DALLMAN BEGINS WITH BOLTON TRIAL Thursday, February 15, 2007
University of Portland midfielder Matthew Dallman has kicked off a European audition tour with a visit to Premiership battlers Bolton.
The 21-year old redshirt senior has spent most of his time working with the Wanderers second team, but apparently is making quite an impression.
"I arrived (at Bolton) Tuesday," Dallman told YA. "I was scheduled to stay on a day-by-day basis with Bolton based on my performance, and I have now been asked to come back for a fourth day."
"Because of the first team's awkward schedule this week with two games in four days, I was only able to do a light warm up with the first team before they went in on Tuesday. "I trained the rest of the days with the reserve team."
Before his trial got started, Dallman made sure to give himself time to shed any fatigue or jet lag.
"(I) had arrived in England on Sunday morning and attended the Fulham game that afternoon," he reported. "For the past month, I have been preparing for my trials in Europe at IMG soccer academies in Florida."
Dallman claims it is an honor to train with the Trotters, who are currently in the running to secure their first ever Champions League berth.
"I am very excited that I have had the opportunity to have a shot with Bolton, which has proven to be a top club consistently in the EPL," he said.
"No matter the outcome of this trial, I am treating it as an excellent learning experience that will help me start my professional career."
Should Bolton pass on his services, Dallman has plenty of continental clubs willing to give him a look; among the interested are FC Nordsjælland, who employ good pal Heath Pearce.
"If I do not sign with Bolton, I have just confirmed a trial with the Bayern Munich reserves, and will depart for that pending the outcome in Bolton," he revealed.
"There are several other clubs that I am getting in contact with, and will know more about the times of these trials by the end of this weekend."
Where and when ever he may land, Dallman hopes to have acquired a UK passport that will keep all options available to him - his great grandfather, Roderick Welsh, played for Portsmouth and Port Vale in the old First Division.
"I am still waiting, trying to get this sorted out," he explained. "Both of my grandparents on my fathers side were born in England."
"I am still looking into this, as everything on paper tells me it should work, but I have not spoken with an embassy yet."
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