Michael Greenwood

Michael Greenwood was born in London, England, on February 27 1939. His parents were Augustus and Barbara. They were a football mad family, my Granddad supported Chelsea FC.

In his school years he played for the West London Schoolboys, the squad including 1966 World Cup winner George Cohen who played right back for the England National team. In the mid-50s, he got recruited by the Brentford A team and played at right back for two seasons at the age of about 16.

In 1963, at the age of 24, he came to NZ from England and landed in Wellington. Once there, he motorbiked from Wellington to Birkenhead with his friend Tony and played for Birkenhead United until 1965 when he went back to England because his mum was ill.

In 1966, he injured his knee so he went to South Africa to get away from football, only to meet a person who played for the best football team in South Africa who was on break between seasons and they travelled to Maputo. He went back to England after 15 months but this time with his new friend. At one of the training sessions before a game the coach told the team that the left winger couldn't play so My Granddad asked the coach whether his friend could play.

My Granddad is still alive and is currently visiting NZ from Australia where he moved to in 2000. For me, he will be remembered for teaching me the game of football and helping me progress through my career.