Ben Waine | First Interview

In New Zealand, they call him the Waine Train, but after one of the longest of long-haul flights, Ben Waine has arrived in his new home: Argyle, and Sky Bet League One.

There has been a lot of excitement in NZ about 21-year-old Ben, who has agreed a deal to sign for Argyle on 1 January, for an undisclosed fee from Wellington Phoenix.

Wellington play in the Australian top flight, and having come through the ranks of his hometown side, quick forward Waine has delivered goals for the Phoenix, with performances earning him caps for the New Zealand national team, for whom he scored on his debut.

Possessing a British passport, Waine has long harboured ambitions to play in England, and is excited about the prospect of getting going approximately 12,000 miles from home.

Highly-rated Ben was courted by numerous European sides, but after learning about Argyle, opted to make Plymouth his new home.

“I’m buzzing to join Argyle,” Ben told Argyle TV. “It’s a dream come true moving over here, I’m just excited to get started.

“My whole family is from the UK. Other than me and my sister, everyone is British. I’ve always had that interest, and football has been a big part of my life. As soon as I thought it was possible to move over here and start playing, it was something I became obsessed with.

“For Argyle to give me a chance, an opportunity to be part of this team, is amazing. Hopefully I can return the favour.

“I had a few video calls with the gaffer, and what he and the staff put together and showed me, me and my family were quite taken back. I’m not sure if that is the norm here, but it isn’t on my side of the world.

“Everything from the way we play, to the people and the staff, it’s given me a really, really good feeling.”

As well the information from Argyle’s current personnel, a pair of former Pilgrims played a part in helping Ben decided that Home Park was his preferred destination.

Scott Wootton, a central defender who played 68 times for Argyle between 2018 and 2021, was a team-mate of Ben’s at Wellington Phoenix. In addition, Kiwi legend Rory Fallon, a Pilgrim from 2007 to 2011, who wore the green and white 160 times, had a hand in Waine’s choice.

Fallon, who scored a famous goal that sent New Zealand to a World Cup finals, is not only with the All Whites as a coach, but is also part of Wellington’s academy staff.

Ben sought the counsel of both ex-Greens, and got the same glowing reference from both. This helped him to make his mind up to leave Phoenix, where he has spent his entire footballing career so far, to try his luck in Devon.  

“The ultimate dream was to become a professional footballer, to play for my hometown,” said Ben. “Then, as I started to progress with that team, my eyes were opened. Some of the foreign boys in that team, including Scott Wootton, who played here, opened my eyes to teams like Argyle. Scotty had a lot to do with it. He told me a lot of good things, and to be here is amazing.

“I was talking to him constantly, and he didn’t have a single bad word to say about this club, and as a place to live. He said that it is awesome, and that I would enjoy it. I’m already starting to see that.

“I know [Rory] very well. He was part of the national team setup and I got to know him there. He has also moved over to Wellington and is part of the academy, so I did a little bit of work with him there in the past few months. Ever since Argyle became a possibility, I was on the phone constantly with him. Like Scotty, he couldn’t speak highly enough of the place and the people here. It was a no-brainer.”

Admittedly a little bleary-eyed following his long transit, Waine arrived in Plymouth in time to watch Argyle’s 1-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers at Home Park on Thursday night.

Ben was impressed on getting his first taste, in person, of the Green Army and of the team that leads League One as we enter 2023, and is understandably excited about the new, metaphorical journey on which he about to embark.

“Before coming over I had watched a few games on Argyle TV,” he said. “To be here in person, with the atmosphere and energy, was something I’m not quite used to.

“The only negative about watching the game was that I wasn’t playing! To be part of the English football culture is what I am looking forward to the most.

“My big strength is my workrate. I guess that is a given in football these days. Also, my forward movement and finishing. Hopefully I can bring all those together here.

“The team are doing really well. The big focus is on trying to add to that; this team are doing amazing already, hopefully I can add to that and the team keeps kicking on.”