Goal Machine Ownby

Brian Ownby plays up front for the Richmond Strikers U18 Academy team and has been at the club since 1995. I had the opportunity to sit down with the prolific goal scorer and discuss a wide range of topics including: how it all started, his thoughts on the club, the new US Academy program and his call ups to the Men’s National team set up.

I am not sure how many goals Brian Ownby has scored in his time with the Richmond Strikers, but it has to be over two hundred and fifty! Brian has been finding the back of the net for the Orange and Black since he was five years old as the striker recalls himself.

“I started playing for the Strikers at the age of 5,” says Ownby. “I remember playing in my first game and I scored 10 goals! After that, I knew soccer was going to be the sport I played when I grew up!”

Ownby continued to score goals as he moved through the recreational program and then began to cause havoc at the travel level. Playing alongside his current academy teammate (Brandon Gary) since his recreational days, Brian not only began establishing strong relationships with his peers but also the Strikers coaches, who recognized the talent of Ownby very early on.

“The first time I saw Brian take off and beat one defender, then two, then three and then smash the ball into the back of the net I immediately knew this kid was something else”, says 11^th year coach Anthony Sherwood. “It was during a scrimmage between some of our U-9 teams on field 5 at the Park.  I turned to Coach Chris Barnard and we both knew that this was something that had not been seen before at this age group. We both saw a kid playing on pure instinct which had nothing to do with coaching.”

When talking to Anthony Sherwood, a native of Trinidad and Tobago and ex VCU Ram, it is quite clear that he has relished the opportunity to go that extra mile with Ownby and really help him develop as a player as much as possible. This is an example of a Striker coach, like many do season after season, going above and beyond a coach’s responsibility because he genuinely cares about the player’s development.

Ownby continued to improve and impress as he made his way through the elite teams at the club, mainly under the guidance of Sherwood as well as Mervin Wright and Maurizio Pava. Brian is appreciative of the fact he has had very good coaches as a young player at the club and points out one in particular.

“Anthony Sherwood has had the biggest influence on me by far,” firmly states Ownby. “He has coached me the most out of anyone and taught me a lot. He really loves soccer and is always a lot of fun to be around. We used to compete against each other all the time before and after practice, just little games of skill which I used to win mainly!! He has helped me so much and I still talk with him today.”

Brian is also appreciative of how the Strikers have helped him and how fortunate he is to have been brought up in a great soccer environment with outstanding facilities. His admiration for all the staff and his teammates is clear to see.

“I love the staff here at the club and my team mates. Everyone at the Strikers has always encouraged me and helped me to get better. The fields are some of the best in the country,” Ownby says.

Today, Brian is an integral part of a strong U-18 Academy team and still scoring regularly. In only twelve games in the inaugural US Development Academy season, he has scored a remarkable twenty-five goals! Ownby has worked on applying his technique at speed for several years and the way he can beat players left or right, is a joy to watch. Along with his blistering pace, work rate and finishing ability, Ownby is a handful for any center back in the country. Brian has thrived playing against the best players in the country week in and week out and clearly views the new set up as a big positive for everyone.

“The academy has been very beneficial for our team and the club as a whole,” says Ownby with conviction. “It’s given the players and the club more exposure nationally which is very encouraging.”

Ownby also went on to praise the efforts of the academy coaches, Erwan Le Crom and Trevor Spencer.

“Erwan and Trevor are different from any coaches I have ever had before. They have introduced a very professional ethic into our training which includes tactics, fitness, preparation and rest,” says Ownby. “We have sessions dedicated just to fitness.  I am in the best shape of my life and I know some of my team mates feel the same way. It is quite obvious that Erwan and Trevor are improving us individually and as a group”.

Coach Le Crom added, “I think what sets Brian apart is his technique and speed. Brian is able to execute skills at pace so he is very dangerous. Brian displays great creativity to get to goal and he always finds ways to get himself in goal scoring positions. As a former defender, I am glad I didn’t have to play against him!”

When I asked Brian what was one of the biggest things he had learned from the Academy coaches he said, “They have made it clear to all the team, No matter what, you always have to work hard in practice and games. And that you should never lose sight of the fact that you are always a team of eleven out there, not just one or two”.

Due to his performances during his travel days and his recent displays in the Academy league, Brian has been noticed by the US  National team staff and has been called up for the U-17 and U-18 programs.

In March of 2007, Ownby attended a U-18 National team camp with about thirty other players. In the summer of 2007, he received a call up for overseas trips to Portugal and Japan where the US team played against other countries. Brian has also attended two U-17 camps in preparation for the World Cup. The Richmond Strikers forward made the thirty man squad for the World Cup but was an alternate, an amazing accomplishment nonetheless.

“When I got that first call up I was so excited!” enthused Ownby. “It didn’t seem real at first. After I completed my first camp I had to wait and see if I got called up for the trip to Portugal. Once I got the call up, it was hard for me to grasp that I was actually going to play in my first international match!”

“Even at 8 years old, I always felt that Brian would play on a national team at some point”, recalls Coach Sherwood. “And preparing him for that opportunity was the challenge for me as one of his coaches. Brian playing with the national team has been the result of a long hard journey that began back in 1998 and has been accomplished by an unbelievable work ethic in training along side his Strikers teammates. Brian has been fortunate because he has always been surrounded by a great group of teammates, quietly supportive parents, and Strikers coaches who really did all that was possible to harness his potential.”

Brian is not the first Richmond Striker to represent his country and will not be the last. His story reinforces the point that with talent, hard work and dedication, a Richmond Striker kid can go from the recreational program to national teams. The environment, curriculum and structure are in place at the Richmond Strikers for players to advance.

“Brian Ownby has been a big part of the Richmond Strikers for many years,” proudly says Director of Coaching Carlos Martinoli. “His appetite for the game and his hunger to score goals is exceptional. He is near the end of his development with the club now but I hope he continues to improve at the collegiate level so he can further establish himself in the national team set up.”

With Academy play at mid point, Ownby does not have long before he switches the Orange and Black of the Strikers to the Orange and Blue of the University of Virginia.

“It’s very exciting for me and my family. I can’t wait to play at the highest level of Division 1 soccer”, says Ownby. “Being offered to play at Virginia as one of their top recruits this fall is great for Brian, his family and the Richmond Strikers”,  says Sherwood.

The Cavaliers got an early commitment from Ownby and the Deep Run student his looking forward to the next chapter of his life and soccer career.

“I remember the days when my family and I would travel up to Charlottesville and watch UVA play, and now I have the chance to play there. It’s incredible and is a dream come true!”

Brian also mentioned the positive influence of his parents throughout his time at the Strikers and how he couldn’t be where he is today without their support.

“Although my parents have not helped me with my technique”, joked Ownby, “they have helped tremendously with my discipline. They keep me in line at home which transfers to the field. I have gotten a lot of cards lately, mainly because of my attitude but I am consciously trying to fix it as don’t want to get a reputation as a dirty player and I don’t want to let my team down.”

Everyone here at the club is very proud of Brian and his accomplishments so far. Coach Anthony Sherwood sums up the feeling in the club when he says with genuine excitement, “I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Ownby”.

Although his achievements are truly fantastic, we are all quick to realize there is a lot more to come from Brian and he’s only just begun to scratch the surface. With goals of winning national championships, All American accolades and playing professional in Europe, ‘Ownby’ has a lot of hard work ahead of him.