Cleveland Soccer Club started the season with a dream result against the Rochester Lancers, putting the club on top of the Midwest East Conference table. While contributions from familiar faces appeared on the stats page, fans might not have known a few newcomers on the field putting in solid performances. One of those players was Lewis Dunne, an Ellesmere Port, England native who found success linking the Cleveland SC defense and attack in his central midfield role.
Dunne is just one of multiple Cleveland SC players with roots in countries outside of the U.S.
This is the first article of a new series highlighting Cleveland SC’s international talent by exploring how they made it to Cleveland.
What originally brought you to Cleveland?
I moved into the area after finishing my collegiate playing career to take the position of Graduate Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach at Lake Erie College. I have long term goals of becoming a successful collegiate head coach in the future and undertaking my master’s degree in Business Administration. Gaining valuable collegiate coaching experience is the first step on that journey. I was happy to take that step as I have really enjoyed living in the Cleveland area and being involved in what I love to do.
Once here, what led you try out to play for Cleveland SC?
I was contacted by Ryan Osbourne, who I knew personally before he was appointed as the head coach of Cleveland SC. Like Ozzy, being a northern English lad myself I knew that we would have a good relationship, and I saw it as an ideal opportunity to work together and go and enjoy playing again. I had been away from the game for around 18 months and I had missed playing incredibly, so when the call came it was a no-brainer for me.
Do you have any other connections on the team that affected your decision to join the team?
I used to play against Dec McGivern regularly as we competed in the same conference during our days in college. We had many battles over the years as our schools, Urbana University and Notre Dame College, are still fierce rivals in the Mountain East Conference. I was looking forward to being in the same colors as him for a change. Ozzy also used to be in the opposite dugout during my playing days in college, as he is the assistant coach at Notre Dame. It has been a bit strange competing with players and coaches that I used to battle against, but I’m enjoying it.
How is the team coming together under Coach Osborne?
We are starting to gel and become comfortable with each other with every training session. We knew that there would be a period in which we would have to get to know how we all play and what each other’s strengths and weakness are. The team is becoming fitter also as we enter the season; Ozzy has made it clear how important fitness is going to be in terms of the way we want to play. From a personal standpoint, the lads get on really well together; the dynamic in the group is very good mainly due to players knowing each other personally from playing together in the past.
What are some of your soccer accomplishments from youth, college, or in the NPSL?
I’ve been fortunate enough to have had a lot of great opportunities in the game so far. I played for Tranmere Rovers FC who are a professional team in the football league in the UK when I was growing up and had really good experiences playing against some top youth and reserve sides like Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City and other top clubs. I was then offered a youth scholarship, which is a full-time youth contract at the club, which for me was a massive achievement and the starting point of my journey to Cleveland SC over the last 5 or so years.
In college I was the first athlete in any sport to be awarded with the NSCAA 1st team All-American award at Urbana University. This has been the highlight of my playing career since I came to the states.
What’s been the biggest challenge of your soccer career?
Coming all the way to the US from Europe and playing with people from different countries who have different thoughts, ideas and attitudes about the game was particularly frustrating for me at times. I have a certain blueprint as to how to train, play, and think about the game, and getting onboard with different styles can sometimes be challenging. It has been really educational for me and has improved my ability to play and coach.
What does it mean to you to represent Cleveland SC?
It’s a fantastic privilege. I have only been in the area for just under a year, but when you come to Cleveland you immediately understand how proud of their city the local people are. I come from just outside Liverpool in the UK, which has a very similar feel to Cleveland, and since joining the team I feel like I have been here for years. I think it is important for the fans and the people in the area to know that the players at Cleveland SC understand who and what they are playing for.
What are your expectations for the team this season?
We want to win, it’s a simple as that. From the first training session it was made clear by Ozzy and the returning players from AFC Cleveland that the standards and expectations are going to be high. A lot of current players are former national champions at the NPSL level, and I know they want to go back there and the new players want to repeat their success. Winning our conference has to be the minimum as a benchmark.
What are your expectations for yourself this season?
I am very demanding upon myself, but I am more interested in setting team goals than personal ones. I expect to perform at my highest level at every training session and on game day. Anything I can do to help the team win games will be very pleasing from my end. The squad is very deep with quality also and healthy competition for places is at every position, so becoming a mainstay in the team and not giving my shirt up is an expectation I have put on myself personally.
Could you describe your experience so far playing in the NPSL?
It’s been very good so far, the standard is high and the games are intense which is exactly what I wanted. All of my experience in the U.S. has been at the college level and in the PDL, so making my NPSL debut last week against Rochester was pleasing. I think the fan base in the NPSL is really encouraging, there are a lot of teams in the league with passionate fans; which was another reason as to why I wanted to get involved.
What’s your favorite soccer memory?
My dad took me to watch Liverpool in the Champions League for the first time at Anfield. It was a 3-0 win against Bordeaux thanks to two goals from Luis Garcia and a goal from Steven Gerrard. He still has the tickets from that night in a frame in his kitchen. The atmosphere was indescribable, and I would urge anybody to go to Anfield to watch a game, especially on a European night. It was fitting that my Dad came to the states to watch me pick up my All-American award in LA, as he played a big part in my obsession with the game.
What’s your favorite soccer club?
Liverpool Football Club. Allez, Allez, Allez…
Is there another soccer player you look up to, have looked up to, or modeled your game after?
There are too many players to mention in terms of players that I look up to; the likes of Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen and Xabi Alonso being cult heroes of mine growing up. Zinedine Zidane was another, I remember watching him in France’s 1-0 win against Brazil in the 2006 World Cup and thinking it was the best single performance I had ever seen from a player in a game. In terms of modeling my game on a particular player and style, it hurts me to say it because he played for the Manchester United, but Paul Scholes may have been the best midfield player I have ever seen. His awareness of space, ability to put the ball where he wanted with both feet and dictate the tempo of a game was a pleasure to watch.
What other activities are you involved with outside of the club?
I coach the U-16 and U-17 boys at PFC Shaker in Shaker Heights. The kids are great and they all have a good time at games and training, so it’s been pleasing for me to give a little back to players in the community. It has also been helpful for me as it allows me to practice coaching a lot more, as opportunities can be limited when the college season is over. Away from the game I like traveling, reading and going for a beer every now and again.
Anything else you want us to know about you?
Up the boys, Come on Cleveland!
Content provided by Cleveland SC
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