‘ Our aim is to get to Europe’
NOT many players can say they have captained a team to an unlikely FA Youth Cup, both represented and captained their country at various levels and played with World Cup winners. Indeed not many players have had the varied experiences of recent Sligo Rovers acquisition Kyle Callan- McFadden.
At just 21, the Donegal man returned to Ireland last winter with experiences of all of the above. Along with fellow countyman Shaun Patton, the centre half agreed terms on a one year deal at the Showgrounds in December. Having started all five of Rovers’ pre- season friendlies, Kyle says he is becoming nicely re- acquainted with life in the north west.
“I love it here so far”, he beams. “The staff and players have been great to me so far and the club have been very welcoming and have helped me settle.”
Having broken his way through to the Swilly Rovers first team in an extremely competitive Ulster Senior League at the tender age of just 15, it did not take long for the Ramelton man to be spotted. Called up to represent the Republic of Ireland at U15 level, he was then noticed by scouts from Norwich City while representing his country at a tournament in Turkey.
The transition was as tough as can be expected for a boy of that age. But after a short time, Kyle began to blossom and prove his worth at Colney, City’s youth academy. Kyle recalls: “I struggled the first couple of months as you do being 16 and having to fend for yourself. But as the months went by I got used to it. I was there a year when I got my own place and eventually it fell into place.”
He went on to become a regular feature in Canaries’ youth teams and even captained them to unprecedented FA Youth Cup success in 2013 with a two- legged triumph over a talented Chelsea. This, 30 years after they captured the trophy in 1983 with a win over Everton. Further international appearances and captaincies at U17, U19 and U21 levels were to follow along with two senior appearances for Norwich and a number of games watching on from the bench.
“It was great to be part of that”, Kyle continues. “It was a great experience and a huge step forward in my career to be called up to the bench for the senior team.”
Unfortunately that was it for Kyle at the Championship outfit. Several clubs had kept tabs on him both at home and abroad with one club particularly keen to swoop. Orlando City had re- established themselves in the USL Pro League in 2010 before eventually becoming an MLS side five years later. ‘ The Lions’ also set up a B team to which Kyle was head hunted for.
“Orlando actually showed interest in me throughout the last year of my Norwich deal”, he says. “After my contract finished with Norwich, I spoke with people there who told me they were starting up a B team if I wanted to come over and try and work my way up towards the first team.”
In October 2015, he arrived on the US east coast. “The lifestyle was amazing, like nothing I have ever experienced.” It wasn’t only the standard of living that impressed Kyle. Playing in the senior MLS side was former AC Milan and Real Madrid superstar Kaka, a 2002 World Cup winner. Another Brazilian Julio Baptista who names Madrid, Roma and Arsenal as his former clubs along with Italian Antonio Nocerino once of Juventus and also Milan were to join shortly after.
“At the start, I thought Jesus this is Kaka! And then there’s Nocerino and Baptista! I was a bit struck at the start but as the weeks go by and you get used to playing with these guys it’s grand and you settle with your teammates. Both Baptista and Nocerino were very wise, always keen to help the youngsters out on and off the pitch. Kaka kept himself to himself, quite private really but so talented.” With the US sporting mentality so entrenched in tactics and physical prowess, Kyle says the approach didn’t always sit well with him. “Players are more powerful and athletic over there. “They aren’t really that technically aware. They don’t really have a freedom to their style of play either. “If you’re a defender you defend. If you’re an attacker you go out there and attack and that’s it. It’s very organised and sometimes too tactical. I have been training at Rovers for a few weeks now and Dave likes us to do what we like and do our own thing and I find that a lot better.”
Callan- McFadden made 23 league appearances for Orlando and also marked his time by becoming one of the first players to fall foul of the Video Assistant Referee ( VAR) which has been introduced to lower league football in America. During a game against New York Red Bulls II last August, Callan- McFadden’s team mate Conor Donovan felled New York’s Junior Bennings. Referee Ismail Elfath stopped the game before consulting his VAR and dismissing Donovan. The system saved Callan- McFadden in the second half when Elfath reduced his red to a yellow after a second view. However, Kyle was eventually dismissed for a second yellow at the death.
“I made a tackle and the ref wasn’t sure on it. So he’s run over to the sideline and checked the video and it’s only a yellow. Ten minutes later I’ve made another tackle and he wasn’t sure again so he went over again an came back and sent me off with another yellow! I was the first person to be sent off for two yellows using VAR! I’m not sure it’s something I should mention too often!”
The centre- half’s time in the US came to an end late last year. Manager Adrian Heath was sacked and replaced by Jason Kreis who once served as assistant to former US national team boss Jurgen Klinsmann. “I rejected a new contract. I just didn’t see a pathway through to the first team once Adrian had gone”, Kyle admits. News of his interest in moving on encouraged clubs to come forward before his move to Sligo. There were offers from other north American clubs, interest from teams in lower leagues across the Irish Sea and other League of Ireland sides. Kyle spoke to current Rovers man Kieran Sadlier who in turn alerted Bit o’Red assistant Declan McIntyre. “I spoke to Kieran and he got me in touch with Declan who I knew from the youth ranks of the Ireland team. I got speaking to Dave and he told me what his ideas were. I was impressed and we agreed a contract. I had heard a lot of good things about the club and the management and their ambitions so that’s what attracted me here. I knew a bit about Sligo with Seamie ( Coleman) doing so well here. Once I was half way through my contract at Orlando I kept an eye on the League of Ireland and how teams were doing in Europe, Dundalk in particular.”
With Gavin Peers electing last year to move back to Dublin after eleven trophy laden years in Sligo, Rovers supporters would not be blamed for assuming Callan- McFadden is the Dubliner’s automatic replacement. The man himself knows he will have to settle in quickly if he is to form a similar impression to the one Peers left, but does not necessarily feel pressured to live up to his predecessor.
He states with assertion: “I am his replacement. I know that. But I wouldn’t say there’s a lot of pressure on me because of that. I’m only a young lad, 21 so I’m going to do my own thing and express myself.
“I know I have big boots to fill but I want to do my best for this team and the fans. I just want to play as much football and as many games as I can and impress.”
Dundalk are natural favourites to capture a fourth title on the bounce while Cork will not be far behind. But with so much chopping and changing outside the upper echelons, there is plenty of scope for optimism from the chasing pack hoping for a European bounty.
With a tough start in Rovers’ midst, beginning with Limerick in two weeks, Kyle says it’s all about taking the games in their stride.
“I don’t really know much about the other teams with the movement that’s gone on. But I do know we’ve a good team with good players with a lot of ambition and togetherness.
“It looks like a tough start but we’ve just got to take it game by game. As a team we want to get into Europe, that’s our aim,” he added.