“It’s been really hard,” says Phoenix die-hard Tracey Hodge, summarising the feelings provoked by her beloved side’s absence for the best part of two years. “I guess I kind of feel like I’ve lost a bit of connection with the club, not having them so close by.
“I don’t know how to put it into words. I haven’t actually stopped to think about it – and I’m actually getting a little bit emotional thinking about it now.”
For the second time in as many years, the Phoenix faithful are preparing for a cathartic homecoming. The ‘Nix return to Sky Stadium on Sunday afternoon, 322 days after their last game across the ditch.
That occasion was one of only two home games for the ‘Nix in the 2020-21 season – two games in quick succession which followed a 433-day absence from home.
Opportunities to send limbs flailing and to roar a strike into the back of the net have been few and far between for Hodge and her fellow Phoenix fans since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Sunday afternoon Hodge will take her place amongst the Yellow Fever, adorning a shirt which sums up the feelings of a deprived fanbase eager to let rip in the cake tin.
“There’s still that desire to watch live football, and our beloved Phoenix side coming home,” Hodge said.
“We had some T-shirts printed that say ‘football’s coming home’ with a picture of Sky Stadium on them and the date, so that’s our little piece of merchandise that we’ve put out there for people.
“It is really hard to scream and celebrate that way when you’re watching at home. It’s hard to have that same outpouring of emotion when you’re in your home, with two or three people rather than thousands around you.”
Hodge was on hand for Wellington’s last emotional return to Sky Stadium: a dominant 3-0 win over Western United in May, 2021.
“It was pretty close to a finals environment,” said Hodge, who joined the 24,000-strong crowd in welcoming the ‘Nix back to their homeland.
Wellington midfielder Clayton Lewis grew up as a fan in the stands cheering on his hometown club. He signed a dream contract with the Phoenix before the start of the 2020-21 campaign, but played 22 times in the Isuzu UTE A-League before finally making his home debut against Western on that day.
He marked it with a goal, the first of the afternoon, and just his second in the league to this day.
“It was a massive deal coming home,” Lewis told KEEPUP. “I had just signed a contract extension, so to top it off with that goal, unfortunately it wasn’t down where all the fans were in the Yellow Fever, but to score that first goal and hear the roar of the crowd was something special, and something I’ll hold forever.
“It was tough over in Australia. We had some fans come along every week, which was so nice, but to have a full crowd of proper Wellingtonians there, it was a great atmosphere. As soon as you got the ball you’d hear the roar, and I think it definitely helped us and got us over the line.
“I think that performance we had that day was just a credit to the fans as well.
“It was quite a big day. I wanted to join the Phoenix so I could play in my hometown, and play for the fans. I grew up in the stands watching the Phoenix all the time; I think that day finally came around where I could play at home, and just the whole buzz about the city and being back in town, I think it gave us a big push.
“The crowd we got was just amazing, probably the best crowd I’ve played in front of at club level.
“It was a big one, and I can’t wait for the boys to have it again this weekend.”
The crowd was palpitating at Sky Stadium on that day in May. Each time the ‘Nix ventured forward against Western anticipation rose, screams held back for so long rising to the back of throats each time the hosts were on the attack.
And no moment made the stadium shake quite like Reno Piscopo’s second-half rocket.
“Reno Piscopo, I know for a fact he likes playing at Sky Stadium, he loves playing in front of the fans,” Lewis said.
“It gives an extra buzz every time you walk out at that stadium.
“When Reno gets dribbling, it’s hard to stop him. He definitely deserved a goal that day, and the celebrations are something we can watch all the time and just be so fond of those memories.”
This season’s New Zealand return is similar in build-up, but differs slightly in its context, says Hodge: “I think there’s a little more apprehension purely because of the state of COVID. I think we all felt a bit more comfortable last year being in close quarters with other people, but this year with the number of cases and the spread people are a bit more apprehensive.
“Particularly around the pre-game rituals, going to the pub and having yarns and a drink and stuff like that, people are a bit more cautious of that.
“I’m not sure we’ll get the same numbers. It’s just the vibe I get from people around me, there’s just that hesitancy of being in that environment.”
Wellington approach their homecoming buoyed by a two-game winning streak which followed a dour run of results. With two consecutive games on home soil, the ‘Nix can use their Wellington return to strengthen their bid for finals football.
Lewis is in Auckland with the international side’s physiotherapist and strength and conditioning coach. But from Friday, once the team land in New Zealand, he will be by their side, eager to see a repeat of the success he played such a pivotal role in providing for a raucous home crowd last season.
Hodge, meanwhile, will take her usual place in the stands, amongst the Yellow Fever. She’ll engage in all the same pre-game rituals, slipping back into the routines which, like many things making up the norm of the pre-pandemic world, are only just returning into people’s lives around the world.
“Sure, having the team back is amazing and being able to see some football – but actually, there’s a really important part there which is seeing people I haven’t seen since May last year, having a yarn and catching up with those people,” Hodge said.
She continued: “(The club) is a huge part of our community, the football community who support the Phoenix. It’s about the connection with the club, but also the connection with the players, and the connection with each other as fans. It all kind of comes together to create this big community.
“We all have a love for the game, for the team, having a professional club in the country is super important. But to put it simply, it’s about the community, and having them back is super emotional now that I’ve thought about it.
“It’s pretty close to a finals environment – and we haven’t had one of those for a while! But to us, basically the results are important too now, right? And there’s potential for maybe we do get another home game – and that’s in the finals series – so we have to treat this game like a final.”
