Rutter scores Stateside dream (From Stroud News and Journal)

Rutter scores Stateside dream

GLOBE-TROTTING Tommy Rutter is living the American Dream with top USL Pro-Soccer League side Utah Blitzz.

Having played football in Iceland for FC Fram in the Icelandic Premier League, Rutter, 27, a former Shortwood United and Swindon Town utility player, achieved his long-awaited goal of professional football status in 2003 with Wilmington Hammerheads and has now helped Utah Blitzz capture the USL Pro-Soccer League title.

Rutter recently returned to the Five Valleys for the Christmas and New Year break and spoke to the SNJ this week.

"I have played for the Wilmington Hammerheads and the Utah Blitzz who play in the USL Division Two, formerly known as the Pro Soccer League.

"I have now won the PSL national championship with both teams," said Rutter, a former fitness consultant at Stratford Park Leisure Centre.

Rutter has certainly rubbed shoulders with Europe's football finest. "It is surprising who you come up against," said Rutter. "I have played against Barcelona and Bulgarian striker Hristo Stoichkov, Freddy Adu and American World Cup star Ernie Stewart."

Rutter also qualifies for The British Universities side, where he has played previously in the World University Games in Beijing, China 2001 and Deagu, Korea 2003, reaching the quarter-finals each time.

Rutter now combines his football career with a Masters degree in Kinesiology (human movement studies).

For the moment Rutter's future remains in America and he is currently in talks with Charleston Battery and Toronto Lynx, who play in Division One of the USL league.