COLUMBUS, Ohio – Andy Adlard is like any rookie: He's excited to be teammates with MLS players he admires and hopes to emulate.
“I’m awed a little bit,” he said. “I know there are national team players here that have played at the highest level against the top players in the world. I’m trying to do some of the things they’re doing and trying to link up a bit with them.”
In awe? Yes. But awestruck like a movie buff lined up at the red carpet for the Academy Awards? Nope.
“Being at Chelsea, I ate with my heroes – (Frank) Lampard and all them – for a week straight,” he said. “They were right next to me eating lunch. That got a lot of the star struck out of me and settled me down a bit.”
Adlard was 17 and the time and traveling with an elite club before entering Indiana University. He also trained with English clubs Birmingham City, Fulham and Colchester United.
Although the midfielder was born in Evansville, Ind., and grew up in Wisconsin, he feels at home in England where his dad was a goalkeeper for Nottingham Forest and Lincoln City while also being in the national team’s youth system.
There was a chance the younger Adlard's stint with Chelsea would create opportunities across the pond, but the timing was off.
“I was right at that age gap,” he said. “I didn’t have my British passport yet. I went over for a few more trials at different places. That was more for the experience than anything.”
After his father wrapped up his playing career in England, he became a college coach in the US and was the head coach at Marquette University from 1991-'05.
Crew coach Robert Warzycha said Andy Adlard’s background is unlike other rookies.
“He has an advantage,” he said. “He saw big games. He grew up in that environment with his dad playing and coaching.”
Adlard decided early that he didn’t want to be a goalkeeper like his dad.
“There was a point when I was 8 or 9 I thought about it, but by then I was already scoring goals,” he said. “I love the feeling of scoring. I couldn’t go in goal.”
He had 19 goals in 86 games for the Hoosiers in his career and was a All-Big Ten first team honoree in 2010. The Crew selected Adlard in last month’s Supplemental Draft.
“We can plug him in whether it’s wide midfield or center,” Warzycha said. “He’s a good overall player.”
CAMP NOTES
The first preseason game is Saturday morning near Phoenix against Sporting Kansas City. Warzycha’s son, Konrad, is a rookie midfielder with KC.
“As a father, it’s in the back of your mind, but also I coach a different team and I’m going to concentrate on my side," Warzycha said.
‘Keeper William Hesmer, recovering from a separated right shoulder in October, is expected to be cleared for full contact on Monday.
Backup Andy Gruenebaum had a cortisone shot in his right hip last week and is at least a week away from training.
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