LONG-TIME Derby County fan Mike Dilley has been caught up in the fervour currently swirling around New Zealand's top team, Wellington Phoenix.

Mike, of Belper and a season-ticket holder with the Rams, recently visited his daughter, Natalie, in New Zealand, wherePhoenix are making history.

They are the first side from the country to reach the play-offs in the Hyundai A League, Australia's major competition.

The A League has a complicated play-off system in which the top six teams battle it out for the title.

Sydney, Melbourne Victory, Gold Coast United, Wellington, Perth Glory and Newcastle Jets qualified for the end-of-season shake-up.

Only three are left standing.

Wellington face Sydney this weekend and the winners will meet Melbourne in the Grand Final.

Mike is willing on Wellington from afar now but he was there to see them win their final league game against Central Coast Mariners 3-0 and then beat Perth Glory on penalties in the play-offs in front of 24,000.

Playing for Perth were former Rams players Andy Todd and Mile Sterjovski.

"Todd played centre-back and Sterjovski started on the bench," said Mike.

"Starring for Wellington this season is Paul Ifill, the former Crystal Palace, Sheffield United and Millwall forward, and he has become a national hero in New Zealand.

"I saw him score twice in the last league win, when he showed close control and an ability to beat players. He always looked dangerous, albeit in a much slower game than we are used to here but, of course, most games are played in temperatures nearing 30C, especially in Australia.

"Also playing for Wellington is striker Chris Greenacre, now 32, whose previous clubs include Tranmere Rovers, Stoke City, Mansfield Town and Manchester City.

"It was Greenacre who put Wellington one up in the first half against Perth but the visitors equalised just after the hour, by which time Sterjovski had come on and Todd had been booked.

"The game went into extra time and Greenacre was replaced by Eugene Dadi, who played for Tranmere and had a handful of games for Nottingham Forest and Notts County.

"Wellington eventually won 4-2 on penalties."

Todd was released by Derby at the end of last season and joined Perth.

The 35-year-old says he wants to finish his career in Australia and has signed for another year.

He is one of the front-runners for Perth's Most Glorious Player award after a good season.

"I've got one year, possibly two years left in the body," said Todd.

"I'm looking to finish my career out here.

"I've only missed two games this season through suspension, which was my own fault, but fitness-wise, I feel OK.

"Perth's a great place to live and I'm really enjoying my time here.

"I definitely have unfinished business. I think we slightly underachieved and, next season, we definitely want to go one or two better."

Next up for Wellington after beating Perth was a meeting with Newcastle Jets.

Wellington play their games at the 34,500 capacity Westpac Stadium, a ground referred to as the "Ring of Fire" by fans, or the "Cake Tin", due to its shape.

It is New Zealand's national stadium and also stages cricket and rugby union. A one-day cricket international between New Zealand and Australia will be played there tomorrow.

Wellington's clash with Newcastle Jets attracted a club record attendance of 32,792.

Ifill and Dadi scored in extra time to give Wellington a 3-1 victory and now only Sydney can stop them reaching the final.

"There is real excitement right now when it comes to football in New Zealand, not only because of Wellington Phoenix but also because the country has qualified for the World Cup finals in South Africa this summer," said Mike, who is 64.

His daughter has lived in Queenstown for 17 years and is a ski coach. She is a former pupil at St Benedict School.

"I was out there three and a half weeks and it was great," said Mike.

"The Wellington matches certainly created a lot of interest and I enjoyed them.

"I've also been happy with Derby's recent performances against Forest, Newcastle, Birmingham, Preston and Watford."