Mervue Utd player making waves in the States
Robbie Keane isn’t the only Irish soccer player making waves on the other side of the Atlantic – Galway man James Casserly is brewing up a storm stateside, too.
Casserly, a former Mervue United centre back, has made quite the impression in the United States where he was part of a university soccer team that won a unique treble of titles this season.
The 21-year-old is on a sports scholarship with Lynn University in Boca Raton, which is 40 minutes from Miami in Florida, where he was an integral part of the university team that won the league and cup double at State level as well as a national title. Not since the 1990s has a university completed the treble.
Casserly, at right back, was the only member of the Lynn squad that started and played every minute (over 1,900) of the 21 games they were involved in this year.
Lynn won the Sunshine State Conference (equivalent of league), and followed it up with a win in the Sunshine State Championship tournament (equivalent of the cup) in the final in November.
His team then went on to win a nation knockout tournament, the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 2 National Championships, which were held in December.
The competitive university season in the US runs from August to December.
“We played 21 games and I was the only player to play every minute of every game. We won 19 matches, lost one and drew one,” says Casserly, who was home in Galway for Christmas and New Year.
Casserly has played with Mervue United since he was seven and made the breakthrough to Johnny Glynn’s senior team over five years ago, enjoying two and half successful seasons with the League of Ireland club.
During that time the former St Mary’s pupil represented his country on the Irish Youths but he craved a change of direction, and looked to the United States for a scholarship.
He sent video footage to universities in America and was snapped up through a scholarship by UNC Pembroke two and a half years ago before transferring last summer to Lynn.
Casserly trained with Mervue’s U19s while at home over the festive season and he would advise any young player in Galway thinking of making the move, to just do it. “I would recommend it to anyone. It is hard work – you have to study full-time as well as training then after study but I’d 100 per cent recommend it. I have no regrets about going over.”
Casserly, who turns 22 in March, has no idea yet what the long-term future holds but for now he’s just enjoying playing the beautiful game.
“I go back on Friday, and we’d train and have friendlies but there isn’t any competitive games this semester until the start of the next season, which is in August. I’m the only Irish guy on the team but there are players from all over the world, not just the US. I’m looking forward to next season and then graduating in May next year and we’ll see after that,” he said.