MANY Brits grow up with dreams of becoming a professional footballer, and there are a range of different ways to achieve that goal.

Football clubs are now willing to offer children as young as four a place in their academies, while others who are not so fortunate to get a place in their favourite club’s youth system may look to join their local non-league side and hope to impress enough to work their way up the football pyramid.

It is unusual to hear of an Englishman joining a non-league side before relocating to the United States - a country notorious for not warming to ‘soccer’ in quite the same way as basketball, baseball, American Football and ice hockey - in an attempt to forge a successful football career.

But after spending some time with National League South side Concord Rangers, Kristian Moore-Cowell decided to swap the Essex club for Nebraska, following advice from his King John School PE teacher.

Moore-Cowell, 20, says: “It was good at Concord. I went over there the season before I left for the United States and I was also playing for my school at the same time so I was getting really fit and it helped a lot in building up my fitness. I was 17 going on 18 at the time.

“I decided to make the move to the US because the PE teacher at King John, Joe Edwards, did it at my age and told me about it.

“I kind of asked myself whether I wanted to go into work or carry on doing something that I enjoy so I went for it.”Echo:

Moore-Cowell was offered a place at Hastings College, Nebraska, where he would study for a degree in marketing - along with a minor degree in athletic coaching - at the same time as playing football for the college’s football team, Hastings Broncos.

Despite finding it difficult to adjust to his new surroundings initially, Moore-Cowell has enjoyed the first 18 months of his four-year stint across the pond.

“I went into it open minded,” confirms Moore-Cowell. “I went and played a few games and got a few offers. There were a few colleges that came forward for me and wanted me but I decided to go for Hastings College in Nebraska because, at the time, they were ranked fifth over there.

“The first month was a bit of a culture shock for me because I didn’t know anyone there. But after the first month or so I really enjoyed it.

“Last year, we were 25th going into the season and, for me, it was a learning process because they have a different culture of football to over here. At the end of last year, we started working again straightaway. We changed the coach and we went from being ranked 25th in the country to being number one.”

The midfielder’s second season with the Hastings Broncos was certainly a successful one, as Moore-Cowell won silverware earlier this month and saw his side become the United States’ best college football team.

The Hastings Broncos won all 25 of their regular season games to proceed to the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship finals in Florida.

Moore-Cowell’s side won all four of their knockout clashes - with one being via a penalty shoot-out and two after extra-time - to book their place in the final, where they would beat the University of Rio Grande to win the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship and become the country’s leading college football team.

Moore-Cowell was overwhelmed with the reception he and his team mates received once they returned to Nebraska.

“We played our last-32 game at our place and we won to go to Florida for the last-16. From there, you basically play a game every two days. From the last-16 we went to extra-time in our three matches before the final.

“We came back after winning the final and there was lots of people congratulating us and then we had an open-top bus tour, which was a bit surreal.

“Then a few days later we went on NBC Sports, which is obviously a big network out there, so that was a great experience.”

College sports have a huge following in the United States, with broadcasting powerhouses ESPN and NBC fighting to cover the best up-and-coming stars.

Professional clubs in the United States also pay close attention to college stars as they have the opportunity to sign those who impress in the MLS Draft.

Although the midfielder is focused on the remainder of his degree at Hastings College, Moore-Cowell is aware that he has many options open to him once his time in Nebraska comes to an end, and another move abroad would interest him.

The former Concord man adds: “It’s hard to explain what college sports are like out there.

“This was a big year for me and I am the youngest one in the team.

“At the end of the four years I would like to go abroad, like others I know have, to somewhere like Scandinavia or Australia.”

Echo:

Rugby ace brother Wray ‘told me to have no regrets’

MOVING over to the United States of America at the age of 18 was a difficult decision for Kristian Moore-Cowell to make.

Having just left school and played regularly for Concord Rangers, the midfielder decided to follow the advice given to him by his PE teacher, and move Stateside.

But before leaving the family home, the teenager was able to call on his brother, rugby star Jackson Wray, for advice.

Wray, who also attended the Benfleet-based King John School, has featured for the likes of Westcliff and Barking RFC. 

In 2006, Wray joined rugby giants Saracens and the back row has gone from strength to strength since the move.

Wray is now closing in on a call-up to Eddie Jones’ England side, having won the Aviva Premiership title and Champion Cup earlier this year.

But before Wray’s success for Saracens, the 25-year-old also enjoyed a brief stint abroad, and so he was the ideal person for Moore-Cowell to talk to before making the big move across the pond.

“He went to South Africa when he was 18 for about a year,” said Moore-Cowell.

“The move to South Africa was a shock for him but also a great experience.

“So when I asked for his advice, he said to go out there and have no regrets.”