March 8, 2002
By: Rob Warren
GREENVILLE, SC--New York Yankee catcher Yogi Berra once said, "You can observe a lot by watching." The Furman men's soccer team tried to do just that on a recent 10-day trip to England--the heart of international soccer.
While many Furman students headed someplace tropical for their much-deserved Spring Break, the Paladins took advantage on an NCAA rule that allows college soccer teams to take an international trip once every four years.
"I wanted our guys to see a soccer environment that they will never get to experience here in America," said Furman head coach Doug Allison. "I felt that the players in our program could learn a lot by just seeing the atmosphere that soccer is played in over in England."
Allison was approached over the summer by the International Academy about a possible trip to England. The International Academy, which normally plans and coordinates international trips for youth soccer teams, was looking to expand its "nine-day soccer experience of a lifetime" to include college soccer programs. Furman's team jumped at the chance to be the guinea pig.
The International Academy's programs include training, scheduled matches, and the opportunity to see professional soccer at its finest through its connections with English Premier and Champions league clubs.
Furman won the only match of their trip, 6-1, over Salford University in Manchester. The Paladins also went through a training session led by coaching staff of Manchester United, the most famous club in world soccer. In London, Furman watched a training session with Chelsea. The players even rubbed shoulders and got autographs from international superstars like Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Holland) and Gianfranco Zola (Italy).
But the soccer highlights of the trip were the professional matches. Included in Furman's travel package were tickets to two Premier League matches (Man U. v. Aston Villa and Liverpool v. Fulham) and one Champions League match (Man U. v. Nantes). The Paladins joined 67,000 fans in all the chanting, singing, and screaming that accompanies soccer matches in England.
"These professionals are the same guys that our team has been watching on television for years," said Allison. "Getting to see such talent and such a high level of play up close makes it all a little more real for our team."
The Paladins also received tours of the stadiums in both Manchester and Chelsea. The Old Trafford tour (Man U.) included a museum built into the stadium that told the storied history of the Manchester United soccer club.
Sophomore forward Scott Hoch was one of many Furman players in awe of the magnitude of the sport's influence in England. "Throughout the week, we were surrounded by soccer,' said Hoch. "On the television, radio, in the papers. Having soccer all around us was a huge difference to the United States."
Beyond the realm of soccer, Furman's players also took the time to do the tourist bit as well.
The players were sure to take in the sights of London during their four-day stay in Chelsea. During their free time, the Paladins split up and toured such places as the Tower of London, London Bridge, Westminster Abbey, and St. Paul's Cathedral. Many took the time to see the famous Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace or to watch a performance of Les Miserables.
"We returned more cultured," said junior midfielder Shaun Stone. "We were more grateful for the American way of life, but most of all, we were inspired by what we had seen and experienced in England."
Many teams will take a trip to Europe during their preseason in the summer, making this Furman trip a little out of the ordinary.
"As oddly as it sounds, I like the preseason here in Greenville," said Allison. "The heat and the humidity really acclimates us to the weather we're going to see during the first months of our season. You just can't duplicate that in England.
"Besides, this time of year is when English soccer is at its peak. I wanted our guys to experience first hand the way that soccer is played over there. It can't be compared to any sporting event in America."
The Paladins finished the 2001 season ranked 17th in the nation by Soccer America after winning the Southern Conference regular season and tournament titles and reaching their third consecutive NCAA Tournament.
"After losing such a talented core of seniors this year," added Allison, "this trip gave us the chance to really do something as a team, to establish captains, and to bond as a group. That wouldn't have been possible had our guys scattered to Cancun or the Bahamas for Spring Break."
Click here for a firsthand look at Furman's travels by junior Shaun Stone and sophomore Scott Hoch.