American dream alive and kicking in a small corner of north London
As LA Galaxy hold trials in Harrow, Bob Williams talks to wannabe pros hoping to strike it lucky
It is a scorching day. Hundreds of young footballers, all wearing iconic LA Galaxy jerseys, are desperately trying to catch the eye of the onlooking coaches in their search for the American dream. But this is not southern California – this is north London.
In the incongruous setting of The Hive in Canons Park, the home of Barnet FC – or, more precisely, two Astroturf pitches next to the stadium – LA Galaxy yesterday concluded the first of two open trials in England for places in their reserve team.
Aspiring professionals, aged between 18 and 25, have come from as far as Hungary, Germany, Sweden and Denmark to try to further their careers in the United States. Many more will come to Manchester this weekend for further trials.
The wannabes have each paid £150 to attend – a price partly to ward off chancers – and will each play in two 60-minute games, looking to show off their skills to the Galaxy coaching staff.
The chances of success are slim. Of the 600 or so attendees, a minimum of 10 will make the initial cut before a further set of trials with the LA Galaxy II squad in California.
In previous open trials held by the Major League Soccer club, just one player was given a contract – and that was a shortterm deal at the club’s under-18 academy side. But, as Jubilee line trains rattle in the background here in Harrow, nothing can dim the hopes of these young men who are trying to earn a deal to train alongside first-team Galaxy players such as Ashley Cole and Giovani dos Santos and play in the secondtier United Soccer League against the likes of Didier Drogba, Shaun Wright-phillips and Joe Cole.
Many are in their early twenties and see this as a last chance to make it. Among the participants is Kyle Rennock, a Sunday league footballer from south Croydon, for whom the Galaxy would be his first professional club.
“I just thought I’d give it a chance. I don’t see why not. I’ve got just as good a chance as everyone else,” says the 23-year-old. “I expected the standard to be really high but I thought I did really well. It exceeded my expectations. It’s never too late – there are plenty of players who are late bloomers.”
A certain Jamie Vardy springs to mind. Fittingly, a Hollywood movie is being made about the Leicester striker’s amazing rise from non-league football.
Sevgi Neptune played in the MK Dons academy side alongside Dele Alli. He now plays part time for Aylesbury FC, of the Evo-stick Southern League, and works in recruitment.
The 22-year-old is desperate to turn pro – and play in the States.
“I’m here for new opportunities, the chance to go professional and show the scouts my ability. I was released by MK Dons two years ago and my dream is to play in America. I love the lifestyle and everything about it,” he said.
For these UK trials, travel costs are not included, which makes the visit of those from the Continent all the more impressive.
Christopher Forsell, 23, who plays in the Swedish equivalent of League Two, flew from Stockholm for this event.
“I saw a story on the Internet about LA Galaxy trials in London. I thought, ‘That is close to Stockholm, plane tickets are cheap, I have a friend in London, so why not?’” he says. “I think I’ve done well. It is hard to play with players you don’t know but I think our team got along well and, in my opinion, I did good. I thought the standard would be better but it wasn’t really bad. It was OK.”
Jakob Rasmussen, 20, a Dane, adds: “All of us here have the dream – it doesn’t matter how old you are. It is what we live for.”
The Galaxy coaches, for their part, have liked what they have