Cleveland Football

ADAM MOFFAT was just a toddler when The Proclaimers released “Letter From America” in 1987, but rarely have the patriotic lyrics been as fitting to an individual as they are to a Scottish midfielder currently plying his trade in Major League Soccer.

“Linwood no more”. The line holds resonance 24 years later for Moffat. He was brought up in the Renfrewshire town which Craig and Charlie Reid sang about in reference to the closure of the area’s Chrysler car plant but his search for employment as a footballer would ultimately take him across the Atlantic.

After grinding out a living with Ross County and Elgin City after leaving school, Moffat was given the opportunity to head stateside to join the second-tier club Cleveland City Stars. His talents did not go unnoticed. After being named in the league’s All Star Team, he was duly drafted by MLS side Columbus Crew in 2007.

Four successful years in Ohio followed, including victory in the MLS Cup in 2008, albeit minus Moffat – injury preventing him from playing in the final.

“After we won the final we flew to the White House to meet President Obama,” recalls Moffat. “It was incredible. I was shaking hands with the American President and I was standing there thinking that just 10 years ago I was living in Linwood with my parents going to Gryffe High. It was something I’ll never forget.”

His dalliance with stardom only reinforced his comfort in his new surroundings. Now happily married, the American way of life clearly agrees with him and last year he played in almost every one of the Crew’s matches and even tasted action in the CONCACAF Champions League.

The Ooltewah boys soccer team won their second district match of the year Tuesday night with an exciting 2-1 win over Cleveland.

All three goals were scored in the second half.

Ooltewah opened with a Trey Tucker goal but Cleveland’s Alex Rodriguez tied the game at one minutes later.

Callum Wishart scored the game winner for Ooltewah who improves to 2-4 over all and 2-1 in the district.

Hunter Rozzell had five saves for Ooltewah.  Eric Ingraham had five saves and Bierson Bunch had four for Cleveland.

Ooltewah will host Central on Thursday.

The White County girls soccer team blew past Monroe Area 9-1 on Friday in Cleveland.

Brie Ballinger bagged a hat trick to lead the Lady Warriors’ goal assault, while Savannah Castles scored twice. Liz Granados, Kayla Everett, Remy Guzman and Kaitlyn Gearing also scored once each.

Meanwhile, Granados, Everett, Ballinger,Guzman, Megan Runkle and Gearing all provided assists.

White County (11-1, 6-1 Region 8-AAA) will play host to Stephens County at 5:30 p.m.

The Beech High School soccer team started the 2011 season with a bang over the weekend.

The Buccaneers went 3-0 and captured the title in the Cleveland Classic Soccer Tournament.

Beech (3-0) won by a virtue of a plus-7 goal differential, which edged second-place Maryville (also 3-0 and a plus-6 goal differential).

“This was a great start for us especially considering I gave the players some time off for spring break and a few had not practiced since last Thursday,” said Beech Coach P.A. Bowler.

In the first game, played Friday at Lee University, Beech shut out Ooltewah 4-0.

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