MATTHEW DURRANS Class of 2016 Interviewed by Michelle Noble | June 2016
A
long-standing Mulgravian, Matthew Durrans left Mulgrave in Grade 9 to move to Germany and
pursue his dream of becoming a professional soccer player. Faced with the challenges of moving to a new country, a language he didn’t speak, the rigors of the IB, and performing at a high level of soccer, Matthew persevered against all odds and has grown tremendously from his ambition and experience. As many of Matthew’s fellow 2016 classmates take a similar leap of faith when they leave home in September to pursue their dreams, Matthew shares some advice and wisdom that he has gained along the way on his journey. We hope you enjoy this Alumni Spotlight on our youngest graduate to be featured.
Matthew, it’s been a pleasure having
U-19 Junior Bundesliga. The process
helped me gave me another
you back in Vancouver for a couple
to be invited to play on this top-
opportunity to tryout with a larger
of weeks! At what age did you first
level team was a difficult one. I
and more famous club in Munich
start playing soccer?
contacted a soccer agent based in
called TSV 1860 München. The team
Germany, and after preliminary
allowed me to have four training
conversations about where I had
sessions with them in late August
previously played, he gave me the
to see if I had the potential to play
chance to fly to Germany in March
with them for the 2013-14 season,
of 2013 (when I was in Grade 9) for
and after performing extremely well,
a 10-day trial with a team in Munich
I was given the chance to join the
called SC Fürstenfeldbruck. The
U-16 team at TSV 1860 München.
I began playing soccer at the age of three with the West Van Soccer Club. I have only positive and happy memories playing the sport that I instantly fell in love with at such a young age. What team are you playing for in
tryouts proved to be successful for
Munich? What was the process to be
me as the club told me that I had
invited to play on this team?
performed well enough to be given a spot on the team for the following
What were some of the biggest challenges you had to overcome when moving across the world to a new country?
The team I am currently playing for
season. After much discussion when
in Munich is TSV 1860 München,
I returned to Vancouver to finish
which is a professional team
At the age of only 14, there were
my Grade 9 school year, I decided
playing in the 2nd Bundesliga
many challenges that I had to
to take this chance and move to
Division in Germany. I play for
overcome when moving across the
Germany. When I went back to
their Under-19 team in the youth
world to a different continent to
Germany in August to begin my year,
academy, where we play against
follow my dreams. Initially for me,
the soccer agent who had previously
it was the language barrier. Prior to
teams around the country in the
moving to Germany, I had no lessons
culture in Germany. Another major
in a short period of time. I tried
in German so I could not understand
challenge was leaving my friends,
to speak to my friends as much as
what anybody was saying on the
school, and home, and giving up the
I could in German, ask them for
soccer team, whether that was
privilege of attending such a great
help with grammar questions that
on the field, in a game, or in the
school like Mulgrave. Because I was
I had, and then apply it whenever
changing room. This was extremely
at Mulgrave for almost 10 years, I
I could (like at a store). This was
difficult and at times demeaning, as
made some incredible relationships
not easy but it was necessary, as
I had no idea what the other players
with other students and teachers
to be successful in soccer I had to
were saying about me or what the
that I have kept to this day.
learn how to speak the language in
coaches wanted me to do. Of course, most of the players could speak some English and would try to help me out; however, in Germany, they refrain from speaking English too
Having no background in German, how did you learn to speak the language fluently in such a short period of time?
often as they want German to be
It was extremely difficult! I had
the primary language. This is simply
to persevere on a daily basis and
their culture; if you live in Germany,
take many risks trying to speak
you must speak German. The first
with the other players. The simple
few months up until the winter
answer to how I did it is that I
break in 2013 was undoubtedly
just had to immerse myself in the
the hardest time for me as I was
German language and culture and
trying to adapt to the language and
break as many barriers as I could
order to communicate on and off the pitch, build closer relationships with people, as well as understand team tactics that would be applied in game situations. What you went through, making the decision to leave home and follow your passion, is what the rest of your peers are now going through as they graduate from Mulgrave. Do you have any advice for them, given your experience?
ABOVE: Matthew’s Mulgrave School photo.
ABOVE: Matthew and two friends at a Mulgrave Cypress ski trip in 2013.
ABOVE: Matthew at the Alumni Summer Kickoff event in June, 2016.
ABOVE: Matthew and his Mulgrave classmates in G9.
My main piece of advice for them
The caliber of soccer in Europe
like American football or basketball.
would simply be just to do it. Do not
compared to North America is
This difference in the overall
make a decision about your future
extremely different. The differences
culture of soccer is transparent in
based on trying to keep ahold of
come in the coaching, the attitude of
my daily life, as everything on the
things in the past; do what you feel
the players, the professionalism and
news in terms of sport is about
is right and let go. Do not be afraid
the general culture of soccer. The
soccer. Whenever somebody asks
of leaving behind your friends,
most basic difference in Europe is
you, “Are you going to watch the
“
game?”, they are only talking about
family or your home because they will always be there for you to come home to. Looking back on my decision to go to Germany in 2013, it would have been the easiest decision of my life if I were presented with it today. This experience has taught me so many things, not just on the field playing soccer but off the field developing my personality from a teenager into a young adult. It
DO NOT MAKE A DECISION ABOUT YOUR FUTURE BASED ON TRYING TO KEEP AHOLD OF THINGS IN THE PAST; DO WHAT YOU FEEL IS RIGHT AND LET GO.
”
one sport. As a soccer player, this environment really motivates me to become the best I can be as I see how much soccer means to people in Europe. Another difference is the coaching. The coaching in Germany is phenomenal and each coach takes his/her job very seriously. This also applies to people like the physiotherapists, managers and
has positively affected me and will
that soccer is not considered a sport
the assistants to the head coach,
continue to for the rest of my life.
– it’s a lifestyle. In North America
as everyone puts 100% of their
I get the impression that soccer,
concentration and effort into their
although very popular amongst
work to make the team as successful
younger kids, is just another sport
as they can be. The youth coaches
How does the caliber of soccer compare from N. America to Europe?
“
THE TWO MAIN SKILLS THAT MULGRAVE TAUGHT ME THAT HELPED TO PREPARE ME ARE TO BE ORGANISED AND TO BE A RISK-TAKER.
”
in Germany that I have worked
a sport at such a high level? Do
finish off your homework, and then
with are dedicated to making
you have any advice for a student
going to bed without seeing friends
good players into great players in
interesting in competing at a high
or just relaxing/playing video games
the hopes that they will become
level while taking the IB?
or watching a movie. However, with
professionals in the near future, and for me, this is a big difference. In Germany, the goal for these academy coaches is not necessarily to have an amazing season and be number one in the league (at a U17 level for example). The bigger goal is to produce professional soccer players who will play in the top leagues around the world. The final difference, but arguably the most important, is in the professionalism in Europe compared to North America. The way the team is run and the effort given to the job from the kit man to the head coach is all done to high standards. On the field, the training is taken very seriously, and there is a system for warm-up, training, and cool-down, and there’s even structure in the details, like who takes the equipment out for the training sessions. The training sessions are run extremely professionally and because of these little details, I find North America is not at the same level as in Europe. How did you find balancing the demands of the IB while playing
I found balancing the demands of the IB while playing a sport at a high level to be, at many times, difficult yet rewarding. The advice for a student interested in competing at a high level while taking the IB is that you have to have three characteristics: 1. Motivation – You have to be
all of this being said, if you possess these qualities and are 100% sure that this is what you want, at the end of all of it, it is extremely rewarding. Therefore, for me personally, I would not have done anything differently and am extremely pleased that I have achieved what I have so far in both school and soccer.
motivated on a daily basis, and you
Having been a Mulgravian since Grade
have to give 100% in school and in
1, are there any skills that Mulgrave
sport.
taught you that helped to prepare
2. Organisation – You have to be
you for such an ambitious endeavor?
organised, especially in school, as the IB is extremely demanding. You have to make sure you are on task for assessments and are not leaving them to the last minute. 3. Willingness to sacrifice (especially during Grades 11 and 12) – You have to be willing to sacrifice many things if you want to be successful doing the IB as well as competing at a high level in a particular sport. You may have to sacrifice things like not being able to go to a party on Friday night because you have a game Saturday morning, coming home at 9:00pm after leaving for school at 8:30am to
I think the two main skills that Mulgrave taught me that helped to prepare me are to be organised and to be a risk-taker. Without being organised, I would not be able to balance the demanding IB with my high-level soccer, and therefore, my dream to become a professional soccer player would not happen. Without being a risk-taker, I probably would not have taken that chance all the way back in 2013 to come to a different continent to play soccer. I am very grateful that an amazing school like Mulgrave has taught me these skills, as they have
ABOVE: Matthew with his mom and dad.
ABOVE: Matthew with his brother, Nicholas.
allowed me to reach my full potential
not only as a soccer player but as
What does the fall have in store for
and have given me a chance to make
a person. I owe a lot of what I have
you?
my dreams come true.
achieved to him, too, because he has
Have you had any role models throughout this whole process?
pushed me so that I can reach my full potential in my soccer career. He is an incredible individual with
My role models throughout this
an amazing amount of spirit that
entire process have got to be my
seems to touch everybody that he
parents. My mom and dad are simply
meets, and I am proud of what he
the greatest parents any kid could
has achieved, too, academically and
ask for, and I am so very privileged
athletically.
for what they have sacrificed in their lives for me to get to this stage in my life. They possess many important characteristics that make them
My dream is to become a professional soccer player in Europe. While I have worked extremely hard at this, I have also pursued my IB education. This fall, I will be taking a gap year from school so that I can concentrate solely on my soccer career. I will also be keeping my options open for the future by
You’re lucky to have such a loving
applying to universities in the US
and supportive family! Favorite
where I can play NCAA Division I
soccer team?
soccer. Therefore, I will be studying
fantastic people to be around. I can
My favorite soccer team is
only hope that one day I can be as
Manchester United. This has been
great as they are. I owe everything
mine and my other three siblings’
that I achieve to them because
team since day one as a result of our
without them, none of what I have
dad who was born near Manchester
done, or what I will do, could have
and has been supporting them
happened. Another key figure who
since he was a boy. It would be an
is also a role model to me would be
incredible day if I could step onto the
my brother, Nicholas. He has always
pitch one day wearing a Manchester
been there for me, inspiring me
United shirt with ‘Durrans’ on the
on a daily basis in so many ways,
back and play in front of 75,000 fans
as well as consistently critiquing
under the lights of Old Trafford, the
me to make me who I am today,
Theatre of Dreams.
and writing the SAT in the fall of this year. I have also been approached by the Canadian National Soccer Team, discussing my involvement with the national team in the near future. I am very excited for this coming year, and I hope to accomplish as much as I can, especially in soccer, to fulfil my dream of becoming a professional soccer player. Matthew Durrans, 2016