Blair Sturrock got his first glimpse of sa国际传媒 watching his dad 鈥� 20-cap Scottish international and Dundee United playing legend, and later pro manager, Paul Sturrock 鈥� coach at soccer clinics on the Island and Lower Mainland.
It is those connections that have brought the former English pro 鈥� part of Plymouth Argyle鈥檚 rise to Division 1 in 2003-04 after winning successive Division 2 and Division 3 titles the two previous seasons 鈥� to Victoria as the newest member of the Highlanders.
鈥淚 remember being 15, even earlier, and coming out here with my dad when he coached here and I still have friends in sa国际传媒,鈥� said striker-winger Sturrock, whose other pro stops were with Brechin City, Rochdale, Swindon Town and Southend United.
At 31, the end of the line was becoming evident in English football. But the beauty of pro sports is the opportunities it affords you, even if you never made it to the top major league. It鈥檚 those system of interlocking networks that make it possible.
Steve Simonson and Dave Dew, the Highlanders men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 coaches, respectively, have maintained close contact with Paul Sturrock through youth clinics held both here and in Scotland and England as the elder Sturrock managed at places such as Sheffield Wednesday, Dundee United and Plymouth Argyle.
Simonson and Dew have known Blair Sturrock since he was a kid.
Now he will be in the lineup when the Highlanders open the United Soccer League Premier Development League season Saturday at 5 p.m. at Royal Athletic Park.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a chance to be and play in a nice part of the world and to learn from Steve [Simonson],鈥� said Blair Sturrock, who hopes to eventually transition into coaching and managing.
鈥淭his experience is fresh and new and I definitely hope to help the younger [Highlander] players.鈥�
Growing up the son of a manager was invaluable.
鈥淪hape, shape, shape [positioning of players on the pitch] was drilled into me,鈥� said Sturrock, who will also become a coach in the Highlanders U-17 and U-15 programs.
鈥淚t鈥檚 all about great-shape, well-drilled football. I always thought of myself as an intelligent player, and that鈥檚 something that can be passed on.鈥�
Playing for a team called the Highlanders, whose fan-base includes kilted bagpipers, will make a Scotsman like Sturrock feel right at home.
But other things will feel different.
鈥淔ootball is life and death in Britain,鈥� noted Sturrock, who had 37 goals in 282 pro appearances back home, including two goals in 21 FA Cup games.
That role is occupied in sa国际传媒 by hockey.
鈥淭here is so much else to get involved with here,鈥� said Sturrock. 鈥淧eople here like to get out and do things themselves in the way of sport and adventure.鈥�
