Fallon’s feet on the ground
Gisborne Herald sports reporters and NZPA
RORY Fallon’s phone hasn’t stopped ringing since his goal against Bahrain on Saturday night helped the All Whites book a place in next year’s World Cup football finals in South Africa.
Fallon, son of former national coach Kevin Fallon and wife Mere (nee Sadlier) became an overnight star and the darling of the media after his header from a Leo Bertos corner gave New Zealand a 1-0 win.
But the 27-year born-again Christian didn’t let the media attention stop him doing what he always does when he comes home from his English club Plymouth Argyle — contacting family, friends and his godparents, former New Zealand football international Iain Gillies and his wife Flora in Gisborne.
Iain and Flora are also godparents to Rory’s older brother Sean and sister Bianca.
Late yesterday morning The Gisborne Herald newsroom was busy when the phone rang in the sports section.
“Rory Fallon here. We’re flying back to England today and I couldn’t go without thanking you guys for all the support you’ve given me and the All Whites, not just this weekend but over the years.
“I haven’t had a chance to get up to Gisborne to see all the whanau this time so I’m doing my best to catch up with everyone. Could you just let them know that I’ve called.”
Herald editor Iain Gillies said that was typical of Rory.
“He is still a Gisborne-East Coaster at heart. Success certainly hasn’t gone to his head.
“I asked him if his winning goal against Bahrain was the highlight of his life so far.
“He said, ‘Well there’s been three highlights . . . meeting and marrying my wife, Carly, being baptised as a Christian and scoring the winner.’ ”
There was another highlight that he didn’t mention, but the massive press coverage of the aftermatch celebrations revealed the other side of his father, Kevin Barry Fallon, so often depicted as the “bad guy” of the national football scene.
When Kevin embraced his son, planted a kiss on his cheek and took him into a bear-hug, every parent in New Zealand could relate to this expression of parental love and pride.
And when Kevin Fallon emphasised that sheer hard work on the training field from an early age had been the foundation for his son’s success in the professional game, he was telling it as it was.
“Rory agreed with him and there was something in that message for youngsters in every sport,” Iain Gillies said.
Having played professional football for Rotherham United and Bournemouth in his youth, Kevin Fallon came to New Zealand to play for Gisborne City in 1972, and met and married young nurse Mere Sadlier, a Poverty Bay representative netballer.
Gisborne-born Rory can look back on 10 years of success in the hotbed of professional football in England. But his father deflects much of the credit for Rory’s success to Mere’s genetic input.
“Her whole family were good at sport and Mere’s cool, calm attitude, not just in her sport but in her life, has come through in Rory and it has served him well,” Kevin said.
“He definitely gets his temperament from his mum.”
Recommended by former Gisborne City and New Zealand ace striker Colin Walker, Rory signed for Barnsley in 1999. He eventually moved on to Swindon Town, Swansea City and Plymouth Argyle.
Walker was also on the line to the sports department yesterday, passing on his congratulations.
“There’ll always be a special place in my heart for Gisborne and the people there,” Walker said.
Meanwhile, Rory graced a full sports page of London’s tabloid Daily Mail under the heading “How I made World Cup history!”
He was also prominent in The Sun’s football liftout under the heading: “Haka’d Off” as he spoke of the victory lifting rugby’s “dark cloud” over football in New Zealand.
Fallon also described in the paper how he shared a room with fellow All Whites hero goalkeeper Mark Paston on match eve but was up at 6am for a walk on the Wellington waterfront and a quick prayer.
Hours later Fallon was looking to the skies again when Paston prepared to face a penalty that threatened to cost the All Whites a spot in South Africa.
“I was praying again to send the goalkeeper the right way and Paston pulled out a great save to his right.
“It was unbelievable and I thought then we were through.”
Fallon said he would never forget all this, never forget that goal.
“As a striker you live on them. That was my most important goal.
“Now it’s back to Plymouth — we play Leicester away next Saturday.
“It’s a return to the day job, but with lots of memories to savour and more adventures to come.”