"I remember seeing the guys thinking: 'Who the eff is this American?'"

The former Colorado Rapids and Crawley Town midfielder reflects on a nomadic career in France, England and the United States

- Matthew Nash

You're very well travelled. Do you feel British, American or maybe French?
I have an English dad and an American mum, who met in the States at university, and I have British and American passports. Mum took a job in banking in the Czech Republic and I was only there for a year. I don't have much recollection of living in the Czech Republic but I spent ten years in France, then moved to the US. I had a little bit of a French accent for a while!

What are your earliest memories of kicking a ball?
As young as I can remember. We'd play after school on whatever patch of grass we could find, and I always say that that experience of playing football in France was a massive part of my development. Football is definitely growing in the States but it's not at the level it is at in France.

When did you realise you could play?
At seven or eight when I was called up to play for the older team. But really, at that age, it's all about enjoyment. I had no thoughts of a football career at that point - I just wanted to play every chance I got. I watched all the Premier League, Champions League, German league matches, I loved it and consumed as much as I could. Now, I don't watch as many games on TV because as a pro you find yourself analysing a bit too much, comparing yourself to other players. I would see Christopher Nkunku, who is the same age as me and was from a similar area to me close to Paris, playing in the Champions League and be thinking: "Could have been me."

Did you feel going to the States as a youngster was a good move?