Wing Wizard Nicolai Joins the Bays 100 Club
If Nicolai Berry gets on the field in this Saturday’s game against Auckland FC Reserves it will mark the milestone of him playing 100 games for the East Coast Bays First team.
Nicolai Berry was born on the 27th of June 1994 at North Shore Hospital, in Takapuna. Nicolai was educated at Mairangi Bay Primary School, Murrays Bay Intermediate School & Rangitoto College as well as studying overseas at the University of Buffalo (USA).
Nicolai started his football at East Coast Bays and over the years has played for Forrest Hill, Western Springs, Waitakere (National League), Auckland City & The University of Buffalo. Nicolai’s debut game for Bays was the first game of the 2018 season on 24th March 2018 at North Harbour Stadium Turf against Central Utd and he scored his first Bays goal in that same match in a 2-0 win for Bays.
Nicolai’s favourite football teams are East Coast Bays and he says he has a soft spot for Spurs. He supported Man Utd as a kid but just enjoys following the sport in general. Outside of football Nicolai is a Planner & Resource Management Consultant. He enjoys Asian Fusion food and the odd tipple of red wine. His other hobbies are Photography, hiking up the mountains & outdoors and running.
Being the quiet, unassuming bloke he is, there are no amazing nicknames, but the not very creative ones are Berry or Nico. Nicolai’s favourite movies are Interstellar, Lion & The Dark Knight. His favourite TV shows are Chernobyl & The Office (US Version). He is into all sorts of music like Indie Folk, Acoustic, Rap, Latin, reggaeton or a quality cinematic soundtrack.
Nicolai’s favourite memory from playing at Bays is seeing Bays finally secure promotion back to the Northern Premier League in 2023. Nicolai enjoys playing for Bays because he is playing for the local club he has been part of since he was a kid and the sense of community at the club. The club seems to do the right things and is full of genuine & supportive people which makes it a great place to play football.
I’m quite sure I was at Nicolai’s first Bays game, and it will be fantastic to see him bring up the milestone of 100 games after a bit of a delay due to injury. My favourite memories of Nicolai are seeing him score a classy hat trick against Manukau in a 6-2 win in July 2018, watching him completely destroy Takapuna at Taharoto Park in a 6-1 win on the opening day of the 2020 season (so much so that their left back was substituted at half time and his replacement was also terrorized in the second half) and who will ever forget the classy heel drag back to beat the defenders & score against Ellerslie two seasons ago. Congratulations, mate and all the best for your next 100 or so games.
Ian Overton - ECB Reporter
