News

FC Alumnus Shannon Smyth to Play In Norway
 Jan 09 2010 - RH

One year out of college FC Milwaukee alumnus (of over 10 years) Shannon Smyth can not kick the soccer habit. After finishing a successful 4 year run at the University of Louisville, Shannon continued in the game by playing with FC Indiana (in the W League), is vying for a permanent position on the Irish National team, and worked as a volunteer assistant with the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee women’s team. This year she will be traveling to Norway to play with FK Donn. FC Milwaukee Alumni Director Chris McCreary recently interviewed Shannon about her soccer journey up to now and going forward. Follow Shannon's Journey on her Blog.


CM: Have you considered blogging? If you have the time or interest, it would be a great way to enlighten our girls (and boys for that matter) as to the opportunity, trials and tribulations of playing professionally abroad, and in a European leagues top flight. It might prove cathartic for you as well-who knows?

SS: I have considered blogging and as soon as I'm settled in Norway will set up a web page/blog. For now, anyone can follow me on twitter @ShannonSmyth. I've embraced twitter as my means to update people on my progress with the Irish National Team this past summer, my life playing with FC Indiana in the W-League and my training these past few months to prepare for what turned into a contract with FK Donn.

CM: How old were you when you started playing with FC Milwaukee/Kicker Nationals?

SS: I was 10 years old when I first started with Milwaukee Kickers. We didn't have enough players to have a U-11 girls team so we combined and played up for U-12. I don't think we won one game that first year, but seeds were planted that year that would prove to be the foundation of a successful age group. With the addition of a few players, we were able to split into two teams the next season and went undefeated. We never lost a state title for the remainder of my career at FC and showed well at regionals and national tournaments...look at me, reliving the glory days!

CM: When do you leave for Norway?

SS: I leave January 7th and after many hours of travel arrive in Kristiansand, Norway January 8. I won't be back to Milwaukee until next December as it is a one-year contract.

CM: When does the preseason start?

SS: The team officially meets January 15th. Hopefully by then I will be jet-lag free! We'll begin training in Kristiansand throughout January and February, followed by a week trip to either Spain or Turkey to play a few exhibition games in March before the season truly gets underway late March/April.

CM: How long is preseason?

SS: Preseason is a process--we begin lighter training on and off the field and work to a more intensive mood as the season approaches. The season is long so it's important to peak at the right times.

CM: How many games is the season?

SS: There are 12 teams in the "toppserien" league for women--this is the top flight to play in within Norway. Everyone plays each other twice, home and away, so the season consists of a minimum 22 games.

CM: In what place did your club finish in the league table last season?

SS: Previously, for years FK Donn competed consistantly in the Toppserien league. One of their most famous women's players is Charmaine Hooper, who may still be the most capped Canadian National Team player. In recent years, they have been relegated to the Second Division. In 2009, they won the Second Division title and were promoted to the Topperserien where our goal is not only to avoid relegation, but put ourselves in position to be in the top 5 by the end of the season. The club has invested a lot in this team so I believe we will do great things.

CM: Do you plan to learn to speak Norweigian?

SS: I have already picked up a few phrases and nearly everyone there also speaks english, so that's good news for me! My goal is to be able to at least carry on a conversation a five year old could understand!

CM: How old were you when you first began to dream of playing professionally?

SS: I honestly don't know...I think when Lisa Kryzowski (former FC Milwaukee coach) went overseas to play I began to wonder what that would be like. When Lisa went abroad, the WUSA wasn't established yet, so it was the only option for women to play professionally. For me, I've always wanted to go abroad to play. I crave to experience the different culture and to learn the game from a new perspective. I hope with the WPS growing roots, more young girls who have great talent with soccer will embrace opportunities the WPS or leagues abroad can provide. Players I've watched and gotten to know in Milwaukee such as Lisa, Fanta Cooper and Leslie Osborne have had an effect on my ambitions to continue to play the game I love while I am still able to compete at a high level.

CM: How did you land at fk donn?

SS: Like many people land jobs--networking. I was interested in playing in Norway because I knew they had a top, competitive league in Europe. It's a bit tricky when trying to connect from the other side of the ocean, but after a bit of research I sent me resume to some clubs and worked with the replies I got. I came to find that FK Donn had exactly what I wanted to start my career.

CM: What other pro tryouts have you experienced?
I thought about attending the WPS combines, but decided to put all my efforts in going abroad because it's truly what I desired. I had opportunities in a few countries, but when FK Donn brought me in, I fell in love with the city and the club. I cancelled a couple other tryouts and went with my gut instinct to start my pro career with FK Donn.

CM: How did the opportunity to play with the Irish National Team present itself?

SS: I spent the summer going into my Junior year of college traveling around Ireland and visiting my family there. My father was born and raised in Dublin, so I have dual citizenship which makes me eligible to play for the Irish National Team. After much persistence to get a look from the coaches, a scout saw me play pick up with some of the players on the full team and put in a good word for me with the head coach--again, networking! I was invited to Thailand with the team to compete in the World University Games and for the past two years have been in and out of full team camps. I hope with my experiences at FK Donn that I will become a more mature player and finally break into the travel roster for Ireland.

CM: Can you encapsulate that experience?

SS: It has been phenomenal to experience training within a national team environment. To play for your country is unlike any other team I will ever play for. I'm very proud and have enjoyed my experiences so far. I'm still a young player and believe my best soccer is ahead of me...it is a goal and my hope that in near future I will earn my first cap of many for Ireland.