Ed Brand is another very relevant candidate for our Firstpoint USA Hall of Fame. Ed has enjoyed a successful career to date with Chelsea Football Club and playing for the Spartans soccer team at San Jose State University, amongst other athletic accomplishments.
Ed is a former client of Firstpoint USA, on this profile we take a look over his career to date and speak to Ed about his experiences.
You will soon be able to vote for your choice to enter the FPUSA Hall of Fame from, keep following our blog and facebook for details.
Andrew Kean, FirstPoint USA chief executive and founder has this to say of Ed and his achievements:
"When Chelsea FC contacted me to highly recommend a member of their youth team as a possible scholarship candidate, I knew that the player would have to be very special. Ed Brand has been an excellent ambassador for FirstPoint and enjoyed a terrific academic and playing career at San Jose State University in California. His leadership qualities were well recognised at SJSU and he led the team as captain for the majority of his 4 years on scholarship. Ed is a great example to any player that there are still life after being released from a professional academy. Another excellent candidate for the FirstPoint USA ‘Hall of Fame’ and very deserving of the success he has enjoyed to date."
Andrew Kean, FirstPoint USA chief executive and founder has this to say of Ed and his achievements:
"When Chelsea FC contacted me to highly recommend a member of their youth team as a possible scholarship candidate, I knew that the player would have to be very special. Ed Brand has been an excellent ambassador for FirstPoint and enjoyed a terrific academic and playing career at San Jose State University in California. His leadership qualities were well recognised at SJSU and he led the team as captain for the majority of his 4 years on scholarship. Ed is a great example to any player that there are still life after being released from a professional academy. Another excellent candidate for the FirstPoint USA ‘Hall of Fame’ and very deserving of the success he has enjoyed to date."
Ed Brand
Position: | D/MF |
Height: | 5'11" |
Weight: | 170 |
Year: | Senior |
Hometown: | London, England |
High School: | Elliott School |
Experience: | 3 Letters |
SPARTAN NOTES: In his fourth season with the Spartans...one of six seniors on the 2008 roster...veteran anchor in central defense and three-time team captain...enters his final collegiate campaign with 50 career starts among 51 games played, and is vying to join Johnny Gonzalez (2002-05) and Frank Sanfilippo (2000-03) in becoming just the third known Spartan to earn all-conference honors in all four years...voted to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation 15th-Year Anniversary Men’s Soccer Third Team prior to the 2007 season...all five career goals have come from the penalty spot, on five attempts, with three of them game-winners...2007 Academic All-MPSF honoree and 2006-07 San Jose State University Scholar-Athlete.
2007: Named an All-MPSF second team performer...started 15 of the 16 games in which he played...had two goals for four points...both goals came on penalty kicks...scored the game-winning opener in the 48th minute of a 2-0 home defeat of Cal State Bakersfield (9/26), and the lone Spartan goal in a 2-1 overtime loss at MPSF foe Denver (10/29)...aided in three of the Spartans’ five team shutouts defensively...five of six shots for the season were on goal...shared Most Valuable Player award with Ismael Ibarra, as voted on by teammates...one of four Spartans to be named to the season-opening Davidson adidas Classic All-Tournament Team, earning Most Valuable Player honors.
2006: Named to the All-MPSF first team...voted by teammates as the Spartans’ Most Valuable Defensive Player...started all 16 games in which he played...produced two goals and two assists for six total points, third on the team...both goals came from the penalty spot in a 2-1 home victory over Notre Dame de Namur (9/16)...two assists, which tied him for the team lead, came on the lone goal at Sacramento State (10/1) and on the game-winning opener during the first half of a 3-0 home victory over UNLV (10/26)...was one of three team tri-captains...changed his jersey number from 2 to 6 prior to the season...took six shots, with three on goal.
2006: Named to the All-MPSF first team...voted by teammates as the Spartans’ Most Valuable Defensive Player...started all 16 games in which he played...produced two goals and two assists for six total points, third on the team...both goals came from the penalty spot in a 2-1 home victory over Notre Dame de Namur (9/16)...two assists, which tied him for the team lead, came on the lone goal at Sacramento State (10/1) and on the game-winning opener during the first half of a 3-0 home victory over UNLV (10/26)...was one of three team tri-captains...changed his jersey number from 2 to 6 prior to the season...took six shots, with three on goal.
2005: Earned All-MPSF honorable mention and a team Coaches’ Award...one of just three Spartans, and the only newcomer, to start all 19 games...partnered in central defense with senior Dylan Pender...provided one goal and one assist offensively for three total points...goal was the double-overtime game-winner in a 1-0 victory at Air Force (10/28), from a penalty kick in the 106th minute...earned MPSF Brine Co-Player of the Week selection following that game (10/31)...assisted on the lone Spartan goal in a 3-1 home loss to then-second-ranked New Mexico (11/4)...took five shots, with three on goal.
ELLIOTT SCHOOL: Graduated in 2005 from the Elliott School in London, England, where he was the captain of both the soccer (1998-2002) and cricket (1998-2000) teams...Player of the Year in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
CLUB/OTHER: Played in the youth system of London’s Chelsea Football Club of the English Premier League for seven years...previously played with club teams Fulham and Brunswick as a youth...represented his native England six times at various levels since 2003, including one game as captain.
ED: A journalism major with a minor in political science...intends to pursue a career in professional soccer...men’s soccer team representative on the Spartan Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)...wrote for Access last year, a campus magazine published each semester...enjoys writing, movies, music, cooking, reading and sports...favorite professional soccer team is London’s Arsenal Football Club...has one older sister, Rowena...parents are Chris and Ginny Brand...Edward Christopher Brand was born in London, England, on January 22, 1987.
BRAND’S CAREER STATISTICS
Year GP GS Shots G A Pts Shot% GWG
2005 19 19 5 1 1 3 .200 1
2006 16 16 6 2 2 6 .333 1
2007 16 15 6 2 0 4 .333 1
Totals 51 50 17 5 3 13 .294 3
Year GP GS Shots G A Pts Shot% GWG
2005 19 19 5 1 1 3 .200 1
2006 16 16 6 2 2 6 .333 1
2007 16 15 6 2 0 4 .333 1
Totals 51 50 17 5 3 13 .294 3
We asked Ed a few questions about his achievements and about any advice he may offer any young athletes considering pursuing an American college experience:
Please describe your athletic career since going to university
Since i have left University i have taken up a full time position working within Chelsea Academy as a coach and performance analyst
Please outline your highest accomplishments throughout your athletic career
Representing Chelsea Football Club from the ages of 10-18 is something i am very proud of. I captained the Youth Team and represented the reserve team on 6 occasions. Representing England at U16 and U17 level is something i am also proud of. I played for my country 6 times and captained them once, which is my proudest achievement. I represented San Jose State University for 4 years enjoyed some of my best memories playing for State and i was proud to captain them for 3 years.
What are your future plans?
As mentioned earlier, i am now focusing on my coaching and learning every day from the best club to do so in the world in Chelsea Football Club. I am progressing through my coaching badges and enjoying the experience alot.
What would you say are the benefits of having an American college experience?
It made me grow as a person. I have always been reasonably independent but attending University in America challenged me in ways and gave me experiences i could never put a price on, and im very thankful for the opportunity and experience i was given.
Would you recommend FPUSA and the American scholarship route?
Yes without a doubt, its a great way to live your life if you are prepared and enthused enough to see it through.
What would be your advice to any young athletes considering an American scholarship?
Trust yourself and listen to your heart. Yes there are challenges and yes there will be times when you will experience lows. However, compared to the highs you will experience they are secondary. The memories, friends and qualifications
you can attain for yourself are something you should not miss out on.
We would like to thank Ed for taking the time to reflect upon his career to date with us, to congratulate him in all his accomplishments . We wish him continued success in his role as a coach and performance analyst at Chelsea Academy.
*Info and Photos courtesy of The SJSU Athletics website*