We got the opportunity to sit down with the continental’s newest captain Dan Clayton. This is what he had to say….
Q: So let’s start from the beginning, where are you from?
A: Actually that’s a funny one; I live in a small town called Hope. It’s about ten or so miles from the Pennsylvania border.
Q: Wow, that’s pretty far way, how did you find out about the club?
A: (chuckles) Well actually, I was about to stop playing soccer all together, until my good friend Aaron told me about the Continentals. I figured this is my last shot at playing so what the hell.
Q: (laughs) so I’m guessing it turned out all right then?
A: well so far so good, I can honestly say if it wasn’t for Ryan (Ryan Vinton, Interim club manager and chairman) I would be just working and watching soccer on T.V. He gave me confidence and the desire to play again.
Q: You say desire, we had a previous conversation with former captain and President Ryan Deighan ,A.K.A Randâo said you had the most heart on the team and this led to your appointment as the new captain, do you care to comment on this?
A: Yeah, I guess you can say I always had heart. I gained my work ethic from my father. He never played soccer once in his life but I remember specifically the summer going into 8th grade he made me run every damn day. I hated him from it (smiles) but when I wanted to give up or I was too tired to keep running, he was right behind me to keep moving and said I would be fine. He always got in my face and told me I sucked if I had a lousy game. He really made me better and made me truly enjoy the game of soccer.
A: (Continued) as for my appointment as captain. I was nothing but happily shocked. As a first year player I did nothing but work and do all I can for the team to help it win, even if I had to play center back, a position that I was not very familiar with. Unfortunately our performance did not show how well we worked. I knew not everyone played to their potential and I tried to lead best by example.
Q: So I heard you played through many injuries, could that have contributed to the team’s misfortunes?
A: A true warrior never makes excuses and a captain doesn’t make excuses. I wish I could say I was 100% for every game but I wasn’t. Everyone who plays throughout the season gets their fair share of knocks, I just glad it was not anything too serious like Ryan’s injury (Ryan Vinton: Torn Knee ligaments, out until spring 09)
Q: However; rumors are swirling that there is a rift between you and manager Ryan Vinton; some sources say you even have defected to another club. Is here any truth to this at all?
A; (emphatically) No! And it’s BS otherwise. Yes it’s true that I am currently playing with another team, the County College of Morris Soccer team. I got permission and the blessing from Ryan (Vinton) to pursue and play for the team. It gains me valuable experience that I can pass on to my teammates and ultimately help the Continentals move up in the tables.
Q: Well can you make some predictions for this 08-09 season?
A: I'll make a bold one. We WILL be one of the top 2 teams in our division; I like what our manager did in bringing in some new guys, and keeping the core unit together. I currently still am fighting some injuries from the summer and from my college team. But I can honestly say with the core guys we have we will put up one hell of a fight, and we either go big and meet every challenge and exceed out expectations or we go home. We have too talented a group of guys to do anything less, and I expect big things……
-Thank you for your time.
* Thank you for having me, and come support our games and donate to a good cause. These young men are just like me. Chasing a dream to play soccer and would love the support.
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