Former FirstPoint USA client, Craig Sutherland has signed to Championship club, Blackpool after turning down Reading.
Craig, from Edinburgh, was placed on a soccer scholarship four years ago to Midwestern State University (NCAA Division II, Texas) through FirstPoint USA.
Check out this article about Craig from the Blackpool FC website
Blackpool's latest signing Craig Sutherland admits his move to Blackpool is a dream come true after making his debut in the 2-0 victory over Hibernian.
Remarkably, after spending the last four years studying in America and playing college football, Sutherland sent off hundreds of DVD's to clubs in England and Scotland in hope of forging a career in the professional game.
Fate appears to have swung in his favour after Ian Holloway's wife Kim watched the clips of the striker in action and asked the Blackpool boss to take a closer look and the rest as they say is history.
"Four weeks ago I was wondering what I was going to be doing with my life after finishing college - I finished studying at Midwestern State University in Texas and playing college football there and then sent off hundreds of DVD's.
"My dad then got a phone call from Ollie out of the blue and at first I didn't believe him, I thought it was one of my friends pretending to be him.
"He then rang me and I was asking him questions to try and catch him out but after that I came to Blackpool, spoke to him and I didn't hesitate to sign," he said.
The Seasiders beat off the attentions of a host of clubs in England and Scotland to secure his signature, a quite incredible scenario for a player who prior to his move had never played for a professional club.
| Photograph sourced from www.blackpoolfc.co.uk |
And to complete the fairytale, his first outing in tangerine came against the club he supported as a young boy and the very same side he was due to train with next week.
"Surprisingly I wasn't really nervous at all, I've played in front of a couple of thousand in America but I guess when this place fills up it might start to kick in a little bit.
"It's crazy the way it's all turned around, I supported Hibs as a boy and it's gone from me going to train with them next week to me making my debut for Blackpool against them tonight," he added.
We would love to congratulate Craig on signing with Blackpool, and wish him every success in the future!
