My life is measured out in four year FIFA World Cup cycles.
It's always held during winter in NZ, one reason why I LOVE autumn and winter!
1958 - was staged in Sweden but I was only a few months old so not many memories of that one I'm sorry to report, or the next three really.
1962's was in Chile, 1966's in England and 1970's in Mexico. For those last two I was a student at Royal Oak Primary and then Manukau Intermediate. None of these four were televised in the backwater that was NZ and I was only dimly conscious of them, thanks to my football magazines from England.
1974 - West Germany. No TV coverage in NZ for this one either. Attending Mt. Albert Grammar School (my second attempt at School Certificate), it's the first one that registered in my teenage boy fog. I listened to the final, hoping Holland would win, on the radio at 4 Ramelton Road, Mt Roskill.
1978 - Argentina. While enjoying my second year attending Auckland University, New Zealand TV showed Argentinian blue and white ticker tape confetti stuff falling from massive stadiums. Still living at home, I sat transfixed in the family living room.
1982 - Spain. During my second teaching practice at Havelock North High School, staying with a football mad Scottish family in freezing Hastings. NZ were in this one - we played Brazil and Scotland in our group!
1986 - Mexico. My first year teaching at Macleans College in Auckland. We were about to be a family of two boys so that may explain why my memories of this one are a tad dim.
1990 - Italy. My second year teaching at Waimea College in Nelson, NZ. As a family of three, we enjoyed the frosty mornings in Wakefield
1994 - United States. My last year as Head of English at Waimea College.
1998 - France. Living in the School House at Mt. Albert Grammar where I was Senior Housemaster.
2002 - South Korea/ Japan. The third year as Deputy Principal at Cambridge High School in the Waikato.
2006 - Germany. Assistant Headteacher at King John School in Essex. Thousands of St George flags everywhere!
2010 - South Africa. The year found us in Doha, Qatar - I watched the games in our apartment thanks to a cable hook up.
2014 - Brazil. Second year at Woodford House in Havelock North. The staff interest was intensified by a sweep stake won by people with little knowledge of football. World Cups are like that - topsy turvy affairs.
2018 - Russia. My last few months being Principal at Westmount School's Kaipara campus. Watching in Maungaturoto while gearing up to leave for a return to England.
The years in between are a blur - I'm sure things happened, but they weren't up to much!
BTW - Wondering why the 2018 ball above is called Telstar 18?
Here's the answer:
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