I’m from England and have lived in the United States for 15 years. Soccer has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I played through school even though I was never a great player in a country where the game is fiercely competitive. I wanted to play so badly that I set up a B team at my school just so there would be games for people like me.When I first moved to the US I couldn’t work legally, so I volunteered as a coach and passed on what I knew to kids. That felt like the right way to stay close to the game.Years later, during a World Cup and at a low point with my health, that old passion came back. Writing about the sport gave me a new purpose. I still follow it the same way I always have: Aston Villa in England and Columbus Crew here in the States.