In Pre Season

15:26 Playing in New Zealand & COVID Stories

19:25 The Move To St. Mirren & Scottish Football

24:17 Cultural Shift: From New Zealand to Scotland

25:35 The NZ International Call-Up: Becoming An All White

30:09 A Word For Chris Wood

31:12 Scoring On Your First International Start

31:58 World Cup Aspirations

34:38 Dundee & Bohemians Experiences

38:51 Extra Time

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Transcript

Jamil Roberts (00:00)
Hello everyone and welcome to the backstic podcast. I'm Jamil Roberts and I'm joined here as usual by my boy, my co-host, the better half of the backstic, Dom Okus. Dom, how are you mate?

Dom Okus (00:13)
I'm not sure about that bro, I think you're being too humble there but I'm great. I've had a good weekend, the sun's out here in Austin, Texas and my team got a big result this weekend. For those who've been kinda here watching and stuff, I'm a West Ham fan and so I've got a lot of Arsenal friends, so I've given a lot of banter in the group chat and just as we were talking off air, our guest today.

Mr. Alex Grieve is also an Arsenal fan. So I just wanted to ask you bro, how are you feeling after yesterday's result? Do we think that the title race is over? Are we are are out? Like how are we feeling? and also welcome to the Backstreet Podcast. So how are we feeling man? Talk to me.

Jamil Roberts (00:50)
Straight in! STRAIGHT IN!

Alex (00:58)
Thank you for the warm welcome, Ron.

Nah, title race is over I'd say. I think bro, I think it was over when we didn't sign a striker and then Havertz getting injured straight after that as well bro. Yeah, it's not looking good but I'm a Teteran bro of course. Yeah.

Dom Okus (01:08)
Yeah.

Okay, okay fair

enough. Did you guys watch the game yesterday?

Alex (01:23)
I watched the first half.

Dom Okus (01:25)
stuff. I think we're...

Jamil Roberts (01:28)
Was the goal in the first

Alex (01:28)
That's all

I needed, Brian.

Jamil Roberts (01:29)
half or was it in the second half or?

Dom Okus (01:33)
The goal was in, yeah, end of the first half, right at the end. Wamba Saka, little jinky run, cross the bow and the header, beautiful.

Alex (01:33)
End of the first.

Jamil Roberts (01:36)
Yeah, yeah.

Yeah,

cuz that's that's mad in there. they've got like the two best center backs of all time The little jar of Boeing gets ahead gets a free header in the box. It's mad in there griever. What have you got to say mate?

Dom Okus (01:47)
Do you know what mean? In a six-yard box, man.

Alex (01:55)
my days. They don't... Yeah. No!

Dom Okus (01:59)
Come

Alex (02:01)
That's what I mean, cancel Estro, bleep it out.

Jamil Roberts (02:09)
Honestly grivo I've never seen

the man so happy because you know me and him obviously I got no leg to stand on I'm a United fan with rubbish whatever you know you can say whatever you want it doesn't even hurt me anymore I've I've never seen Dom's rapping me like he was dancing on his Instagram stories. He was calling people out left right and center

Dom Okus (02:20)
Yes.

You

Alex (02:24)
Yeah, see that's sadder. That's sad, mate.

Dom Okus (02:29)
Roll it.

Alex (02:34)
Wow.

See you, mate. We'll him have his moment, eh?

Jamil Roberts (02:40)
There you go. He hasn't been this happy since you won the... what's that? What's that fake European trophy you won?

Dom Okus (02:42)
Thanks

Spake European trophy. It's called

the UEFA Conference League and it's a European trophy nonetheless. No one can take that away from us. Simple.

Jamil Roberts (02:54)
Yep.

You're right Yeah, yeah, well we could still win the Europa League, but it's probably not gonna happen, but you know No, it's probably not gonna happen. god, I'm dropping something in lap, Alright Dom, are you satisfied?

Alex (03:01)
You would love to get your hands on that, Jamil.

Dom Okus (03:03)
Is that good?

Nah, it's not.

Yeah, satisfied. I just wanted to come in hot, you know, but now that he's relaxed, he's feeling good, we can get into his career. But I just wanted to... It can only get better for me. It can only get better, you know.

Alex (03:27)
I don't know about that.

Yeah, exactly.

Jamil Roberts (03:33)
And

with that talking about better things Alex Greive just made the move back to the US back in the back in the US in the USL San Antonio How happy you to be back in the US first and foremost and to be at a club like San Antonio You know I've never heard anything the good things about the club and you know you just excited looking forward to So obviously the next two years with the club at least

Alex (03:58)
Yeah, pretty buzzing to be honest. think the last sort of six months of my career didn't go so well. And when I heard there was a sniff from San Antonio, I was pretty excited. Because I obviously always followed the USL and I've been at college over here as well. I had an idea of which clubs I would want to play for one day in the USL. And San Antonio was one of them. So as soon as they were interested, bro, I was pretty keen.

Jamil Roberts (04:26)
Nice mate, nice mate. And you said that you always kind of had half an eye on it, was that? And I don't kind of want to look back too much already, but like for me I thought it was criminal that you didn't get any offers or at least from the outside looking in didn't get any offers when you left Northern Kentucky, right? Like I mean for me like you were one of the best players I played against in college that you just weren't necessarily on a team that gave you the exposure I'd guess. But was that always in the back of your mind that you wanted to kind of

Close the story on the US like and actually sign that deal in the US and you know, you know finish the story sort of thing

Alex (05:04)
Yeah, a little bit for sure. Like, as I say, when I was over here, I always kept an eye on it. So I always wanted to play in America one day professionally. Yeah, when I left Northern Kentucky, it was a bit of a weird one though, because I just, I'd actually, I don't know if you'd know this, but I actually transferred to the University of San Diego, but it was like just when COVID happened. So I ended up going home and then studying online.

Jamil Roberts (05:23)
Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

Alex (05:30)
did a semester at San Diego and then eventually just binned it because I was playing back home in New Zealand and I didn't want to go back to America at the time. So yeah, it was a weird one. I wonder what would have happened if I played out my senior year, maybe if I would have got any offers then, but yeah, not one sniff when I was over here.

Jamil Roberts (05:53)
Yeah, that one, it always confused me and me and Dom were kind of talking off air when, you know, I mentioned to him that me and you were chatting about getting on the pod and Dom's actually very familiar with you as a player from playing for West Virginia United when you were in your Dutch Lions days. I'll pass it back to Dom.

Dom Okus (06:08)
Thanks.

Alex (06:16)
you

Dom Okus (06:19)
All cool. Let's just get,

so obviously, like, I was only joking. I was only joking at the beginning of the podcast when I was getting onto you about us learning that. So please take pity. All right, cool. So basically this is the year that me and Jam met. So it's 2019 summer. So it's the end of my senior year. I've basically spent January to May. I've got a house in West Virginia on campus with seven other boys. And we're just getting on it four times a week.

Alex (06:23)
What have you got to make done?

I'm

Yeah.

Okay.

Dom Okus (06:49)
So you can tell the kind of condition I've come into the USL season with. So anyway, I'm playing under Dan Smith at West Virginia United. I think for the first time in maybe three seasons, I'm playing center mid. I'm playing against the Dutch Lions, so you boys. So you were playing, and I can't remember, there was another guy, I think he was from New Zealand as well, a winger. Long hair, had a headband. These men are just running riot. I can't even get anywhere near them.

Alex (07:09)
Yeah. Yeah, Yeah. Conner Probert.

Jamil Roberts (07:09)
It'll be Connor.

Dom Okus (07:17)
I'm trying to like body man, I'm bouncing off them. I'm trying to like clamp them. They're just skipping challenges. I'm like, oh my God, I'm miles off it. I'm miles off it. And then when he sent me the, this is who we're gonna be interviewing. I was like, oh, I know this guy. This guy is the one that embarrassed me in Cincinnati. It's the same brudda! Right, now just remember you as good player, like tidy touch and very sharp. Very, very sharp. Very, very sharp.

Alex (07:33)
Mmm.

I

actually remember that was the first game of season bro, so we didn't know what to expect but it was me, Connor Probert, the guy you're talking about and another boy Alex Willis from NKU and we all like he's the striker Willis and Connor was on the wing and I was the 10 and yeah we linked up really well that day.

Dom Okus (07:53)
Yeah.

Yeah, we got moved to you, man. Yeah, we got moved to you.

Jamil Roberts (08:07)
Yeah, I think I

didn't am I right in thinking that?

Grievo, at one point when you fouled him, you said, do you just want my shirt?

Alex (08:19)
Nah.

Dom Okus (08:20)
yeah,

bro, I can't get near the guy, bro. So I've got to grab something. So I'm just like touching everything. late. I'm two seconds late to every tackle. My touch is coming off my ankle bone. I'm just sloppy this whole game. And I remember, I think you've done a little turn in the midfield. I'm two seconds late. So I'm just grabbing your shirt and I'm just holding onto you. And I've just held you professional for whatever sort of game, man. And you just gone, bro. Do just want to take my shirt home?

Alex (08:23)
would never say anything like that bro.

Yeah.

Dom Okus (08:49)
I was like, yeah, fair. I didn't even need anything. I just got in position. I didn't even need anything. I need to catch my breath. I need to catch my breath. I ain't got a time for banter. need to catch my breath. Hilarious, hilarious.

Jamil Roberts (08:51)
Hehehehehe

Alex (08:51)
Yeah

No, I would never have said that, bro.

Jamil Roberts (08:57)
Yeah, not me, not me.

Alex (08:57)
Yeah

Not me bro, not me. That would been Connor if he'd say something like that.

Jamil Roberts (09:07)
Mate, what's... is Connor

still playing? Because I always thought he was a player as well.

Alex (09:13)
bro, I always say that year for Dutch Lions and for NKU, he was so good man. then he's still playing now, he's playing in New Zealand, like similar to what you'd be playing in the NPL and Aussie in New Zealand. think he's got a pretty good job and he's getting married now as well, so he's pretty settled down I think. But yeah, that year, I still think one of the best players I've played with for sure.

Jamil Roberts (09:27)
Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, no, he was... Do you know what, he was so like... He was one of them where...

Like he was really good at dribbling but he was big as well. Like he was strong as fuck. And like it- wise, he had everything to make it as a winger. Like it- like it just always baffled me that he never did like in the US anyway. again that maybe goes back to like you guys just maybe didn't have like the platform at NKU that maybe you you deserve. Because I Alex ended up going on to to Charlotte as well, right? Yeah, yeah.

Alex (09:48)
Yeah

Yeah.

Yeah, for sure.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (10:15)
Yeah, that was just, I don't know, how the gaffer down there got all you boys in one team as well is just ridiculous. Because, didn't you have a-

Alex (10:23)
We honestly, we're

such a good team at NKU but we just never, never actually produced and like we didn't make the conference tournament once in three years.

Jamil Roberts (10:33)
Yeah, see that's just fucking mental mate like some of the players you had And it's like a like a nice stadium as well like good pitch like you you had you had everything needed I don't know what wasn't clicking but from the outside looking in like I remember what like It was always one of our hardest games when we'd come play you or you come to us like and we had a decent team but like

Alex (10:35)
That's criminal mate. Yeah, we, I know, I still can't wrap my foot around it.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (10:56)
It was like bloody hell, like, we could never believe it at the end of the season that you boys fell off or like some of the results we'd see because it's like, well that's not the team we fucking played against, they only turn up when they play against us.

Alex (11:01)
Yeah.

No, I literally, but he actually did though. We had

some feisty games against Marshall, I remember. They were always really good.

Jamil Roberts (11:14)
Yeah, well, I think when you put when you put like a couple of You know when you mix in because obviously you had Alex Willis Is it Bruce as well you had obviously yourself Connor and then like we had Gianni at the time and then like you went to you guys You know and we had another couple other English boy I think when you mix all of that together like on a pitch like it's gonna like come to blows from time to time but the thing is the thing is I think

Alex (11:37)
Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Jamil Roberts (11:42)
All of us kind of knew that we would be mates as well, especially when Gianni hopped over from Marshall to you guys. I think that was like, I already had a kind of an idea and once G was kind of filtering back to me, like, nah, these are actually really good lads. I sort of knew from then on anyway, so.

Alex (11:45)
Yeah, yeah.

That's nice of Gianni, saying good things about us, I'd hope.

Dom Okus (12:04)
If

you

Jamil Roberts (12:06)
Yeah, feel free to say something about me. All right moving on Oh God Yeah, and just to kind of like jump back into San Antonio before we move on so like how you guys obviously looking at you're in preseason right now and Obviously, it's not started too. Well for you as it let's be real

Dom Okus (12:09)
Hehehehehe

Alex (12:09)
She's perfect.

You big

Nah.

Jamil Roberts (12:32)
The trial is

giving you a concussion on the fucking first week. What's what's happening there,

Dom Okus (12:34)
Thank you.

Alex (12:37)
Yeah, you couldn't make it up, Honestly, I swear, I've done so much work in my off-season. I'm coming in so fit and I'm like, yeah, I'm going to smash this pre-season. The visa gets delayed for however long. So I come, there's three weeks to go in pre-season. My first full session, I get an elbow from the trialist. Concussion, two broken bones in my face and I'm out for two more weeks. So I'm going to get one week of pre-season under my belt.

Dom Okus (13:08)
Dink her.

Alex (13:09)
Yes, not ideal. Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (13:10)
You score on week one it'd be worth it. So what what's like say? I? Can't do any rehab for that right like you're just sitting tight or

Alex (13:17)
No mate,

literally the last week I've done absolutely nothing. they say, cause I had to wait for all the swelling in my face to go down and obviously I'm still concussed so I've got to go through all that protocol. So yeah, I was literally doing nothing. Can't even do uppers or anything in the gym. So I felt like a lazy, lazy bastard to be honest.

Jamil Roberts (13:39)
my god. Yeah, that's the worst. That's like that and then like if you ever did something to your ribs and stuff, they're just injuries that you can't do fuck all about, can you? Like, and they're just...

Alex (13:46)
Yeah.

Yeah, I've had his

bad ribs as well before and that's a niggly one.

Jamil Roberts (13:53)
Yeah, I can't imagine.

Dom Okus (13:55)
So just

a quick question on that then, has that actually given you more time to get settled off the pitch? Because obviously now you've got a bunch of time, right, to think about sorting, living and getting to the city and getting WiFi set up, bank account, whatever, whatever. Is that actually the only silver lining you can think of, of the injury?

Alex (14:01)
Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah,

no, I genuinely, I actually said that to someone the other day. was like, cause I moved in here like five days ago and I wouldn't have been able to do everything. I did pretty much everything on that day to like get all the stuff in because I didn't have to do any training or anything like that. So yeah, meant I could get a lot of all the admin side out the way.

Dom Okus (14:27)
Yeah.

Yeah man, people don't realise right, when you move from another country like you're starting from scratch kind of right, get your bank account set up, get your socials, like you said your visa stuff, like you're moving all this stuff, buying furniture, this that and the forth and it's hard to do that when you're going through pre-season, you're maybe doing tour days, you're knackered, like you're watching film and so like that's the only small silver lining is that you can probably get stuff set off the pitch you know.

Alex (14:38)
Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, 100%. I was even looking for apartments and stuff. I had to like, I was going on apartment tours and so I went and viewed like six or seven different places. So I wouldn't have been able to do that. Like as you say, with like such a heavy schedule during pre-season. So it worked out okay, but still would prefer it the other way around.

Dom Okus (15:13)
episode.

Yeah, exactly, yeah, it's far from

ideal. Far from ideal.

Jamil Roberts (15:18)
Hey you score you score in the first week of the season, I'm sure I'm sure you'll forget all about it Yeah, and and just on the on the subject of goals and and I kind of want to like take it back to You know when you did? Go back to New Zealand for the first time and you know you touched on sort of going to San Diego and doing a semester playing back home so you know just talk to us about like

Alex (15:25)
Yeah, exactly.

Jamil Roberts (15:47)
you why you wanted to do that and you didn't want to kind of get back to the US immediately. Like, were you just happy playing, scoring goals and just kind of feeling like you again, like back in the US. Sorry, back in NZ.

Alex (16:01)
Yeah, it was a weird time because of all the COVID stuff. New Zealand was one of the only countries in the whole world that was living relatively normally. We went into a full lockdown and no one could come in or out pretty much. So we were pretty much COVID-free, playing every week, training completely normal. And I was looking at America at the time and...

I don't think San Diego had any games scheduled for the fall season and everything was up in the air. And then there was the BLM movement and there was riots everywhere. I was just looking from the outside. was like, I'm pretty comfortable back here at home for the first time in a few years, back with my friends, playing football. So I decided just to stay put.

Jamil Roberts (16:53)
Yeah, and that's as funny that like there's little things there that people just don't think about as well like that like just take away football and everything like that was a fucking crazy time like Like that's years of our like early lives that like we're just never get back So to be honest with you, I don't blame you for wanting to stay somewhere that obviously one was home But one just felt like normal you're looking at the chaos going on that the rest of the world especially directly where like your

Alex (17:03)
Yeah, exactly.

Jamil Roberts (17:21)
Meant to be like playing football or whatever in the fall. So yeah, completely understand it mate I to be honest with you. I was in I was in America When all that was going on as well and I was in West Virginia So, you know, there wasn't too much going on in West Virginia as far as you know You know vaccination protests and and be the the BLM movement and everything like that But like I thought the exact same like it was chaos. It was chaos Dom Were you in the US or were you in the UK when all that was?

Alex (17:44)
And.

Dom Okus (17:49)
Yeah, so I was going

to say, so I was in DC when all of this was going on. So you can imagine, right, like this is where the White House is, this is where the government is. If people want to protest, this is where you go. I distinctly remember it must have been, know, May or June, and I've gone for a run one evening. And I'm running from where I live in Northern Virginia into the city.

across the George Washington Bridge, which is kind of next to where Georgetown University is. And I've been stopped by police. And they're like, like, you can't go any further. Like we're shutting this whole area down. Like, there's that curfew that you need to go back where you've just come from. And I was like, what? And he was like, yeah, everyone needs to be in by like seven of seven PM or something. I was like, I've never heard of anything like this before. And I was like, what is this?

Alex (18:35)
Yeah, man.

Jamil Roberts (18:37)
Wait, was this

for riot purposes or was this for COVID lockdown purposes?

Dom Okus (18:41)
No,

for riot purposes. So they thought there was going to be like some kind of something going on in this area. They had intelligence, so there was to be something going on. So there was like a curfew, complete lockdown of like, I don't know, five to 10 block radius and no one can go in this area. And I was like, I literally ran this path two days ago. Like what are you talking about? So yeah, was nuts. It was a crazy time. Honestly, it was a time.

Jamil Roberts (18:59)
Yeah, that's

mad yeah grievo. I think you made the right move me Yeah, you know Yeah, that's mad I can't imagine that yeah, to be honest with you. I would have been happy to go home anyway I fucking ain't But not back to yourself though mates obviously

Dom Okus (19:03)
Yes.

Alex (19:04)
ship.

Dom Okus (19:11)
Yeah, Mattis. Yeah, Mattis.

hahahahah

Alex (19:17)
you

Don't we know it?

Jamil Roberts (19:27)
You you made that decision you're back in the back in the you keep meant say the US sorry mate you're back in NZ and And you have a decent enough season was it not like you scored 19 and 19 over there Yeah, and and you Nick a move to St. Mirren now

Alex (19:41)
Yeah, the next- yeah, yeah.

Jamil Roberts (19:47)
To me, and I'm sure to a lot of other people, you know, I'd love to get your insight, but from the outside, mate, I thought, how the fuck has that happened? Like, when the fuck do you see, like, again, I know that you're good player, so it didn't surprise me from that standpoint, but there's not many times that you see lads going from, like, leagues in New Zealand to Scottish Prem.

Like that's a fucking big jump mate. Like how did that come about?

Alex (20:18)
Yeah, it was a pretty random one to be fair and I completely understand your feelings because I was like that too to be honest. No, so there was like an English agent who was friends with a coach at another club in New Zealand and he was like trying to form a partnership between this club and Samaritan for whatever reason and the coach of that club recommended he was like no you should go to Birkenhead instead.

because my club, because we have a good history of producing young players and we're one of the best clubs in New Zealand. So they formed this little partnership and then I was scoring a few goals and so they gave me a contract to be fair. It was for not a lot of money and it was only for six months. But I went over there and then did quite well off the bat and then got rewarded with a new deal and stuff so it was quite good.

Jamil Roberts (21:18)
Mate, that's nuts. So you went over there on the premise of six months.

Alex (21:22)
Yeah, the contract was January 22 to the end of that season, I think. no option or anything. so I went over like one or two months earlier before the January window so they could have a look at me and see if they wanted to bid me an offer or anything. But yeah, ended up doing well and playing for the first team, which was a surprise to be fair.

Jamil Roberts (21:30)
with no option.

Wow.

Ha ha ha ha ha.

That's that's a mad story and like I remember like you hit the ground running as well like when you went in there You know when you got your time on the pitch. So how long was it between? You know when you say, know touchdown, you know, you ended up playing your way into the team How was it was it in the summer that they all did they want this new deal like wrapped up before the end of the season?

Alex (22:15)
Nah, so actually in the deal there was like if I play five games or something the money would go up and then I think if I played ten it would be extended a year but then at the end of that season they gave me a new deal which was two years long and on better money and all that stuff so yeah was pretty good.

Jamil Roberts (22:27)
Right.

That's a mad story mate.

Dom Okus (22:38)
So.

Alex (22:39)
Yeah, I

know.

Dom Okus (22:40)
Wait,

were you surprised by the standard in like, not in like a disrespectful way to the squad, it's prim, but the fact that you've gone in and like, you've been able to prove yourself and then now you're playing, was you surprised that you were like off that level? Or did you always back yourself kind of going in there?

Alex (22:58)
I always backed myself from but I said to my friends when I was flying over, I said if I play one game for Sam Wren I'll be a happy man. I was like, could die happy. So yeah, when I got over there, of course they were so good and they were levels above me but yeah, think just adapted quite quickly and adapted well.

Dom Okus (23:19)
Sick, sick, sick, sick, sick.

Jamil Roberts (23:20)
Yeah, can I I'll

just extend on to that and like I don't want to blow too much smoke up your ass But like it didn't surprise me that you did that you fit in and like you said adapted because I always felt like and at least this was maybe a consequence of like where like you've been in college and where I'd seen you play but I always felt like you were levels above like where you were and if you were put into a better team like that would bring more out of you if that makes sense

So like, from my experience of playing against you, like that doesn't surprise me that you were instantly surrounded by better players and you just kind of rose to that and like went along with it. So like, yeah, it makes sense in my eyes anyway.

Alex (23:59)
.

Yeah, think like that. I would say that happens for most footballers if you're surrounded by better players. It makes your job so much easier. then, yeah, so it made things easier for me and I was able to do well.

Jamil Roberts (24:17)
And talk to us about the difference in the culture, in terms of the fan base and the game day atmosphere. What was it like playing with Samir and fans and everything? The Scottish Prem, a lot on the line, lot of emotions, people's livelihoods. What was that experience like for you compared to New Zealand?

Alex (24:37)
Yeah, complete polar opposite to New Zealand. In New Zealand, for games that I was playing, there was only 500, 800 people there. And they're not really, the result doesn't change their lives at all, they're not really bothered, they're just there to have a few beers or sit in the sun. When you get to Scotland, it's literally life or death for their fans.

you get some pretty gnarly abuse thrown at you from both sets of fans. that was definitely something to get used to, but it was pretty cool. I'd never had that sort of edge at games before and I enjoyed it.

Jamil Roberts (25:09)
Ha

Yeah, did you thrive on it? What'd say?

Alex (25:21)
Yeah, it's like adrenaline, eh? So you just get addicted to it a little bit, especially if you're able to score or something as well. That feeling's on match, so it keeps you coming back.

Jamil Roberts (25:32)
Yeah, yeah, I mean you scored a few so Yeah, that feeling did come back and obviously, you know, it led to It led to a national team call-up which This is this is where You know, I remember I'm texting you but I'm also texting like our mutual friends and being like like this story of You know being a college player

not going pro in the US, going back to New Zealand, somehow nicking a move off performance to Scotland and then within X amount of time playing for his national team. Like that's, that like jump that you made was just like ridiculous. So talk to us about like that first, first time that you picked up the phone and you were told like you're in the all white squad.

Alex (26:30)
Yeah, it was pretty cool to be fair. think, again, like so lucky, the All-Wides had announced the squad for the camp and I wasn't in it, which is okay because I'd only been a pro for a week or so. But then it turned out one of the strikers couldn't actually get into the UAE because of his visa. So then I got the call to come in and replace him. So I, yeah, it was pretty special. phoned the rent straight away and...

It was pretty crazy and it was a quick turnaround as well. It was like on a Wednesday. I had a game that night for St. Mirren. I stayed to play in that and then flew out the next morning. So it was madness.

Jamil Roberts (27:10)
Mate, so was it a phone call from the gaffer or was it a phone call from like a representative of the... Okay.

Alex (27:15)
like the representative, the representative but

like I another weird story like the the actual gaffer of the All Whites at the time was my high school coach which is crazy like every time I say that to like like Europeans they're just like what on earth like that makes no sense but he's he played for Leeds United he had a good career and he was like our high school was like

Dom Okus (27:29)
Mm-mm. Mm.

Jamil Roberts (27:30)
You

Alex (27:43)
just so football oriented. It was probably the most strict and disciplined training schedule that I've had in my whole life, pro clubs included. It was pretty on it. So I had a good relationship with him. So I knew as soon as I was playing professionally, I'd have a chance again in there. But yeah, was only after a week he called me up. So it was pretty cool.

Dom Okus (28:10)
That's so crazy. Like, I even know what to say. That's mad. the free stuff. But I was actually going to ask, like, when you was a kid, like I'm talking 14, 15, 16, did you ever get a look into any, like, national team, like youth team stuff?

Alex (28:15)
Yeah.

I was in and around the under 17s, never really got in there. I was so small at the time and pretty weak and all that. Under 20s I got pretty close, probably when I went to America.

Jamil Roberts (28:39)
So when did that change? Nah,

I meant it still hasn't.

Dom Okus (28:46)
HAHAHAHA

Alex (28:49)
That just shows how long it's been since you've seen me, eh?

Jamil Roberts (28:54)
Sorry.

Alex (28:54)
I would body you.

Dom Okus (29:02)
Too good, too good, too good, I love it. But yeah, so you're saying under 20s you got pretty close. That was when you were that.

Jamil Roberts (29:03)
excellent. So I continue.

Alex (29:11)
Yeah, I got close to

the under 20s, again got dropped and then I got really close to the Olympics, which was the under 23s, but then got dropped like the day before they left or something. So a whole lot of nearlies for me, but then yeah.

Dom Okus (29:23)
Okay.

Okay. But you as like a known entity to the like people who are in and around the national team and the national. Okay, cool. Okay. Cool. Cool. Cool. Cool. Cool. Cool. Cool. Cool. Cool. Cool. Cool. Cool. Cool. Cool. Cool. Cool.

Alex (29:30)
Yeah. Yeah.

Dom Okus (29:52)
if only a little bit, they'll track what you're doing. So it's kind of makes sense where you got to call up.

Alex (29:57)
Yeah, mean, New Zealand's a pretty small place, eh? like, if you're in a good environment at any level, they'll sort of know your name and know what you're about, so.

Dom Okus (30:05)
but

Jamil Roberts (30:09)
Yeah, and just to kind of stay on the subject of New Zealand obviously Well, I guess he's your mate now aint he Chris Wood He's doing all right this year and he's having a good season Bloody hell, where's that come from?

Alex (30:17)
Why mate? He's not doing too bad for himself, eh?

Dom Okus (30:27)
I'm on fire.

Alex (30:27)
he's got

it his locker, man. Come on. He's a bagsman. He's an absolute bagsman.

Jamil Roberts (30:29)
No, absolutely absolutely like

Dom Okus (30:32)
Miss

Jamil Roberts (30:32)
but but listen if you if you told me they'd be banging him in left right and center for Notts Forest and they'd be in a Champions League positions at the beginning of season I wouldn't have believed you so Do you are you all in the group chat giving him giving him support gone Chris go on Woody!

Alex (30:39)
Yeah. Yeah, it was crazy. It was crazy.

I wish

Dom Okus (30:48)
You

Alex (30:49)
that

he wouldn't have my f**king name saved

Dom Okus (30:53)
I'm

Jamil Roberts (30:57)
I'm sure that's not true.

Alex (30:59)
But in all fairness,

he's actually a really, really nice guy. So sound and so humble. So yeah, it's pretty awesome to see him doing his thing.

Jamil Roberts (31:09)
Yeah, no, 100%. And, you know, was he, I know the first, your first start, you scored a couple, right? On your first start for the national team. So who was that against? How was that like, you scoring for New Zealand, mate? I can't...

Alex (31:21)
Yeah.

You're gonna

Dom Okus (31:28)
Merde.

Alex (31:29)
laugh at this one as well, but the game was against New Caledonia.

Jamil Roberts (31:32)
Okay, they all count. I'm choking. I'm choking.

Alex (31:34)
Yeah, they all count. That's what I say anyway.

Dom Okus (31:35)
I'm sorry.

Alex (31:40)
But to be fair, he's in a World Cup qualifier, so there you go.

Jamil Roberts (31:44)
No matter who it's against if you're pulling on your country's jersey and you even kind of even fathom going beyond that and scoring a goal like Unbelievable mate unbelievable and what's Obviously now you're in the u.s Does that you know they do you still see that as like a possibility? You know that your challenge that you want to continue scoring goals and playing for the all-whites You know going forward and obviously the World Cup's just around the corner

Dom Okus (31:44)
Sick.

Alex (31:45)
Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (32:14)
at end of day, could be on your doorstep, right? Like, you know, the World Cup being here. So what's the challenges going forward for the team? And obviously, you know, just to continue being around the squad and look forward to 26, hopefully.

Alex (32:16)
Mmm.

Yeah, think, well actually with the All-Wights, we've got two games in March and if they win those then we're in the World Cup. So it's a definite possibility. think I'd have to do really well in the USL to get a look in because I think that like some of the forwards now that we've got are playing at some serious levels man. like with these boys in Ligue 1.

and playing in the Eritrean, the standard of the All-Irish has gone through the roof to be fair. I'd have to do well, it's definitely still a possibility but I'd have to really perform well for San Antonio to get back in there but it's not impossible.

Jamil Roberts (33:12)
Definitely not impossible, definitely not impossible, especially if your mate's the assistant, just give him... on. I'm trying to think now just off the top of my head of like, obviously Chris Wood and like any other Kiwis that have played like top level recently. Like, yeah. Of course, yeah, yeah.

Alex (33:17)
No, not anymore, man.

that you'd know. We had Winston Reid up until he retired

last year, I think. Yeah, there you go. Good West Ham, man. Other than that, think to be fair now, we've just got a lot of good young players that you probably wouldn't have heard of, we've got two boys that have just signed for Nottingham Forest as well. One's on loan at Olympiakos and then...

Jamil Roberts (33:42)
Go on, New Orleans.

Dom Okus (33:47)
Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (33:58)
yeah.

Alex (34:02)
ones back on loan to Redding but there's some really good young talent that you'll probably hear of in a couple years time.

Jamil Roberts (34:09)
Yeah, any names to drop on the the the pod as predictions?

Alex (34:15)
One of the players that I still think is crazy good is Marko Staminic. He's the boy that I've known at Olympiakos. He's a big midfielder but he's just so elegant and smooth with the ball. He's good to watch.

Jamil Roberts (34:32)
Alright, one to watch, you heard it here first, you heard it here first. And then, just like, wouldn't be us kind of wanting to touch on every part of your career there mate, where obviously you the loan at Dundee, another big club in Scotland, and obviously the move over to another big club in Ireland most recently. just kind of talk to us a little bit about, you know, your two experiences of obviously, played in New Zealand, played in Scotland.

You now go over to Bohemians in Ireland, right? You know, what was that experience like? And you know, was it as big as you thought when you first went there? What was your kind of expectations versus reality?

Alex (35:15)
Yeah, on the Dundee United one, I think that was a... I got a lone move there. I was sort of coming to a point at Simran where I wanted to play more minutes, really. And the manager was real supportive. He said, like, I'll keep you here if you want, but he said it's up to you. I had the chance to go to Dundee United for six months when they were in the title race in the championship.

I looked at that and I was like, that's something different, something I want to be involved in. So yeah, I went there for six months. We ended up winning the league, which was sick. I got injured towards, yeah, never a bad thing. And it had some good nights out at the end of it. I sort of got, I done my ankle with like a month to go. So I wasn't really a part of like the full run in. So didn't really like really feel like properly a part of it, if you know what I mean.

Jamil Roberts (35:53)
Never a bad thing.

Dom Okus (35:58)
Hehehehe

Jamil Roberts (35:59)
Ha

ha ha ha

Alex (36:12)
you always want to be playing and stuff so yeah that was a good experience and I learned learned a lot because the the pressure we had then was like crazy man like every week in a title race at a club that should be in the Premier League and like should be up there in the Premier League their fans like weren't accepting like not winning the league so that that sort of pressure was like really different to what I've felt before so yeah that was

a good experience and then yeah, Bohemians after that as well, again as I say, it was a really big club. didn't probably understand how big it was until I got there and they got crazy fan base. They just played their first game against Shamrock Rovers in the Aviva Stadium the other day and got like 33,000 there.

Jamil Roberts (37:00)
Wow. Wow, that's a... Dad didn't even have that expectation. Maybe it's just English arrogance, I guess. But like that's... Yeah.

Dom Okus (37:00)
well.

Alex (37:01)
Yeah.

All right.

Yeah, but as

I said, it comes sort of down to the facilities like a lot of those stadiums in that league can only hold like a couple thousand so it's actually like pretty hot probably to get your hands on a Bohemian's ticket I think so if once they got the chance to get in their Viva they yeah 33,000 so that's pretty cool to see.

Jamil Roberts (37:30)
Yeah, well you've played for some big clubs mate, you've played for some big clubs and San Antonio is a big club in America as well and just to kind of click back into that, you know, it's to me from the outside looking in and I remember when it was announced that you signed, like the one thing I said to you was like, you know, they're club that from, my experience, but everything that I've heard, like they do things the right way. They run their proper football club, you know.

And I feel like the USL in general on the landscape is there's a lot of clubs chasing that, but San Antonio kind of falls into that bracket of, you know, that pod of clubs that run themselves to like as high a stand as they can. So, you know, I think, I think you made a really good decision to be honest with you mate and to, go back out there and then play. And, know, once you get your head right, literally, back on the pitch scoring goals foul.

Alex (38:23)
You

Jamil Roberts (38:28)
But I think I think that's a good time for us to To kind of to click over because you mentioned a couple things in there a couple of nights out and a couple of goals and a couple of names and this and that but we can dig a little bit deeper into that so I'm gonna pass you over to Dom and He's gonna take you through extra time on the backstick pod

Alex (38:51)
Here we go.

Dom Okus (38:52)
Everyone's

favorite part of the show, extra time. Now I'm really coming to my own in this part of the show, man. Like I said, like on the Twitter today, I actually want to give a shout out to USL Insights. They said they're really enjoying this part of the show. Like I said, on the Instagram and the YouTubes, they're me Steve Harvey with a skin fade. So I'm just really enjoying.

I'm really enjoying my role here as the host. I'm going take you through four questions that I take, that I go through with all of our guests. And the first question is, who is the best player you've played with?

Alex (39:34)
best player I've played with.

If you're counting Chris Wood, you've obviously got to say Chris Wood for what he's doing now. There's an Irish boy on loan at St Mary my first year and without him, we would have struggled big time. He carried us. He plays for Colorado rappers now, it's Connor Ronan. Yeah, he's a little midfielder, tenacious, really good technically, great passer. He was really, really good for us.

Dom Okus (40:06)
Sick, sick, sick, sick. Second question, who's the best player you've played against?

Alex (40:13)
The one I always say, was like wow, was Joe Arebo at Rangers. different guest but he's tall as well and I feel like he couldn't get the ball off him because he could just put his arm there and his left foot was naughty.

Dom Okus (40:21)
Ooh, polar.

Jamil Roberts (40:24)
Okay.

Dom Okus (40:34)
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And the way he dribbles is what he's got one of those dribble styles where like you think you're gonna get the ball and then he just nicks it past your toe, you know? Yeah, yeah. Baller. Right, this is gonna be an interesting one. And if your friends are watching, this is gonna upset them, but it's fine. If you could pick three teammates, asked or present, to go on a night out with, who would they be and why? I love this question, the reaction. We've got to put together like a...

Alex (40:40)
Yeah, he's so gay,

Dom Okus (41:04)
We've got to put together like a reel of all the reactions to me asking this question, because they're all the same. They're all just like, no. Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (41:06)
Yeah. Mate, honestly you asked best player you played with? this guy. Best player you played

Alex (41:06)
Yeah.

Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (41:14)
against? This guy, yeah no problem. Wanna go on a night out? fuck you now.

Dom Okus (41:17)
So

good.

Alex (41:22)
I'll try and narrow it down because I've had some great teammates in the past few years. Ryan Strain and Connor McMenamin from St. Mirren. Ryan Strain is at Dundee United now. We were really close and had some good nights together. Ross Docherty, was my captain at Dundee United as well. He's good for it.

Dom Okus (41:26)
No.

Okay.

Now tell me these three, break it down. Why have you chosen these three? Because like you said, you've had many great teammates over the years, but why these three in particular?

Alex (41:53)
well, they're just good fun then. They're good fun.

Dom Okus (41:55)
Hahaha!

Alex (42:01)
Yeah

Dom Okus (42:01)
Say no more, say no more. Don't mind me just be said. Amazing, amazing. Don't worry, we won't get you into too much trouble. Last question and a bit more wholesome. What's your biggest achievement on the pitch so far?

Alex (42:04)
Yeah, yeah, they're good fun.

Yeah

I don't know what my biggest achievement would be playing for New Zealand and making my debut but I've got one game that is by far the most special I think and that was I played for New Zealand at home against Australia which is obviously a big rivalry and that was the first and only time my family could all come out and watch as well so yeah that was by far the most special and like

We lost that day, like two-nil I think, but it doesn't matter to me now. I just look back on that so fondly.

Dom Okus (42:56)
Yeah, we hear that a lot in this answer, right? It's like not just the fact that you get to become a pro or represent your country, but also that your family get to join in in that experience with you because they've been there, you know, driving you two hours to train in here and there and tournaments and that and to finally see it all come together and, you know, support you in that way is super special.

Jamil Roberts (42:57)
That's so good, that's so nice.

Alex (43:08)
Yeah.

Yeah, exactly. I think

it's all about like sharing moments and like life's about that, I think. So yeah, it was really cool.

Dom Okus (43:26)
I completely agree. Well that wraps us up, that's been the extra time and I'll pass you back to Jim to close us out.

Jamil Roberts (43:33)
Thank you for that mate, thank you for that. Another lovely inception of extra time. Nah, I second what you said there mate. cause you know, all three of us were in a similar position. Like we left home to play in the US, you know, first and foremost. And I don't know about yourself, you know, Dom or Alex to be fair, but you know, my parents actually never came, they never got the opportunity to come to watch me whilst I was in the US.

Dom Okus (43:34)
Of course, of course.

Of course, of course.

Jamil Roberts (44:03)
So like, a lot smaller scale than playing for my country against Australia. But, you know, my parents are now able to watch me play, now I'm playing in England again and whatever. And it's just a different feeling. Like, it really is. I don't know about you, but I feel like kid again. I catch myself looking over at my old man whilst I'm playing again.

Alex (44:17)
And.

Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (44:27)
20, 26 years of age, do know what mean? But

like, I don't think that feeling ever leaves you and like to do it for your country, mate, like unbelievable that, bloody hell.

Dom Okus (44:36)
Are you, I was just gonna say quickly, are you looking over your dad because you know he's gonna bollock you if you say crap? Or are you looking over, because, are you looking over? Because he's like, yeah, that's it.

Alex (44:36)
Yeah.

Ha ha ha.

Jamil Roberts (44:42)
you

Man, I've gotta get on a pitch for that.

Alex (44:52)
This

is.

Jamil Roberts (44:54)
I mean, just when I'm warming up.

Alex (44:56)
Thank you.

Dom Okus (45:05)
But Alex, to cut you off mate, was you gonna say something?

Alex (45:09)
No, was just going to say, even when I was back playing in New Zealand after I came back from college, just being able to go hug your parents after a game and just chat about it is the best feeling.

Jamil Roberts (45:22)
Yeah, 100 % me, 100%. And yeah, the other side of that as well is when your boys come and watch you play because it can go one or two ways, can't it?

Dom Okus (45:22)
Yeah, that's unreal,

Alex (45:34)
My friends, only one way it's going, man. They're going to turn up per stares.

Jamil Roberts (45:38)
Mate so none of my boys have been to a game yet, mate, but we've got a game on a bank holiday and it's the second to last game of the season and The fuckers have said like they're gonna get a fucking minibus and drive up to the game and just all turn up like piss-drunk and like you said and Like I'm like lads. I don't even know I'm gonna play and they're like we don't care like we're just gonna be there Yeah

Alex (45:56)
god.

Yeah, that's not about that.

No, I've got a really good group of friends from New Zealand and when I was playing back in New Zealand, there was like a few games of the season and they'd come through like 10 or 15 of them. And obviously there's no like singing or anything on the sidelines in New Zealand. Everyone's just watching it. And then all my boys roll through like boxes of beers, like cans, just like screaming and...

and everyone's just like, what is going on? But they've taken that and then every time I played for the All Whites in New Zealand, they've done the same thing and I'm like, my God.

Jamil Roberts (46:41)
No.

Dom Okus (46:46)
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.

Jamil Roberts (46:47)
That's so good. That's so and

Alex (46:48)
no, it's...

Jamil Roberts (46:49)
the thing is though. No matter what the stage you just don't want that to change Do yeah, that's what you boys do for each. Yeah. Yeah, you never change that never change that That's so funny, man. Maybe maybe one day I might make the World Cup or like the over 40s I don't know but you know Maybe that could happen but now I think that's a good place to have to wrap up there and I think that's a

Alex (46:53)
No, exactly. I love it. Yeah.

Dom Okus (47:05)
I'm sorry.

Jamil Roberts (47:16)
That's been good man, that's been good. It's been good. It's bit of two-way banter today, I like it. Sometimes, you know, we've got to hammer the guest a little bit or... Well, now he just went... He knew what he was in for from the first minute and started coming back.

Alex (47:24)
the

I know,

I know, there was absolutely no Centlingham.

Dom Okus (47:33)
Love it. Yeah,

Jamil Roberts (47:35)
No.

Dom Okus (47:36)
high press, high press, first touch, And there he is.

Jamil Roberts (47:38)
God

Alex (47:38)
Thank you.

Jamil Roberts (47:41)
I love it I love it but yeah I mean and that's a that's a long-winded way of me saying you know I really enjoyed this mate and Dom I'm sure you have as well Alex I hope you have

Dom Okus (47:50)
to be seen.

Alex (47:52)
Yeah man, been sick bro, it's my pleasure.

Jamil Roberts (47:55)
Yeah, so it's the vibe we're looking for man. Just just free lads just Shooting the shit about free. So now we appreciate it and Yeah, I guess I guess like I said, it's a good time for us to wrap up. So you know from from all three of us, know, if you've made it this far with 40 coming into the 49th minute of the show and You know as always this is my opportunity to kind of ask you a question

Dom Okus (48:03)
That's it.

Jamil Roberts (48:25)
because you know I'm not gonna beg you I'm just gonna ask you why haven't you subscribed you know you're here you're here at this point like you know clearly like you know you might fancy Alex so just do it for him like if you wanna see more you might fancy him I don't know no but in all seriousness thanks ever so much for listening and go hit the like button subscribe on this one and if you wanna see more of this or

Dom Okus (48:33)
I don't understand it.

Hahaha

Alex (48:41)
You heard it.

Jamil Roberts (48:54)
like we always say comment down below or comment on the socials at the backstick pod let us know who you want to hear from but without further ado I think it's about time where you know once again from the three of us thanks ever so much for listening and yeah we'll see you next time

Dom Okus (49:12)
See you next time. Peace.