Congratulations to Jake Hill who has secured a soccer scholarship to Feather River College
Well done Jake! We wish you well for your time in the California!
Are You Ready For The Next Step?
Apply for a soccer scholarship with FirstPoint USA and get an
Congratulations to Hollie Dieudonne, who has been featured in the Grimsby Telegraph for securing her soccer scholarship to Bunker Hill Community College, through FirstPoint USA!
Hollie, who also made it to the top 10 wannabes on Wayne Rooney’s 2010 ‘Street Strikers’, commented -
“This is my dream and it is all that I’ve worked for since I was a little girl.”
Hollie’s mum commented -
“She has worked so hard to get this and although I will miss her desperately, I know she will take to the new lifestyle like a duck to water.”
And it looks like all that hard work and determination has paid off! We would like to wish Hollie the best of luck for her time in the USA.
Do you have what it takes to secure a soccer scholarship to the USA like Hollie? Apply here for your assessment!
With an office full of athletes, at FirstPoint USA we like to wind down the busy working week with a little Friday competition amongst the staff…our Friday Challenge.
Check out the first ever Friday challenge where Louise Fraser, Gymnast challenged Allen McDougall to handstands…..
This week Allen has featured again, as he challenges Director of Scouting Nicola Pitticas to a press up competition…..who do you think will win?
Congratulations to Anthony Pantaleo who has secured a soccer scholarship to Clarke University!
Well done Anthony! We wish you well for your time in the USA!
Are You Ready For The Next Step?
Apply for a soccer scholarship with FirstPoint USA and get an
JJ Lofthouse Smith is a former FirstPoint USA Soccer Scholarship recipient, who is enjoying his academic and athletic lifestyle at Stetson University in Florida.
We caught up with JJ this week to find out more about his new life in the USA, and what advice he has for any other talented young athlete considering a Sports Scholarship to the USA….
Hi JJ, can you tell us about your Sporting background?
I played for Hayes & Yeading when I was younger, then moved on to playing for football schemes with Wycombe Wanderers and Chelsea.
How did you find out about FirstPoint USA and what made you apply for a soccer scholarship to the USA?
One of my coaches whilst I was on a football and education scheme with Chelsea told me about his sporting background, and how he had an amazing expierience with a soccer scholarship to America. He went through First Point USA and passed me on to them.
Were you happy with the offers you received? What made you chose Stetson University?
I had a large number of offers even though I was on the programme for a short period of time…such as in New York, California, Hawaii and Florida!
Stetson University gave me a full scholarship and a complete offer I could not refuse. The location of Stetson in central Florida which meant amazing weather, a shorter flight and only -5 hours behind the GMT gave me an opportunity I could not refuse.
How did you find the service at FirstPoint USA?
The service of First Point USA was incredible in every way. I had no problems at all and every member of staff was approachable, regardless of their position. I would recommend to anyone and have on multiple occasions.
How did you enjoy your game against John Hopkins University? (a visiting US University competing against FirstPoint USA client team)
The first game I played in was an amazing and was also very educational. They were NCAA Division III and to see the standard helped a lot with what I would be faced with when I went overseas.
How has your life changed since going to University in the States?
My life has changed in a variety of different ways. I am surrounded and play in a team filled with a number of nationalities and cultures. Travelling around the country, you see how drastic one culture is to the next and learn to appreciate everyone.
What are the benefits of going to University in the USA compared to the UK?
I was fortunate enough to be given a full scholarship, so collectively I paid First Point USA a fee, I pay for flights back and forth to America, insurance and some spending money. This amount is minuscule in comparison to the debt I would have had if I studied in England. I travel around the US whislt playing the sport I love daily and after the four years, I have a degree to fall back on.
How did you settle in and make friends?
Everyone made me feel at home and were as curious of my culture as much as I was of theirs. My teammates helped me settle in immediately and helped me with schedules, classes and other things.
What is your training schedule like?
We come to school before every one else for pre season training, so have full days to train. When school starts we train at set times each day. Usually we have a weight session in the morning and then a ‘soccer practice’ in the afternoon.
How do you balance your academics with your athletics?
Balancing academics and athletics is not easy, but there is a lot of help given to you. Teammates will always help you and other students you become friends with. As a team, we have study hall sessions and have to complete a number of hours weekly. The athletic department also pay for tutors if you are struggling in a specific class.
What is your social life like at Stetson University?
The social life is good. There are always things to do and palces to see. I am very lucky as the town I live in is just between Orlando and Daytona Beach. Regardless of where you go, you are always experiencing something new.
How would you rate the University facilities?
The facilities you play in and come across are of an incredible standard! You are treated like a professional athlete and therefore have the facilities of one. Having physio’s at the ready for any injury and to treat you efficiently is something not everyone has the luxury of, yet it is part of the day to day life of a student-athlete.
Have you experienced any homesickness? If so, how do you cope with it?
Being homesick is something that will occur, but if you treat it in the correct way you can deal with it. I kept myself busy, worked out, studying and/or did new things to help. We are very fortunate to live in a time where we have things such as skype to help communicate with those back home.
What advice would you have for anyone considering a sports scholarship to the USA?
If you are considering a sports scholarship, do not go in half hearted. It is an experience that can change your life and if you put everything into it then the benefits from it will be outstanding. You mix studying, travelling and playing your favourite sport all into the time you have there and it will build you memories and friendships for life.
Would you recommend FirstPoint USA?
I would recommend First Point USA to anyone and everyone who is interested in a sports scholarship. They care for each individual and they seem to be part of a team that act like a family.
We would like to thank JJ for sharing his experiences with us, and taking the time out of his busy schedule to impart some great advice from someone who has been through the scholarship process.
Check out this article published in local newspaper Brighouse Echo about FirstPoint USA soccer scholarship recipient, Danny Stirland!
BRIGHOUSE Town Academy footballer Danny Stirland is looking to swop life in England for the chance to further his career in the United States
The 18 year-old prospect received multiple offers to take up a football scholarship across the pond before settling on Mount Olive College which is situated in North Carolina.
The scholarship was secured through Glasgow-based FirstPoint USA, the largest sports scholarship conultants in the world who act as an intermediary between talented sports people and college coaches.
Stirland will take up his place this Autumn where he will study for a degree alongside his footballing commitments.
“I think that this is going to be a great opportunity for me to pursue my footballing career, but also complete a degree course at University,” said Stirland, who began playing football as an eight year old with HAFC based at Elland..
“Although it means moving away from everyone over here, I think it will effect me in a positive way because it will bring out a side to me which I don’t know yet and it will be a great way to gain experience of a different style of living.
“If I enjoy my time in the US then in the future I will be thinking about permanently moving there, however I will be coming back to the UK after four to five years of studying at university there to spend some time back at home.”
Stirland, who is a student at Brooksbank School sixth form, collected plenty of honours at HAFC including player of the season and top scorer awards.
From there he had a short spell at Blackburn Rovers before joining Brighouse Town’s under 19 side where he has been since the age of 16.
He first applied to FirstPoint USA in 2011 where he had had a trial assessment at the Lancashire County Football Ground in which he was the strongest candidate they had on the day.
From there Stirland had an interview at Bolton Wanderers’ Reebok Stadium where FirstPoint believed he had the potential to achieve success in America.
He then had to sit the American entrance SAT test obtaining a very high score.
That led to Stirland playing at a couple of client games at the London Soccerdome where all the players were hoping to recieve a scholarship play competitive games against each other. These games were then reviewed by FirstPoint and the highlights for each player were edited and placed onto an online profile.
Stirland then took part in a Showcase game watched by 150 US Soccer coaches.
However, Stirland’s game was cut short by an injury which meant he was unable to play any further games for three to four months.
However, that did not dampen the US College’s interest in the teenager and after receiving a number of offers plumped for Mount Olive College.
“My family has been a great support throughout this process and they think that this is going to be a great opportunity for me,” added Stirland.
“Although it is going to be a sacrifice leaving things behind here I think in the long term it will be more than worth it.”
Fantastic article, Danny! We wish you every success for your time at Mount Olive College!
Congratulations to Max O’Shea who has secured a soccer scholarship to Mountain State University!
Well done Max! We wish you well for your time in the USA!
Are You Ready For The Next Step?
Apply for a soccer scholarship with FirstPoint USA and get an
Check out these videos for an insight into what some of the Athletic facilities are like at U.S Colleges!
Although the USA boasts some of the best College sports facilities in the world, we have found that some other countries can certainly boast the most unusual!
Check out this article we came across on Sportkeeda.com by Sriram Ilango about the 7 weirdest yet most beautiful soccer stadiums across the world!
Aalesund Arena, Norway FC
Notice the lack of stands - fans sit and watch the games from the cliffs!
Eidi Stadium, Faroe Islands
This Stadium is completely surrounded by sea! They even have a guy in a boat, who's job it is to fetch stray balls from the sea
Eco Stadium, Brazil
This Stadium was constructed completely without using concrete! It holds around 6000 people and even the dugouts are made with Bamboo!
Seats are 'planted' into the hills and electricity is given to the stadium through solar panels.
Gospic Dolac, Croatia
This Stadium holds around 6000 people and is completely surrounded by nature!
An inside view of the Stadium
Cocodrilos Park, Venezuela
This Stadium lies a few feet away from the National Highway and doesn't need fences because it is bounded my mountains
Braga Stadium, Portugal
Arguably one of the most expensive and beautiful stadiums in the world...it took more that $100 million to clear up the rocks
Marina Bay, Singapore
The whole stadium 'floats' in the Sea! The surface alone can bear the weight of more than 9000 people and the gallery can host 30,000!
