St. Louis Lions Feature
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Kyle Patterson had one heck of a birthday weekend. The former St. Louis Lions and SLU standout celebrated his 26th birthday, announced that he is an expectant father, and played in a Third Round F.A. Cup match at Goodison Park between Tamworth and Everton.
Everton advanced to the Fourth Round of the F.A. Cup with a 2-0 and will face Fulham on January 28th.
It has been a long road to the F.A. Cup for Patterson whose youth career started with West Bromwich Albion’s youth academy where he scored 50 goals in five years.
"I was at West Brom as a kid and got released and went on a football scholarship over in America, in St Louis. From college you go into a draft system and I got lucky enough to be drafted by LA Galaxy.”
Patterson had a stellar career with SLU as well as a solid season with St. Louis Lions of the PDL. He was then drafted by the Los Angeles Galaxy in the fourth round of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, upon which he jetted off to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood playing alongside David Beckham and Landon Donovan.
“The year that I spent with the Galaxy was great, Beckham and Donovan were there,” said Patterson, whose football peak came while, playing for the MLS side against Barcelona in front of 90,000 spectators. “I came on as a sub in the first game on the left wing. I cut back and crossed it to the far post, where Landon finished it. I haven’t had a chance to speak to Landon. He might remember me; he might just think I’m some lad he played with.
“Leaving the Galaxy was tough but I played three games got an injury and never really got back in the team. When it came towards the end of the year, I had to make a decision whether to stay there for the lifestyle or try and build my career."
As for playing with Beckham, “David Beckham is as good as everyone says he is. He was a quiet guy. He had the media following him everywhere and he dealt with it with real integrity. I got on with him well.”
“David led by example the way he trained. It was a pleasure to watch. Back then, I was also a right-winger and asked him what goes through his head when he's about to cross the ball. He'd say, 'Aim for areas and always make your mind up before you get the ball'.
"David was one of the — if not the — greatest crossers of the ball from the right flank.
“I feel privileged to have trained with one of the world's greatest footballers."
After leaving LA behind, Patterson had a brief spell in Sweden before returning to England and signing for Hednesford Town before joining Tamworth.
He has several souvenirs from his time in LA, including a few signed Galaxy shirts – "so you can look back on them one day and show your kids, if they don't believe you"
Patterson notes that not all levels of football are as glamorous as the Galaxy in the MLS or Everton in the EPL.
Finances are tight at Tamworth but the combination of Patterson's winning goal against Gateshead in the previous round and a share of the gate receipts at Goodison Park means that the non-league club will pick up about $462,000 from their FA Cup run.
The prospects of a giant-killing were slim – 95 places separate Everton and Tamworth on the league ladder – although Patterson's career is a reminder that anything is possible in this game.
"It's funny where football takes you," he added, smiling. "It's been a crazy few years."
This Feature was compiled from interviews conducted by Stuart James of The Guardian, John Wragg of the Express and Justin Allen of The Sun.
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