The most inspirational soccer people in my life are the late Brendan Keogh and Greg Turley, both from my homeland of County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

Brendan and Greg both passed in 1999.  In the space of less than one year, I lost these two great soccer inspirations, and more important, I lost two very good friends.

Brendan and Greg did so much for soccer.  Young players in particular benefited from their soccer passion and drive to see improvement and development amongst our talented youth players.  Anyone who came into contact with them would tell you how enthusiastic both men were about the game.  Behind their families, soccer was their lives, their dreams, their enjoyment in life.

Hundreds of people from both sides of the religious divide of Ireland were at the two funerals to pay their last respects to these dedicated men.  

I remember thinking how the majority of people at Brendan's funeral were also at Greg's nearly a year later.  All were stunned into silence, and all agreed how terrible it was that our sport could lose two great men in such a short space of time.

My thoughts and prayers will always be with their families, and my drive to be like them both will always continue throughout my career in soccer.  On many occasions I know that they are still guiding me, and so in a strange way, I know that they have never left.  They just speak to me differently now.

As I continue my new life in the United States, I hope that what I learned from Brendan and Greg, I can pass on to all the players and coaches that I come into contact with.  If I do then I know that I have been successful.

Rest in peace my friends, until we are united again.