Well this week has involved a massive step or progression in my development towards my goal of becoming a professional. On Monday I flew to Chicago where I was picked up by two future team mates. I have linked up with an organization called Bridges FC. The name speaks for itself really. Their aim is to help players build the bridges required to become professional players. Firstly they give players a full time training environment where one can develop their game and learn from experienced coaches. If the players are of a certain quality, they’re given opportunity to trial with various levels of professional and semi professional teams. And if a player is willing and able, they are given the opportunity to travel with the team to Europe for a tour where 8 odd games are played against professional teams across Scandinavia, with the intentions for these teams to offer trials or contracts to the players from Bridges. Bridges FC is also associated with Bridges Sports Management, who represent most players from Bridges that have signed professionally with teams. So it is a well run organization, that is proven to be successful. But as I have already been told by the coaches, and also prior Bridges players, you will be as successful as you want to, all dependent on the work you put in leading up to the trip.

So for me, I will now be based in Wheaton, IL where I will train full time with Bridges. The training will become more focused when May comes around as the full traveling squad is established. The May-June period will be like a pre season as such as the team prepares for the trip, playing friendlies against many USL teams here in the USA, and then on July 1st the team will depart for Europe. Until May, training will mostly be inside, with a technical session for 90min in the morning and then 5v5 games for the afternoon session. The technical sessions are great to focus on areas of improvement, and then those improvements can be implemented in the games in the afternoon. The greatest thing that Bridges offers me is the willingness of the coaches to work with me and develop and progress my game, because as many know, once in the professional environment, development isn’t as important as winning. So being here in this educational environment will hopefully build my platform higher for when we travel to Europe and I can kick on from there. For now, the focus is not Europe. The focus is working on different areas of my game each day, and even in the first week, I have already began developing areas of my game that the coaches believe need improving and I can already see a difference.

I can say, finally I am in the perfect environment for this stage of my career, as it will truly prepare me for what is to come if/when I become a professional player. My determination to improve and willingness to learn has thankfully continued through all the ups and downs of the last 9 months. Now I can settle into a routine and really focus on improving my game.

Being in Illinois also makes me very close to many family members, which will be great to catch up and see them across the next fews months. And I have already planned a trip back to Connecticut to visit people, now that I know where I am going to be for the next few months, it makes it a lot easier to visit. Things are certainly looking brighter finally 🙂