Babayaro

Gary Locke lives in Napier New Zealand now... My home city!!! He played many games for the Napier City Rovers' best ever team, from around the mid 80's through to the 90's when he stopped first team football. I remember watching him at Park Island (the home ground) many a time when I was a lad, he had an amazing ability to pick a pass... I then went on to join Napier City Rovers myself, when I was 14, and Gary was heavily involved with us youngsters! I am lucky enough to say that I played 2 seasons with Gary Locke in 2000 and 2001, when he captained the 3rd team (Youth Development). I never followed through with football after I discovered girls and beer... But as a lifelong Chelsea fan... This was and is still, a HUGE honour and claim to a little bit of fame for me!!! Anyway, that was years ago... but i know he still lives in Napier... His daughter Katrina was about my age, too... Gary Locke... Humble as anything also... never had any ego, even though he was probably one of the greatest players to grace the old National League in the history of it's existence.... 40 yard diagonal passes with the outside of both feet in his sleep!!!