Logan McDaniel
Just over 18 months ago, Logan McDaniel was drafted to play in the MLS for Portland Timbers and was so close to achieving his dreams, writes James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson).
That’s when disaster struck. A bad hip and then hamstring injury ended his hopes and has led to him taking an unusual path which has seen him travel to the Philippines, Finland and finally England to play football.
“It has been a rollercoaster for sure,” says Californian-born McDaniel as he sits down in Garforth Town’s Wheatley Park social club, a far cry from the glitz and the glamour of the MLS.
The 23-year-old is a member of the Richmond International Academic and Soccer Academy which has a partnership with Garforth that sees their players play for the first and second teams.
Whilst in the UK, he is studying for a Masters in Business, but the move to Leeds is part of his ambition to make the grade.
“I’ve always wanted to be a professional footballer, ever since the age of like seven or eight,” he said.
“My parents are always excited because I’m chasing my dream.
“My brother who is three years older than me got to travel a lot when he left college and he kind of inspired me to get out of the States and experience other cultures. That’s another big thing for me, I want to experience life in other counties.”
Logan McDaniel in action for Garforth Town
A graduate of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, football or soccer as he calls it, has always been his passion.
McDaniel is an avid Manchester United supporter and recently visited Old Trafford with fellow Garforth player Mitch Boland, for the first time when David Moyes’ side played Liverpool in the League Cup.
“I became obsessed with soccer from an early age so I’ve always followed the Premier League and I’m a big Manchester United fan,” he says.
“In the States it is very popular at a young age, but then as you start to get older players start to quit and take on Baseball and other sports.
“With big stars like Beckham and Robbie Keane coming over, it is really has been huge. Beckham’s influence has been tremendous because people can see him as a celebrity and as a footballer too so it has opened their eyes to football.”
When the chance to play for the Portland Timbers fell away, McDaniel moved to the Philippines to play for Kaya, a professional team in the top division over there.
His old club coach in American, Englishman Dan Metcalfe, a scout for RIASA, then got him in touch with the programme and he was enlisted.
Whilst there may be a colder climate on which McDaniel says “I’m from California so this weather is a bit different, but I’m getting used to it”, the utility player is making an impression on the Toolstation Northern Counties East League.
McDaniel has scored twice since making his debut in late August, but has shown that his technical ability is arguably the best in the league.
“It is much different to America,” said McDaniel when asked about the standard of the NCEL, a league he admits was a step into the unknown for him.
“In the States, I would say College Soccer is pretty much similar to this type of football as there is a lot of long ball and very physical.
“In the Philippines it was very technical and I played left-back and we were able to keep the ball very well. But, I think being tested physically has only helped my game. You don’t get much time on the ball at this level
“I’m a technical player so it has been difficult finding time on the ball and getting the ball down and playing. Garforth head coach Graham (Nicholas) has helped me a lot because he has thrown me into a very free role where I can get the ball down and play.
“I wasn’t nervous about playing here, but I was interested to see what the level would be like because I had absolutely no idea.
“I knew I would have the skills technically, but I’ve adapted to the league.”
McDaniel has a visa that runs for year whilst he studies and plays football so there is more to be seen from him in the NCEL.