Sporting memories:
Times have definitely changed when it comes to football in the United States.
New England Revolution paid Rangers a reported £300,000 last week to take Matt Polster back to his homeland.
But for many years, the Americans concentrated on importing players from other countries to try to kick-start the game.
Football was still a minority interest sport when former Cowdenbeath winger Mick Payne crossed the Atlantic in 1967.
He moved from junior football in Scotland to line-up for Washington Britannica.
As well as playing games, he was also asked to coach local youngsters.
Mick recalled: “I was playing for Oakley Juniors and Charlie Fleming, formerly of East Fife, Sunderland and Scotland, was coaching us.
“A Scottish businessman, Norman Sutherland, offered him the chance to take charge of his team in Washington.
“He asked me to come, and it sounded a bit of an adventure. I shared a flat with another Scot, Billy Fraser, and Ray Lodge from Newcastle.
“I loved it over there, but they were still in the very early stages of trying to set up professional football.
“Charlie Fleming was often know as ‘Cannonball’ because he such a great striker of a dead ball.
“I remember him trying out an American goalie and saying he’d test him from 20 yards. The poor guy couldn’t get near any of the shots.
“He then did the same from 30 yards – and again they all went flying past the keeper and into the net.
“Charlie said it was clear he’d have to get some tips on goalkeeping.
“We did some coaching at colleges as part of our contract. There were some decent players, but a lot of them didn’t have much idea.
“We’d throw a ball for them to head – and they’d catch it!
“They were so used to American Football, that it was the natural thing for them to do.”
His time in the American Soccer League gave Mick a chance to see plenty of the country.
He went on: “It was an education. We’d fly to a lot of games, and there were players from all over the world. We’d two lads from Haiti in our team.
“Some of the pitches were converted from American Football, or baseball fields.
“We did quite well and finished second in our division.
“Charlie and I agreed that football could be really big in the States.
“It has probably taken them longer than we thought, but it seems they have finally got there.”
Mick’s football career saw him have two famous managers of the future as team-mates.
He recalled: “I played for the Scotland youth team that shared the Home International Championship.
“The last game was a 1-1 draw against England at Pittodrie.
“I was playing in attack alongside Alex Ferguson. Geoff Hurst was at right-half for England.
“Alex and I both ended up in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. He broke his collarbone, and I had torn knee ligaments.
“When I later joined Cowdenbeath, I stayed in the same street as Jim Baxter.
“He was at Raith Rovers. We would meet at the Palais dance hall every Saturday night and talk about our games.”
After three years with Cowdenbeath, Mick – now 78 – joined Oxford United.
He said: “Ron Atkinson was the captain. “He was a great character and exactly the same as when he became well-known as a manager – very confident.
“I then played for non-league Winsford United, where former Dunfemline striker Felix Reilly was player-manager.”
After returning from the US, Mick returned to the juniors while working in a Fife factory.