GREG Draper's route to the top of Welsh football was unorthodox but the 31 year old insists he is still loving life at TNS.

Draper is the Oswestry based club's all time leading scorer having been among the most prolific scorers in the league since his arrival from Basingstoke Town.

While born in the UK, a young Draper grew up in New Zealand after his parents fell in love with the island following a holiday.

Draper told freelance journalist Jonny Drury his career owed much to a former team-mate.

Border Counties Advertizer: Greg Draper in action against Bala Town. Picture by Brian Jones.Greg Draper in action against Bala Town. Picture by Brian Jones.

Greg Draper in action. Picture by Brian Jones.

Chris Davies was training with Neath and Draper came close to signing for the Gnoll based club before the departure of manager Andy Dyer.

It was through Dyer's connections to fellow Macron he was first contacted by Mike Davies, then TNS manager.

Draper said: “I went there for a trial and scored a few goals then signed a two year contract and I’ve been here nine years.

“If I hadn’t gone to New Zealand and met Chris, and if he hadn’t come back and been training with Neath, these things wouldn’t have happened.

“In football it takes all these things to fall into place.”

As a youngster in New Zealand, Draper became a well rounded athlete, signing for Wellington Phoenix and a host of cricket teams.

Border Counties Advertizer: Greg Draper in action against Aberystwyth Town. Picture by Brian JonesGreg Draper in action against Aberystwyth Town. Picture by Brian Jones

Greg Draper in action. Picture by Brian Jones.

He said: “Growing up I played just as much cricket as football, and the way it worked out I chose football and played for various teams over there.

“I played cricket to a decent level but probably wouldn’t have got as high as I did in football, and as a kid you look at football and see it as more glamorous so I was always going to pick that.”

After playing for Wellington, Draper moved away to Australia to play in the Melbourne Victorian Premier League, before deciding to return to the UK to live with his aunt and have a crack at being a full time professional.

“I just wanted to have a crack at it. If I didn’t come back to England and have a go I would have regretted it,” he said.

He bagged over 20 goals in the Conference South for Basingstoke before signing with The New Saints in 2011.

At the same time he emerged a hero in his adopted country after scoring the winning penalty to seal New Zealand a place in 2012 Olympic Games.

However Draper was dropped from the squad – a painful setback in his career.

Draper said: “They brought in Chris Wood who may have been at West Brom at the time, and the national team don’t really look at the Welsh league, there wasn’t enough exposure.

“It was disappointing to find out I hadn’t made the squad after the goal, but I found out when we were away in Sweden for the Champions League.

“So that probably helped me focus on something else, and the disappointment probably made me the player I am today.”

Border Counties Advertizer: Greg Draper in action against Cefn Druids last season. Picture by Brian JonesGreg Draper in action against Cefn Druids last season. Picture by Brian Jones

Greg Draper in action. Picture by Brian Jones.

In his first season at Park Hall Draper bagged 22 goals in the league, which in turn sparked some interest from Football League clubs.

Nothing came of it and Draper has remained a key figure for the Saints ever since.

“It is a great league and it is probably my level,” said the 31-year-old.

“I’ve scored a lot of goals and achieved a lot which I’m not sure I would have done in a higher league or a different league, but I wouldn’t change any of it.”

Many of his goals came from the bench but thinking about how many he could have got bagged if he started more games doesn’t really cross Draper’s mind.

“I got goals coming off the bench when we were in control, so you can look at it that way,” added the striker.

“I’m really proud of being club top scorer, you don’t think about things like this when you sign.

“I could have scored more if I had started more but that didn’t happen and the next best thing is to score off the bench.”

Border Counties Advertizer: Four up - A clearly delighted Greg Draper collects the match ball after the JD WPL fixture between TNS and Cefn Druids at Park Hall on Sunday, March 25, 2018...Pic: Mike Sheridan/County Times..MS052-2018.Four up - A clearly delighted Greg Draper collects the match ball after the JD WPL fixture between TNS and Cefn Druids at Park Hall on Sunday, March 25, 2018...Pic: Mike Sheridan/County Times..MS052-2018.

Greg Draper. Picture by Rob Davies.

Draper has now begun his journey into coaching to run alongside the final years of his playing days.

The former New Zealand international believes he still has plenty more left in the tank and is now eyeing up more records.

“I wasn’t sure about the coaching to begin with but I’ve loved it, and I’ve been surprised,” added Draper. “It’s definitely what I want to do when I finish and TNS is a good place for it. Scott Ruscoe and Steve Evans ended up with the first team.

“Simon Spender coaches and Chris Seargeant is the head of the academy, so the club provides great opportunities for players."

However Draper does not plan to hang up his boots any time soon.

He said: “I just want to keep scoring goals for as long as I can and hopefully the club will be happy with me.I’m capable of 20 goals a season for the next three or four years.

“I want to get to 200 and I want to beat Rhys Griffiths’ record of 180 odd for one club and I’m about 22 behind that.

“I’m still motivated to score goals and I’ve got a few years left in me yet.”

Read more at jonnyjourno.com.