Soccer star Nicki living the American Dream
A MOTHERWELL footballer is aiming to forge his own 'American Dream' having completed his second season as a professional in the United Soccer League (USL).
Nicki Paterson was brought up on Camp Street and was a youth player at Fir Park before turning professional with Hamilton Academical.
He stayed at Accies for four years before leaving at the age of 20 in search of full time football.
At this point he was invited to play in a trial game at Murray Park organised by student athlete recruiter FirstPoint USA.
Nicki (25) said: "I made my professional debut with Hamilton at 17 and continued playing with them until I was 20 but at this point Accies were part time and I really wanted to go back to full time football of some sort.
"It was then an opportunity came along to play a game with FirstPoint USA at Murray Park and eventually choose to do a degree in physical education teaching at Las Vegas University."
After graduating Nicki was picked up by USL second division side Harrisburg City Islanders and played there before joining Real Maryland for this season.
Maryland finished bottom of the second division but Nicki's performances in midfield have sparked the interest of bigger teams.
He said: "I am currently in talks with first division teams about moving up a level and playing in that league for the last two months of their season which I did last year with Austin Aztecs.
"It is my goal to play in USL1 or MLS over the next year or two. I'm not ruling out playing in Europe again but it's not in my immediate plans."
Full story in August 19 edition of Times & Speaker
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Bellshill
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
