Wondering what your favorite Quakes players are up to this off-season? We caught up with Quakes star and MLS Newcomer of the Year Darren Huckerby for a quick Q&A session...check back next week for part two!
Other than family, who were the most influential people in your life when you were growing up? Why?
My coaches, from an early age they believed in me and they made me realize I had to work hard to get to where I wanted to go. I think any kind of coaches early on were the main people.
Who in your family were you closest to?
Mainly my brother, he was a year younger than me and we used to have little battles in the park behind the house, we used to play football (soccer) there everyday.
When you were a child, what did you imagine your adult life would be like?
To be honest I never really thought about it. When you are young you just enjoy everyday for everyday, whether it was playing football or being with my friends. It was just a matter of enjoying life day to day.
If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same path?
Yes, I wouldn't change anything. Not one thing. I had ups and downs in my career but I wouldn't change anything. Everything that went against me made me stronger.
What was your first pet? Do you remember any funny stories about that pet?
Not really, I had a couple of birds but not really.
What was your favorite thing to do as a child?
Play football, my family wasn't particularly rich so you'd just meet your friends and play football and as you get older you meet a few more friends and do different things. But, I would say football was my favorite thing to do.
What is your most prized possession?
My two little boys.
What was your most embarrassing moment in high school?
I didn't really have one. I wasn't particularly good or particularly bad, I just got through it. I got turned down by a few girls in my time but nothing too bad.
Were you voted "Most likely to..." do anything in high school?
I was probably physically gifted as an athlete...like I said before, my high school wasn't that great so if you got out of school with any kind of education you did ok, and I did ok in school.
What was your first job?
Being a soccer player is the only job I have had. I left school when I was just turning 16 and went straight into soccer. It is a little bit different in England.
What did you do with your first paycheck?
My first paycheck was about $45 so I got a CD. That was when CDs first came out. It was the equivalent to my weekly wages, which were very little.
Who knows you the best?
My wife, but I have some close friends I have know since I was in school and they probably know me quite well.
