Lloyd Sam, M, Charlton Athletic DOB - Sept. 27, 1984 Profile http://www.charlton-athletic.co.uk/academy/academy_profile_19.jsp Here are some links to some U19 and reserve team game reports in which he played. http://www.charlton-athletic.co.uk/academy/news.jsp and http://www.charlton-athletic.co.uk/...es/fixtures.jsp He hasn't turned 18 yet and he's already played with the reserves, which is a nice sign. It sounds like he's a natural right mid and given that right mid is a position that we are coverting players to, both at the U20 and Olympic levels, this sounds like a guy Rongen should take a look at. It's probably too late to use him for qualifying but TR should call him in January to take a look at him before next year's World Youth Championship. As for his claim to being a US citizen, I can't find the exact link (there was one on him before the Great BS Crash of 02. But, his brother Andrew goes to Cal State Fullerton and plays soccer there. According to his bio on Fullerton's site, their Dad is from California and their mom is from England and they went to high school in London. Here's that link. http://www.titansports.org/msoccer/2002/players/sam.html BTW, with kids named Andrew and Lloyd, the parents must have really liked Cats!
Bump. I guess I'm the only one who is intrigued that there is a 17-year old US citizen on the books of a Premier League team who has already played his club's reserve team but hasn't been looked at by our youth national teams.
sandon i am interested too but cannot seem to find anything out there that you didnt already find...perhaps we should send an e-mail out to charlton and see what we can find...
According to the website, Andrew Sam went to American School in London. If I am correct, the school is for American expats living in London. I don't think mamy British parents will send their kids there. I think someone from my HS went there.
From the links it sounds like he is pretty darn good! At least the coach thinks a lot of him. Hopefully the Brits won't steal him away from us (if he was born here in the first place). Seems he wasn't even a full-time academy student, and only played on Saturdays...he wants to finish his education. If he goes to the American School, which is expensive and for rich kids (mostly), it is likely he will attend college here, unless he really wants to play pro over there. Seems like his parents will probably want him to go to college. I am guessing that maybe he is honing his skills to play here. After all, we are #8 and England is #9! Very interesting prospect.
I don't think so. He finished HS last spring - which is why he wasn't full time with the academy till August - and if he had intentions of going to college, I think he'd have done so this season. Plus, the reserve level is considered professional and since he's played some reserve team games, that would make him a pro in the eyes of the NCAA, which, barring a successful appeal, would rule out a college career.
Really... I didn't think about that. But if you don't accept any money, I think you can retain your amateur status. I won money as a speedskater when I was young, but I never accepted the money to keep my eligibility safe for HS and college. You are probably right though... I would go pro if I were him, and if he has been boarded or provided equipment or anything, that would probably nix his NCAA eligibility. I think the kids his age see a much better opportunity professionally than there was when I was his age, so it really wouldn't be surprising to try. You can always go back to college if your pro career doesn't pan out. (P-40!) If you think about it, Donovan never played for anything more than the reserves for Leverkusen, and Sam is younger.
Alot of the foreign players in NCAA played reserve soccer in Europe before heading across the Atlantics. I recalled reading from London Times or the Independent that NCAA was the best alternatives for professional players who never made it to the first team.
http://www.ncaa.org/eligibility/cbsa/amateurism.html I'm 99% certain that English Reserve teams are considered "professional" and would cost a player his eligibility. OTOH, youth teams (U-19 and U-17) presumably aren't. However, it looks as if the NCAA is out of the question for a kid like Tom Parratt at Birmingham City. He received a scholarship from the club to study and play there. Sandon recently pointed out that U-20 pool player Steve Shirley has landed at an NAIA school. While training with Hibs, he must've done something to lose NCAA eligibility.
Young midfielder from Iowa with an English dad... www.avalon.net/~icasc/features/profiles/alumni_profiles/TomParratt.htm
Thanks for the link, Beineke. Two quick questions - what year was this kid born and what level of footie is Birmingham City in?