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Media Kit: Archived Press Releases
Ex-Shell Shocker Hits the Headlines After International Winner
March 9, 2006An ex-player with the New Orleans Shell Shockers has exploded onto the international soccer scene with his native New Zealand.
Andrew Barren has grabbed the sports headlines on the other side of the world after scoring the winning goal two minutes from time in a recent game against Malaysia. It was only his second appearance for the national team and he had been on the field just 23 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute.
Andrew, 25, a graduate of William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, starred for the Shell Shockers in their inaugural 2003 season. The midfielder was a favorite with the fans of the Premier Development League side and played an important role in the next year’s campaign as well.
Last year he moved to Northern Irish league club Lisburn Distillery, playing in the prestigious UEFA Intertoto Cup against Zalgiris of Lithuania, before returning to New Zealand. He is now turning out for Canterbury United and has helped shoot them to third place in the National League.
Shell Shockers Head Coach Kenny Farrell signed Wellington-born Andrew and has followed his career closely ever since. Today he said: “The Shell Shockers can take a lot of credit for Andrew’s development and I am over the moon he is now doing so well on the international stage.
“When he came to us he had the raw talent but needed coaching and instruction about the finer points of the game. It is incredible to think just two years ago soccer fans in Southern Louisiana were watching a guy who has gone on to set the sporting world alight in Oceania.
“We always try and get the message across to soccer lovers in Louisiana that if they come to our games then for just a few dollars they may be watching world-class stars of the future right on their own doorstep.”
New Zealand national team coach Ricki Herbert was also pleased for the former New Orleans resident. Speaking after the 2-1 win at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland he said: “Andrew was one of the shining lights out there tonight.”
A delighted Andrew said: “This has been a tremendous opportunity for me. I’ve never been involved in national teams coming up through the age-groups so to have this chance was amazing.
“It’s always tough coming off the bench and there wasn’t a lot of time. All I wanted to try and do was get forward and help to create some chances.
“To get an opportunity and to take it was really nice. You’ve got to concentrate and I had a couple of stabs at it, but the gap was there and I just hit it and it fell in nicely.”