In our final week of training, things really started to become real. It had become only a matter of days before all the work that had been put in over the last 4 months would finally be going towards something. We continued to work on tactical aspects of our game and the way we would play in order for us to compete against some top level competition. As you can imagine, the week flew by and soon enough we were on our way. It wasn’t before we cleaned up the apartment and took the van to get cleaned. We also attempted to finish as much of the food we had bought so it wouldn’t go to waste. This made for some great meals!
For all of those who have not been following along as closely, for the next 24 days, I will be playing with a team (Bridges FC) of players some of whom are pursuing professional contracts. We will play 9 games during this period of time where we will have many scouts from around Scandinavia come and watch. For most of the guys, the hope is to perform well enough to gain interest from teams we play against, or these scouts that come to watch. At any stage during the trip, players could leave the group to go on trial or sign with a team here. Our games will be in Denmark and Sweden. There are a number of players on the team who are still eligible for College Soccer in the USA so they are here for the experience and exposure for future opportunity. Our first game is on Tuesday July 4th against Sønderjyske. This will be followed by a game on Wednesday July 5th against our hosts, HB Køge. Hopefully for regular game updates, you can follow our teams twitter,
Saturday was the day, as we all arrived at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport for our 10pm flight to Copenhagen. A comparatively short flight compared to usual for me being only 7hrs, however it really messed with timing as we had dinner at 12am and then the lights were only off for 3hrs before we were up again for breakfast, and then landed just before 1pm. Once we landed our group grew by an additional 5 members as we met other guys who would be joining us on the trip. As everyone waited, I was one of the dedicated van drivers and so we headed off to get the rental vans. Of course my one would be manual, and having only ever driven a manual on the other side of the road, I was worried about the unnatural gear changing with the right hand. It didn’t turn out to be a problem, but figuring out how to get it into reverse was. I got there eventually, and we piled up the vans and off we went through the countryside of Denmark to HB Køge, our accommodation for the next 24 days. Thankfully it wasn’t a long drive and we arrived safely and got ourselves situated in he gymnasium. Our mattresses are big gym mats which aren’t bad at all to be fair. The key now was stay awake until it was time for sleep so that I could get my body clock sorted, so I headed out with a couple others to do a massive grocery shop for dinner and food for a couple days. Feeding 30 isn’t easy, but we won’t go starving, thats for sure. Once we returned, we went for a nice light jog and stretch on some of the practice fields behind the stadium. The facilities are brilliant with lots of fields, and all grass. It was great to get the legs going thats for sure. A nice big team dinner before a tactics session where most of the lads were battling to stay awake before it was time to hit the hay. Daylight hours are from 4am till about 11pm, so that will certainly take some getting used to.
For all updates, this is where you’ll want to come. Depending on how things go, I may increase the amount of posts I do just to fit in everything that is going on! And don’t worry, by next post I will have taken many photos!
Well this week the days ticked below double digits before we leave, so it is becoming more real, but also more important. Another big week of intense training and development of style of play and tactics. So the work continues to be put in to prepare us as much as possible, but nothing will prepare us like just being there and competing in those games. That will really be the true test, and we will find out soon enough how we fare.
My final weekend in Chicago was one I had been looking forward to. My Mum’s cousins who live around where I have been staying own a boat on Lake Michigan, and I had very fond memories from 7 or 8 years ago when we got to take a trip out on the boat, so I had requested the opportunity to go out on the boat again, and Saturday was the day. I invited a couple of the lads and one of the lads wife joined. We had a wonderful afternoon on the water, although a little choppy, the water was blue and the sun was out and it was a magical feeling. Unfortunately, because of the choppy water we were unable to get all the way up the lake towards Navy Pier and Downtown, but the view from where we got to wasn’t half bad either. We spent the remainder of the afternoon at the dock chatting away and enjoying a lovely BBQ meal from Wayne. A wonderful way to wind down my time.
Well summer has truly arrived and the temperatures were soaring and our skin was burning. It was another ‘game week’ and our trainings focused on preparation for a trip to St. Louis to play against St. Louis FC who play in the USL, America’s Second Tier of competition. During the week, Coach had settled on a new formation that he felt would beneficial and successful with the personnel that we have. Sessions were intense, and Coach continued to challenge us all to be better. On Thursday we headed to St. Louis, a place I am very familiar with, with various family members living in and around the city, so The Arch was a welcome sight as we crossed the bridge.
This is crucial at the higher level and some are still learning the importance of this and many other aspects of the game. Although it wasn’t the result we wanted, it was progress and that is what Coach had asked for. I was also fortunate to see some family after the game which is always special.
p well except for the minor mishap of heat exhaustion last Sunday. Still room to get fitter, and in time that will come, but nothing beats match fitness, and its nice to know that our next game is on the horizon in St. Louis on Friday June 16th.
On Friday night, the five guys who were at the apartment for the weekend decided to head into Wheaton for some dinner. After our meal we wandered around and stumbled upon the ‘A Taste of Wheaton’ festival. There was a great cover band playing some absolute classics from Journey, Neil Diamond, Queen, etc. We had a blast, although we may have been on the younger side of the crowd!
We had finally reached a week where we would be playing a game. All our training was in preparation for it. Training intensity once again rose to ensure that we were as prepared, physically and tactically to play against USL team Louisville City FC. And on Wednesday night, after our second training of the day, we finally hit the road. It was a late night arrival for us into Columbus, IN. Thursday morning we were back on the road to finish off the trip to Louisville. We arrived and we given the opportunity to use their locker for preparation. It was as professional as you can get and really set the tone for what was to come in the next few hours. Once we were dressed and coach had given his pre match talk, we headed to their training field where we were to play. Their training pitch was it great condition, and a little damp from the recent rain. The game was an eye opening experience for many of the lads on our team as they had not faced this high level competition before. Louisville was very slick, especially because they are mid season, and we are only beginning to really prepare as a team. It was a game where we didn’t have the ball too often, however we did not embarrass ourselves, losing only 3-0. Results aren’t the current focus as we continue to prepare for Europe, but for me, individual performance is very important. I was fairly happy with my performance, however a few small adjustments need to be made going forward to continue to build my game. I’m looking forward to more high level competition to allow me to test myself again.
This trip had put most of our schedules off, as we were returning it felt like a Sunday evening, however it was only Thursday. Friday we were given off to recover, however we still had therapy and chiropractor in the morning which was perfect for the day after a game. Friday evening, myself and 3 others took a trip into Chicago. As it turned out, 
me to cover my current living and day to day costs. No Ill be able to rest up a little more as the intensity in training rises and really begin to focus in on the purpose of this experience.
Finally, the weather has begun to turn in favor of summer and Sunday was a stunner! I was able to spend time reading my new book, The Mindful Athlete by George Mumford, in the sun on the deck, before coaching a one on one session and then doing a bit of ball work and relaxing for the rest of the day. Preparing for a new routine next week!
Time seems to be flying, but the weather doesn’t seem to be keeping up. We are now well into May and the weather is still cold and wet. Soon enough it will hopefully turn around and we will be able to get outside to train instead of being boxed up inside. Although boxed inside, training continues to be very valuable and developmental for me as it has been continuous repetitions of technical work, alongside repetitions of defensive situations in games, something you often wouldn’t receive in a team training environment.
I was fortunate enough to spend my weekend in a new city, but more importantly, with family. Friday evening I traveled down to Indianapolis, while joining my Aunt Karrie and Cousin Jeremy on the way. Saturday morning we joined my Uncle John and Aunt Darlene and headed off to Grand Park to watch my Cousin Jake, and his twins, Beau and Brady in a baseball tournament. Jake’s wife and two daughters were also there. So there was enough family to keep me company and catch up with. The boys did well in both games Saturday morning and were on the winners side of the draw for Sunday. However, they were unable to stage a comeback in their Quarter Final game on Sunday, having been down 12-5, they got back to 12-11 before the time constraints ended their comeback. Outside of the baseball, we managed to take a tour through Indianapolis, mainly the canal via a 6 person bike. The weather was glorious and we sure made the most of it. Saturday evening we spent time at the hotel with Jake and the kids before returning to our own hotel to watch Sully, a great movie about an incredible story. 
Sunday morning, we went to The Yolk for breakfast, a place I have remembered since I first went in Chicago about 7 years ago. It still tasted just as good. We then walked along the river and past the zoo in the Sunday morning sun. By 3.30pm we hit the road back to Illinois. It was a wonderful visit with family, people that will always support you wherever you are, and since I am close enough, it was very special to see them and spend time with them. As always, time went quickly and soon enough I was back in my apartment in Wheaton! A weekend to remember!