Thompson Okanagan FC has had a record 20 players, including six from Vernon, accepted into B.C. Soccer’s High Performance Program (HPP).
Scott Cramer, Connor Glennon and Cayleigh Graham in Under 16, Owen Miller in U15 and Liam Glennon and Kevin Morgan in U13 represent the North Okanagan Youth Soccer Association (NOYSA).
“This is fantastic news that we have doubled our representation from nine to 20 players in the last year,” said TOFC interim technical director Jason Thompson. “We strive to put players at the next level and this is a great result.”
B.C. Soccer and the EA SPORTS B.C. Soccer Premier League have been building stronger partnerships with Canada Soccer and Vancouver Whitecaps FC which has helped create a clearer pathway for high performance players.
This led to nine athletes from the 2001 B.C. Soccer HPP age group and 15 HPP players moving on to play within the Whitecaps Residency Program in 2014.
Luca Dalla Pace, B.C. Soccer HPP officer, said all the players chosen put in an incredible amount of work to make this phase.
“Selecting the players is never an easy task and a lot of factors come into play, including positional specific needs so we also want to thank the EA Sports Premier League clubs and coaches as well as the HPP coaching staff for all of their contributions,” said Dalla Pace.
The U16 male and female groups will feature 24 players in four-day programs in Vancouver, while the U13 intake will see 36 players go through three-day training sessions. Most players selected for this phase will advance to the provincial team phase for tournament play.
Graham, who turns 15 today, has been a soccer sponge since she was three.
“I took to the game right away,” smiled the Grade 10 Fulton student who also plays basketball and downhill skis. “I was good at taking the ball and scoring.”
She started at outside midfielder for U11 Development coaches John and Michelle Hughes before switching to striker.
“I think they saw that I was a good crosser and I knew how to take the ball and take people on.
“Making this phase is cool,” said the 5-foot-9 Graham. “It’s been my goal the last two years. I have a chance at making nationals and this will open me up to better exposure.”
Graham, who was coached for several earlier years by her father, Bill, now enjoys watching early Saturday morning Barclay’s Premier League games on TV with her father. The two also play drop-in games together Saturday mornings at Grahame Park. Her favourite player is Ronaldinho and she cheers for Chelsea.
“My dad has been my inspiration,” said Graham. “He takes me everywhere. He helps me by talking to me about my game. If it’s negative, it’s nothing that’s going to bring me down.”
The provincial process is nothing new for Connor Glennon, who turns 16 in June. He’s an attacking centre midfielder who scores often.
Glennon rang up four goals and set up nine others for TOFC in the fall mini season. He played in Li’l Kickers and was moved up to the Y League at age 10, competing with 13-year-olds.
“It’s my passion for the game which keeps me motivated,” said Glennon. “I was born good at it and I want to one day play CIS soccer for SFU or UVic. I was second in B.C. in ski racing when I was 12, but I didn’t love it. I was also pretty good at hockey Friday nights at the OTR, but soccer’s my game.”
A Grade 10 Seaton student, Glennon supports Arsenal and knows everything about Paul John Gascoigne (Gazza), a former phenom midfielder with 57 caps for England. He does weight training and kicks the ball around with his brother, Liam, in the family basement. He also enjoys downhill skiing while at the family place at Silver Star Mountain Resort.
As for the HPP training, Connor said: “I have to stay concentrated and don’t be intimidated by any of the other players.”
Cramer moved here from Williams Lake last season and joins Connor as a double threat at attacking midfielder for TOFC.
“On the field, we don’t talk a lot; it’s all about movement,” said Cramer. “We know where one another is. He’s an amazing player because of his speed of play and quick thinking.”
Cramer, a Grade 10 Vernon Christian School student who turns 16 in March, fired six goals in the mini season with the U15s.
“It’s (HPP) been a long time coming,” smiled Cramer. “A lot of coaches have told me I’m good enough and it’s been a personal goal for a few years. The ultimate goal is to make MLS.”
Last March, Cramer went to Europe on a school trip, playing friendlies for a U16/17 team in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Slovania, Croatia and Italy.
He has received some coaching from his father, Norman, but it’s his mother, Jennifer, who’s soccer crazed.
“My mom’s from Scotland so we have a strong soccer connection. Her team is the (Queens Park) Rangers. We PVR the Saturday morning games and it’s mostly mom and I who watch them.”
The 5-foot-10 Cramer, who plays guitar, supports Barcelona and is high on Messi.
Miller was the lone NOYSA product making the provincial phase.
Miller, a Grade 9 Kalamalka student, celebrates his 15th birthday in early March. He got his start in Vernon Li’l Kickers.
“I liked it right off the bat; it was a lot of fun,” said the 6-foot-2 centre fullback. “I kept playing and eventually when I played for Vernon in development, I took soccer more seriously because I wanna go far in the game. I played U12 in the B.C. Summer Games which led to TOFC which has now led to B.C. I’m confident in my ability to communicate and be a leader. I’ve been captain of my team most years.”
Miller is not the fastest player on the pitch, but uses his smarts to keep up with and shut down speedier opponents.
“I have to get better at defending and making more accurate and longer passes and keep on organizing things on the field. My ultimate goal is pro. I would preferably like a $200,000 full-ride U.S. scholarship, but any scholarship would be nice.”
The first player to help a coach explain a drill in practice, Miller loves watching tenacious centre back Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid and backs Barcelona. He plays junior hoops at Kal to stay fit in the offseason.
Morgan is the lone NOYSA keeper to make the HPP. The Hillview Grade 7 athlete turns 13 in April.
“I switched from player to goal in U11,” said Morgan, who has been coached by his father, Paul, a UVic Viking soccer grad. “It was different but I was kind of tired playing out. One day in House, I went in goal and liked it. The heroics of playing goal make it exciting.”
At 5-foot-8, Morgan sports a good vertical and come penalty shots, he usually goes to his right, knowing most gunners go across their body.
Whitecaps Academy goalkeeper coach Kai Tolpinrud is teaching Morgan the tricks of minding net.
“He’s helping me with proper techniques, how to decompose attackers. Most of it is repetition. The more touches you get, the better you get and when you get in a game, it’s kind of instinct.”
One of two keepers with Wayne Aasen’s Under 13 TOFC team, Morgan follows Manchester City and likes fearless German sweeper/keeper Manuel Neuer, voted the world’s best in 2014. Morgan plays school volleyball and basketball when not training indoors for soccer.
Liam Glennon joins Morgan in the U13 program in Burnaby. He marks his 13th birthday Feb. 12.
“I started playing when I could walk,” said Liam, in Grade 7 at Beairsto. “My brother (Connor) and I play against either other a lot downstairs and the games get pretty intense. He usually wins.”
Liam patrols centre mid and boosted the Thompson-Okanagan to fourth place at the B.C. Summer Games last year in Nanaimo.
“I score most of the goals for our team; I had 10 goals in the mini season. I’m pretty well rounded and I need to improve my awareness through more experience and studying the game.”
Liam also lifts weights at home with Connor, while also skiing with his family. His team is the Tottenham Hotspur and his favourite pro is Argentine attacking midfielder Erik Manuel Lamela of the Spurs.
