NORFOLK, ENGLAND -- Adam Burden, a footballer from Diss, was
living the American dream before making the decision to hang up his
boots after numerous injury setbacks.
Adam was told by doctors he had to make the decision to stop
playing or face serious consequences to his health as he got
older.
"It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make in my life,"
said Adam.
But all is not lost for the he 20-year-old who is now turning
his attention to coaching the side he once played for.
Adam had initially been selected to play for the North Carolina
team Lees-McRae after being spotted by one of their scouts, who
less than a week later, offered him the chance to play football
across the Atlantic.
However, the initial excitement of moving to America soon turned
to disappointment as Adam picked up a serious injury just a few
months after making the big move.
"I had torn my anterior cruciate ligament when I was 17 playing
college football and wasn't able to play again for the next year
and a half after the surgery," he told BBC Norfolk.
"After going through my first pre-season in America I tore my
anterior cruciate ligament again as well as damaging my medial
ligaments and maniscus cartilage," said Adam.
Approaching his second season, Adam hoped to finally put his
injury nightmares to rest and resume doing what he loved most,
playing football.
But things took another turn for the worst.
"After a good pre-season, I kept having slight problems which I
thought were normal. During games I found that I was never playing
100% and it got worse over time.
"The team doctor took another look and then told me I had to
make the choice of finishing playing to protect my health for later
in life or to continue playing injured and face serious mobility
problems as I got older," said Adam.
Adam was now faced with making one of the toughest choices in
his life and his hopes of playing football at the highest level
were close to being over.
"After two weeks of talking things over with my family and
coaches, I decided that I would no longer play. It was devastating
having to accept that my dream was over," said Adam.
Adam's coach at Lee-McRae's, Jay Benfield, was also disappointed
to hear the bad news.
"It was very upsetting when Adam had to make the decision to
hang up his boots as he was such a wonderful asset to our team. But
following two surgeries on the same knee it was a matter of Adam's
long-term health being more important than playing," said Jay.
Coaching career
Speaking to Adam, you get the impression this is a young man who
is determined to carry on and achieve great things despite recent
setbacks.
He's now turned his focus to coaching, quickly being given the
opportunity to take up the role of assistant coach at the
successful Lees-McRae, where he's relishing his new challenge.
"When I was playing, it was always a personal and team goal to
win the National Championships and this has stayed with me since
i've started coaching and is one of the main reasons why I was able
to stay so focussed after I decided to stop playing," said
Adam.
Jay Benfield, Adam's coach
And his new career in coaching has got off to a great start,
impressing fellow coach Jay Benfield.
"Adam has jumped into his duties as a coach full on. He has been
invaluable in helping out with training sessions, game day
preparations and adding input regarding the team from a tactics and
personnel stand point.
"He has shined in the position we have afforded him and expect
him to carry on coaching to these high standards," said Jay.
Lees-McRae were recently ranked the best university soccer side
in the whole of America.
"We've just won our conference and are striving to win the
championship which would look great on my coaching CV after just
one year," said Adam.
So after a turbulent past few months for Adam, the future looks
bright with a successful coaching career on the horizon along with
the prospect of obtaining a degree in physical education.
"I plan to get all the coaching qualifications I need to become
a professional and aspire one day to become a top coach in
England," said Adam.
Link to BBC Norfolk
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