All ends well after Rory's near miss

The star of the All Whites' storybook win against Bahrain almost missed his own victory parade.

Rory Fallon, who scored Saturday night's only goal, had been wining and dining wife Carly on her 30th birthday, and the lovebirds jumped on board the parade float just as it pulled out into the street.

Fallon said he would not have missed his fans for the world and could not thank them enough for Saturday night's white-out.

"I've been in front of bigger crowds but it was the best atmosphere I've ever been in."

The head that scored the winning goal had been covered in kisses by the end of the night, Fallon said.

Kevin Fallon – Rory's father and assistant coach of the 1982 team that also made the World Cup – said it was possibly the biggest day in New Zealand soccer history.

"It was nice in 82, but we've done our time and now it's theirs – I am proud, particularly to pass it on to family."

Rory was only a couple of months old when his dad coached the All Whites in their only previous World Cup appearance, in Spain in 1982.

Kevin Fallon said the story was almost like a fairytale.

"I'm proud as punch, and of course I always thought about him getting here. You could call it visualisation, I just call it dreaming."

But he was quick to share his son's glory.

"It's not just an individual thing, the team comes first. Look at [goalkeeper Mark] Paston: without his save, it could've been gone, and you could say the same thing for all of them."

After a victory lap of Westpac Stadium, the team drank champagne in the dressing rooms then celebrated with family, friends and supporters at Koi restaurant in Featherston St.

New Zealand Professional Footballers Association solicitor Andrew Scott-Howman said plenty of tears flowed as well as champagne.

"It was more of a down-home, family and friends celebration, and if you can imagine all the mums there, and then their boys coming in – there were definitely tears."

The Temperance duty manager Suzy Gasson said it was one of the busiest nights of the year, with the bar "fully packed to the brink".

"Everyone was cheering and when the Bahrain supporters came in they were high-fiving the All Whites fans. Everyone was in good spirits."

Molly Malones manager Kirsty Gill said the vibe was "crazy" with fans dressed in wigs and full bodysuits. "People were loving it and we won so they were ready to party."

Wellington acting Senior Sergeant Paul Wiszniewski said most fans were well behaved. "It was a normal night, if not better humoured. They were celebrating rather than commiserating."

But 14 people were arrested at Westpac Stadium, most for disorderly behaviour and pitch invasions at the end of the game. An ambulance spokeswoman said four people were taken to Wellington Hospital with medical conditions.

Travel agencies are already offering supporters tours to follow the All Whites to Durban, priced from $9000. But most are expected to wait for the draw to be released on December 4 before finalising details.

- © Fairfax NZ News