Growing up at Fulham: A CNNSI Article

BarryWhite · Nov 15, 2014

Growing up at Fulham: Life as an American youth in a foreign academy

BY BRIAN STRAUS
Posted: Thu Nov. 13, 2014
Updated: Fri Nov. 14, 2014

MOTSPUR PARK, England – Without a soccer team of his own to coach for the first time in about four decades, former FC Dallas manager, Jujutsu black belt and “Most Interesting Man in the World” contender Schellas Hyndman took a February trip to London to visit his grandson.

Hyndman was born in Macau, to which his Portuguese father and French-Russian mother fled following China’s communist revolution. When Hyndman was a boy, his family moved to Ohio, reportedly making most of the journey in the hull of a cargo ship. The silver lining to that early chaos was that Hyndman’s son, Tony, and his Dallas-born grandson, Emerson, were eligible for Portuguese passports. And that passport eased Emerson’s journey to England, where he’s been playing for Fulham FC since 2011.

“We were spending some time together, chatting, and then he said, ‘I’ve got to go to work.’ Very matter of fact. Isn’t that an amazing statement? He was 17 at the time,” Schellas Hyndman recalled. “I was taken back on that and then I said, ‘You know what? He’s a signed professional.’ They’re paying him. They’ve got him in a beautiful condo right on the Thames River. They’ve invested so much into his development and they’ve educated these young players by telling them, ‘This is a job. You need to show up and perform.’”
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Emerson Hyndman has performed. A composed, technically gifted midfielder with influence that belies his size, he’s progressed quickly through the Fulham ranks. This summer, he debuted for the Cottagers’ senior squad (in a Football League Championship game at Ipswich Town) and the U.S. national team (as a substitute in a win over the Czech Republic). For fans on both sides of the Atlantic, Hyndman’s career is just beginning. But he’s been living the life of a pro for quite some time.

That life offers no guarantees. Despite cracking Jurgen Klinsmann’s lineup two months ago, Hyndman is spending the current international break in Spain withcoach Tab Ramos' U-20s. As a result, he’ll miss Friday’s friendly between the U.S. and Colombia at Craven Cottage, Fulham’s historic home ground. Hyndman’s absence won’t reduce the poignancy of the occasion, however.

The small stadium on the Thames has been a comfortable port of call for some of U.S. soccer’s most celebrated players. No foreign clubhas been more hospitable to Americans. Former national team captain Carlos Bocanegra spent five seasons at the Cottage. Kasey Keller and Marcus Hahnemann tended goal there and two Eddies, Lewis and Johnson, passed through.

Clint Dempsey was Fulham's player of the year twice in six seasons and in 2010, he helped it reach the UEFA Europa League final. Brian McBride’s stature is even greater. Craven Cottage’s bar is named in his honor and last month, he served on the committee that selected the Whites’ new head coach. Chris Wondolowski trained with Fulham following the end of the San Jose Earthquakes' season.

Now Hyndman is at the forefront of a new wave of young Americans hoping to follow in their heroes’ footsteps, although they’re doing so in a more traditional and challenging manner.

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The rest of the article can be found at: http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2014/11/12/fulham-academy-usmnt-usa-emerson-hyndman-fulhamerica

pettyfog · Nov 15, 2014

Nice catch Barry... I posted the CNNSI link on my own FB page, as well as link to this on FUSA's

SoCalJoe · Nov 18, 2014

Thanks Barry for posting, great read and really interesting look at our Academy.

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Growing up at Fulham: A CNNSI Article

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Growing up at Fulham: A CNNSI Article

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