About Me
March 3, 1992. On that day I witnessed my first professional football match with my father, as Leeds United AFC hosted Aston Villa in the English First Division. I had just turned five-years-old, but I can still remember the stale smells of sweat and lager as throngs of Yorkshiremen fought for position on the terraces. No seats, no frills, just Howard Wilkinson’s Leeds players pushing their way to the division title – the last of its kind before the Premier League changed everything.
Football in England is often described as a birthright, and on that day I received my inheritance. Never before had I been a part of something so visceral, as the crowd inside Elland Road felt like a living, breathing organism. In short, that single experience changed my life forever.
Growing up in North Yorkshire in the 1990′s, I was able to watch the best Leeds United team in a generation. There was Yeboah’s wonder strike against Wimbeldon, the emergence of Alan Smith and Champions League glory. Despite my father’s protestations, family allegiances steered me towards Merseyside. With a single swipe of his right leg, a young lad by the name of Steven Gerrard ensured that I would become a lifelong Liverpool supporter.
I moved to the United States in the mid-90′s, but my love for LFC and the sport of football remained intact. My American arrival coincided with the advent of a new topflight division in this country – Major League Soccer. The term “soccer” took some getting used to, but the league fascinated me and I instantly became a fan.
Combining my passion for the beautiful game, writing and media, I pursued a career in soccer PR after graduating from Kenyon College. I moved to the West Coast to earn my Masters degree in Sports Administration from Seattle University, where I was offered a position as Director of Public Relations & Marketing for the Seattle Wolves FC – a small USL Premier Development League club. I helped guide the organization to the 2009 PDL Media Department of the Year Award out of 68 possible teams in North America. I then moved on to D.C. United in MLS, where I am currently the club’s Manager of Media Relations.
In my current role I am the primary point of contact for all team media requests, traveling with the club throughout the season to facilitate press access. I’m also responsible for composing the bulk of written team collaterals – anything from game notes, feature articles, press releases, advisories and media guides. Thus far in my career I have covered professional soccer across a variety of mediums, whether for D.C. United’s official platforms, FourFourTwo Magazine, English Premier League Talk, The Seattle Times or this very blog. My previous sports industry experience includes work in the National Football League, Major League Baseball and NCAA Division I athletics.
I am an avid lover of travel, classic rock and drawn-out television dramas including The Wire and Sons of Anarchy. Aside from England, I have a real soft spot for the Pacific Northwest – the most beautiful part of the world in my opinion. I currently reside in the District of Columbia and spend most of my time at RFK Stadium or on the road with D.C. United.
