Classical musicians turn themselves into A-League house band for Wellington Phoenix in Wollongong

When the coronavirus pandemic forced the A-League side Wellington Phoenix to move to Wollongong, New South Wales, it was always difficult to create a homely atmosphere 2,200 km away. Classical clarinetist and soccer fan Tomas Phillips went to a home game early in the season thinking the audience needed a lift. He had a saxophone at home that he rarely played, but he thought he knew enough to cheer up the football fans at WIN Stadium. “People stopped and stared and understandably a saxophone somehow failed at a soccer game.” He also put his favorite instrument aside and bought a saxophone. “Bassoon is generally a bit unwieldy and I’ve managed to get a lot more volume out of the saxophone,” he said. “It just seemed like the right tool for the right job.” Nick Zengoski and Tomas Phillips were often featured on Fox Sports’ television program during the Wellington Phoenix home game in Wollongong during the Phoenix home game. “Tequila was a favorite, and it worked better with two saxophone lines with the riff underneath and someone playing the melody,” Zengoski Line said, and sometimes we just blasted Ole Ole Ole Ole together. Dean Bartle, a New Zealand expat and Wellington Phoenix supporter, created a custom piece of woodwork memorabilia for Nick Zengoski. (Supplied: Nick Zengoski) Building A Relationship With The Players Soon Phillips and Zengoski were an integral part of Phoenix home games, and with some players they formed a following of the guy with the saxophone at the games, “Phillips said.” Another player, with we had a relationship with goalkeeper Ollie Sail because we were often behind the goals, “Zengoski said a tune.” Wellington Phoenix supporters paid tribute to Wollongong when the team returned to New Zealand after moving to New South Wales for much of the A-League season filming for Fox Sports, especially after Phillips decided they needed a band uniform full of suits and having a saxophone at a football game was very seedy. “Their efforts were noticed in New Zealand as well. Fans on the Wellington Phoenix Facebook page thanked the men for their support for the Wollongong team, and Phillips cheekily replied they could do the favor repay by paying him to travel to Wellington to play the saxophone at a home game when the team returned to New Zealand. Months later they agreed, “Phillips said. “They made a Go Fund Me and I managed to get down to Wellington for the weekend, enjoy the sites and sounds, and go to a game.”

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