Montgomeryshire enjoys a strong footballing bond with the USA with our most famous footballing son, Phil Woosnam, credited with being a founding father of the country’s first National Soccer League.

 

The former Caersws lad made a name for himself across the Atlantic after a glittering professional career led to the job of USA national team manager in 1968. He has also been inducted into the USA Soccer Hall of Fame.

 

So it is not surprising that the route west has been taken by a number of local lads who have made a big impact state-side but, as yet, have failed in convincing the natives to call the game ‘football’!

 

Hugh Payne, Olly Bayliss and Peter Harrison hail from Forden, Welshpool and Berriew respectively and have established themselves for a number of years as respected coaches on the US’s west coast. While former professional Mark Davies and Oli Morgan have spent the past two years coaching kids on the East Coast.

 

Mywelshpool caught up with them to find out that they are all living the American Dream!

 

Olly Bayliss (right, with Tottenham and Wales star, Gareth Bale) was brought up on the Rhallt, Welshpool and scored goals for Newtown, Welshpool Town and Rhayader and was also a part of the Mid Wales Soccer Development Project under former Wales manager Mike Smith.

 

After College at Crewe and Alsager, he moved to the United States in 1998 to work for Major League Soccer Camps. He visited and worked camps in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Jersey, South California, Hawaii, Alaska, Connecticut and Colorado to name just a few.

 

A move to San Jose, 45 minutes south of San Francisco, introduced him to the local professional team, San Jose Clash, which later changed its name to the San Jose Earthquakes. During his time there, he met his wife Kris who works for American Football team, The Oakland Raiders.

 

In April 2006, Olly moved to a company Called Kidz Love Soccer, a recreational based programme that works with cities through California and Washington, rising to General Manager in 2008.

 

While located in what is known as the Bay Area, Olly has coached many youth teams, but also a men’s team in the local Premier league. At the moment, he works for the De Anza Force and his U18 side is ranked fifth in Northern California.

 

Forden lad Hugh Payne (right) was heavily involved in local youth football working with the Ian Rush Soccer Tournament, the Event Company and the Mid Wales Soccer Development Project in the 1990’s.

 

He played for Montgomery as a junior and then Berriew for the majority of his adult playing time from 1986. Hugh and his family (wife, Michelle, and three year-old, Ella) have just left after five years in Orange County/LA beaches in Southern California to move to Sacramento.

 

Whilst in LA, he worked for Fram Soccer Club, who singer Rod Stewart plays for in the over 50’s. During his time in South California, Hugh worked for professional clubs, Chivas USA, and as head coach of the LA Galaxy (David Beckham’s club) Summer Camps Programme. He is now with one of the top Northern California clubs, Placer United.

 

Ironically, he will meet Olly on the soccer field in the next few months when both their teams meet in the newly formed Western College Development Academy.

 

Hailing from Berriew, Peter Harrison (right) works as a teacher and soccer coach in Kansas City, Kansas. He has been in the USA on and off since the early 90’s and now works with one of the top clubs in the Mid West states.

 

His playing days started with Manafon and then Montgomery in the Severn Valley Junior Leagues and later on he played for Berriew and Newtown whilst working as a teacher in Aberystwyth. He is now married with two young children.

 

Mark Davies has experienced the highs and lows of the professional game but admits he is having the time of his life coaching with his good friend Oli Morgan (both pictured) just a stone’s throw from New York.

 

The Guilsfield midfielder was released by TNS after three years as a professional, which followed a further year spent at Rochdale as a trainee. But his thirst for adventure and love of football drove him to the USA where he is close to completing his second year coaching kids.

 

“The reason I came to the USA was primarily because I wanted to see the lifestyle and the country and to experience new things. The coaching was a plus point for me as I live two dreams at once,” he said. “Working for UK Elite soccer is a great way to gain coaching experience and over the last nine months we probably clocked up 700-800 hours of professional coaching, from ages 3-18 year olds over a variety of different abilities.”

 
Mark admits his lifestyle is “awesome” but misses “playing football, a few beers down the Oak (Guilsfield) with the boys and Mums cooking!”

 

Oli Morgan travelled to the USA with good friend Mark two years ago and the lads haven’t regretted a second!

 

The talented graphic designer has also pursued his love of football by becoming a coach and even spent a spell managing Guilsfield Reserves in between USA seasons last year.

 

His first stint last year for UK Elite Soccer Inc. saw him coach in Seattle, Idaho, Virginia and New Jersey where he has returned to this year with Mark.

 

“I wanted to come out because I’ve always enjoyed coaching and always wanted to experience the American lifestyle, so why not do it for a living!” he said. “We coach all ages from three year-olds all the way through to 18, on different kinds of camps and training.
 
“I love the lifestyle out here, living on the Jersey Shore, five minutes from the beach and quality nightlife. The house and car are all paid for and we are just 45 minutes from New York.
 
“But I miss the obvious things like friends and family and I am absolutely gagging to play again! I also miss roast dinner, a good curry and a lovely bottle of Lucozade!”