Michael Utting
Personal information
Full name Michael Glenn Utting
Date of birth (1970-05-26) 26 May 1970
Place of birth Wellington, New Zealand
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Levin AFC
Youth career
Rongotai College
Onslow Wellington
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992 Miramar Rangers
1993 Sunshine George Cross
1993–1994 South Melbourne FC
1994–1996 Miramar Rangers
1997–1999 Wits 15 (0)
1999–2000 Football Kingz 14 (0)
2000–2002 Supersport United 62 (0)
2002–2004 Football Kingz 34 (0)
2004–2005 Waikato FC
2005–2006 YoungHeart Manawatu
2006–2007 Waitakere United 16 (0)
2007–2008 YoungHeart Manawatu 9 (0)
International career‡
1993–2003 New Zealand 14 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 April 2008
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 April 2008

Michael Glenn Utting (born 26 May 1970, in Wellington) is a former New Zealand football player who played as a goalkeeper.

Early years

Utting grew up in Ngaio, Wellington, the youngest of four children. His father is a civil engineer, his mother a nurse; they separated when he was 10. He went to Ngaio School and then Nelson College from 1984 to 1986.[1] He played cricket and volleyball, but football was always his number one passion. By the time he reached the final year of high school, Utting was keeping for both the Nelson College first-XI and national league side Miramar Rangers.

Club career

A much-travelled player, Utting served clubs in his native New Zealand, as well as in Australia and South Africa.

During his New Zealand years, he also played for winter clubs Gisborne City AFC and Waitakere City FC.

International career

Utting has played for the New Zealand national football team, the All Whites. Since making his debut for the All Whites in 1991, he had rarely been a substitute goalkeeper, until 1999, when his career was marred by alcoholism.

He was included in the New Zealand side for the 1999 Confederations Cup finals tournament in Mexico where he was an unused substitute.[2] He fared better in 2003 as he was recalled for the 2003 Confederations Cup finals tournament in France, playing in all three group games before New Zealand were eliminated.[3]

One for the Road – Utting's alcoholism

He had been into trouble with alcoholism, and his problem became public in 1999. He was axed in 1999, and again in 2002 after a botched initial attempt to quit the booze (a problem he had since 1992).[4] He was recalled again in 2003, but by then, he had taken up a contract to play in Brunei.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006, 6th edition
  2. ↑ "Federations Cup Mexico 1999 – New Zealand squad". FIFA. Archived from the original on 8 May 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
  3. ↑ "Federations Cup France 2003 – New Zealand squad". FIFA. Archived from the original on 24 April 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
  4. ↑ Utting recalled
  5. ↑ Brown, Michael (18 February 2007). "Soccer: The greatest save of his life". Herald on Sunday. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
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