From Hendersonville to MLS Cup: Toronto FC goalkeeper gives back to community with camp – Tennessean
Toronto FC goalkeeper and Hendersonville native Caleb Patterson-Sewell labeled his son Theo “a trouper.” The 4-year-old wasn’t fazed by a tough overnight road trip from Toronto to his father’s hometown.
But beginning the 12-hour drive a few hours after a game means Caleb is a trouper, too.
Toronto made a dramatic comeback to draw Sporting Kansas City on June 7, its last match before the league’s international break. Yet, there was no kickback for Patterson-Sewell. Although he was on the bench for the game, energy was needed for the excursion ahead.
He had his own plans to start up his silver Range Rover Sport at 10 that night and push, just to arrive promptly for the first day of the CPS Soccer Camp for youth in Hendersonville at Pope John Paul II High School.
“There was no time to see family or friends,” Patterson-Sewell said. “It was about getting this thing going and being ready to entertain the visiting coaches and players when they arrived. It’s one of those ones where we don’t really sleep.”
Patterson-Sewell’s passion for the youth in his community matches his love for the game. He wants to prove that any player can make it from the Tennessee soccer grassroots to MLS. In fact, Patterson-Sewell has made it to the MLS Cup, the league’s championship game, which will take place Sunday (2 p.m., ABC) in Seattle when the Sounders host Toronto FC.
“It’s a high priority for me (and) to show these kids that if I can do it, so can they,” Patterson-Sewell said.
Fortunately for Patterson-Sewell, the month-long CONCACAF Gold Cup and an extra day off granted by Toronto FC allowed him to stay through the entirety of his camp.
Born in Hendersonville, he moved when he was 3 to Australia, his mother’s home country. He would return occasionally for four- to five-month spells, notably for his freshman year at Hendersonville High School in 2001-02 before returning to Australia.
Patterson-Sewell played for the Toowoomba Raiders in Queensland in Australia. He had youth academy spells at English clubs Sheffield Wednesday and Liverpool FC, as well as R.S.C. Anderlecht in Belgium.
The 10-year veteran goalkeeper has been on the MLS roster with Toronto FC and New York Red Bulls. He founded the Caleb Patterson-Sewell Soccer Academy and Camp in 2013.
In June, the summer camp housed 270 youth players for a four-day instruction. Coaches and volunteers ranged from Trevecca’s men’s soccer program to Pedro Marques, technical director of youth football from Portuguese giant SL Benfica.
In 2013, a speech about his dream to provide opportunity for those like him piqued the interest of Jana Spicer, then the youth soccer commissioner in White House.
“I didn’t know who he was as a soccer player. I had to Google him,” Spicer said. “I don’t know as much about soccer as I do know about helping the youth, which is my passion. From his speech, I came to learn that he’s passionate about that, too, and he wants to bring that and soccer together.”
Spicer is now White House’s youth soccer director of marketing and sponsorship. Spicer said Patterson-Sewell’s connection to the community became personal for her when he invited her son, Austin, to his camp.
The 14-year-old midfielder for White House Heritage High School has since gone to the camp during four consecutive summers.
“It’s important to our community, to feel like we have a chance in this sport,” Austin said. “(Caleb’s) humble about the opportunity he got and is also humble about the opportunity to give back to his community.”
Trevecca senior midfielder Shane O’Connell has been inspired by the camp experience.
“He went to Liverpool Academy in England, played in Australia, and I just think he’s showing that it’s possible for people to do what he does,” O’Connell said. “(Soccer ) isn’t in the shadow of any sport. It’s becoming a main sport in Nashville. I think Caleb is a big part of that, giving these kids opportunities that its able to be done if you do it right.”
For stories about Nashville SC or Soccer in Tennessee, contact Drake Hills at DHills@gannett.com. Follow Drake on Twitter at @LiveLifeDrake.
Published 3:27 PM EST Nov 9, 2019
