THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 13, 1996 TAG: 9604130470
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
In England, soccer inspires passion and fierce national pride. Toddlers play it in the streets. Soccer balls constantly bounce off walls, feet . . . anything solid. Stadiums are packed, players adored.
So why would an Englishman come to America, the land of another kind of football, to play?
``Originally, I came over to combine the soccer and the academics because America gave me the opportunity to do both, whereas in England I had to choose one or the other,'' Hampton Roads Mariner Darren Eales said. ``That's the reason I came over here. I enjoyed America and I had a good time in Virginia Beach, so I'm excited to be here again.''
Eales, of Burwell, England, contradicts the stereotype of a professional athlete. The 23-year-old is a graduate of Ivy League power Brown, where he was an Academic All-American. He is preparing to study journalism in graduate school at North Carolina, where he will also be an assistant coach.
In the meantime, he has become the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues' scoring sensation. Last season, he netted 24 goals to finish third in the USISL and earn the Rookie of the Year award.
Despite his success, Eales sees soccer as a stepping stone to his life; a means of reaching other career goals.
``At the moment I don't see myself as a professional athlete because I've never seen soccer as a career,'' Eales said. ``I'm only playing while I'm studying, and I would play anyway. I would envision myself in another profession and getting paid. Even though I'm playing now and getting paid, I don't see myself as a soccer professional.''
The forward also played professionally for Cambridge United in England. He was recruited by West Virginia and came to America to pursue his dual interests. However, West Virginia was not what he had envisioned.
``They showed me pictures of the football stadium, so I thought I was going to be playing in front of 80,000 people,'' Eales said. ``When I got here, I realized they meant American football.''
He transferred to Brown, then graduated to the Mariners. At the end of last season, Eales went to play in the American Professional Soccer League. He joined the New York team and broke his hand in practice shortly before the franchise temporarily folded. The broken hand ended his chances of moving up to Major League Soccer.
``After last season, when the MLS started, there was a chance to pursue that,'' Eales said. ``Then I had the injury in New York, and I realized it's such a precarious profession. I'll enjoy playing it, and if I have a good season, so be it. And if I don't, it's not the end of the world. I'm not striving to ultimately play for my country or anything like that.''
He plans to play as long as he enjoys the game and does well, but also to pursue his non-athletic career interests.
``I'm still going to try my best and play as hard as I can on the field,'' he said. ``I don't feel a lack of motivation.''
Eales' motivation has been challenged in the preseason. He has had difficulty getting his official release from the APSL and has not officially signed yet with the Mariners. He injured his shoulder protecting his hand last month, and recently pulled his hamstring. Yet he is practicing and is listed as tenative for tonight's home opener against Baltimore.
The Mariners have a definite European flair this season, a factor Eales hopes will help them break into the Select League playoffs.
``The level is different in style of play,'' he said. ``It's a lot more physical in England; it's a lot quicker and a lot more compact. In America, it's more skillful.''
Entering what could be his final season of USISL play, Eales says he is not setting personal scoring goals or looking for glory. Instead, he is concentrating on contributing to a championship team.
``I had a good year last year in this league,'' he said. ``There's no reason I shouldn't have as good of a year this year. But more importantly, I'd trade that for the team having a good year. Hopefully I'll be scoring less and we'll be winning more games.''
Sounds like the advice of a professional athlete. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
The Mariners' Darren Eales' long-range goal is a master's in
journalism. Soccer pays the bills.
by CNB