Photos by Atlanta Silverbacks

By RYAN TOLMICH

Despite both hailing from England, Paul Black and Simon Mensing don’t have too much in common on paper. Black, a 25-year-old fullback, is looking to make a name for himself after several seasons in England while Mensing, a 32-year-old hulking center back, has set out to create a better life for himself and his family after featuring in Scotland for most of his career.

Fortunately for Black and Mensing, they did have something in common that caused their paths to cross: a dream to play in the United States.

The duo have united with the Atlanta Silverbacks under the tutelage of fellow Englishman Gary Smith, who has worked for years to get the opportunity to coach the pair that are now counted as integral pieces of his roster.

Black, who was capped by England at the U-18 and U-19 levels, has bounced around the English league system since making his debut for Oldham Athletic in 2008. After seeing playing time reduced while with Cheltenham Athletic, Black asked for his release to pursue a dream to ply his trade in the U.S., a country he had never even visited.

“I could have hung around and took the money and waited, but it was more like I had an opportunity to come here to Atlanta,” Black told SBI. “There was no thinking or anything to do with money, I just had the opportunity to come to Atlanta so I ended my contract with Cheltenham, mainly for myself, and now I have the opportunity to get on in America. I spoke with the manager at Cheltenham and I said that I wanted to play in America, and it was pretty much what it was. Once I told him that that was my ambition, a few weeks later I made contact with Atlanta, and it just went on from there really.

“Coming here, I’ve always wanted to play in MLS, at the top level and coming to America was a big part of that,” Black added. “I want to play at the highest level and Atlanta gives me the opportunity to showcase what I can do. I want to play at the highest level possible and the MLS has always been my dream to play in.”

Upon acquiring Black in February, Smith told SBI that he had the fullback pegged for big things with the Silverbacks and now, having seen him up close throughout preseason, those thoughts have only been confirmed.

“Just really speaking about Paul, my thoughts have not changed of what Paul is capable of. He’s shown during these four weeks his physical capabilities, he’s come in in great condition and certainly, I would say, is one of the advanced athletes in the pack,” Smith said.

“He’s only enhanced my thoughts about him during this preseason period with what he can do on the ball, what he’s capable of going forward,” Smith added. “He’s got a competitive nature. I honestly think he’s one of maybe three or four players that, within two or three months of this league getting underway, there might be a couple MLS clubs looking and thinking, ‘You know what, he’s at a terrific age at 25 and he could be a real good addition for us.’ I’ve not changed my mindset on that.”

While Black’s foray into U.S. soccer is Smith’s first chance to work with the fullback, Mensing, who will likely serve as his new team’s captain, joins the Silverbacks as quite the familiar face to the head coach.

Smith worked with the center back with English side Wimbledon, and the MLS Cup-winning head coach went as far as to try and acquire Mensing while in charge of fourth-tier Stevenage from 2012-13.

A majority of Mensing’s career has been spent in the top league’s of Scotland, but Mensing’s heart has been set on America for as long as he can remember, giving the center back an opportunity to provide a different kind of life for both him and his family.

“Coming to America was something I’ve been wanting to do for a few years now,” Mensing told SBI. “I’m not experienced playing soccer over here, but I’ve been on holiday a few times. I’ve been to Miami, New York, been to the other side in California and Las Vegas as well. I got married in Vegas a couple of years ago. It’s something that every time I come over here with my family, not just me, but the Mrs. and the kids and the extended family with her mom and dad and sometimes my family as well. There’s normally a squad of us, and we always enjoy it. We couldn’t get enough of it.

“I think it’s the quality of life, to be honest,” he added. “Coming to America when I was maybe 24 on holiday, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I think the weather, the quality of life is something I’ve always talked about with the Mrs., and it’s something that I’ve been looking at…I thoroughly enjoyed Scotland, because that’s where I spent the majority of my career, and I had some great times and played for some good teams as well, but if I was going to be honest, if America happened sooner, I would have jumped at the chance.”

While the chance to live and work in America is one that Mensing has awaited for years now, part of America’s allure is the growing game in the country.

Mensing, who says that the level of play with the Silverbacks is “similar” to that he’s seen in Scotland, says that perceptions of America’s place in the soccer universe has certainly changed overseas and that he expects an increase of European players to try and make the same move he did as the sport continues to find a foothold in U.S. culture.

“A lot of that is because the Americans are taking it a little bit more seriously as well, and I think that’s a big part of it,” Mensing said. “I heard that Sky Sports are covering MLS this season. Over in England, that’s a first. That’s a big step and it’s showing the potential of the MLS and NASL and USL and that they are progressing in the right direction. I think you can clearly see with the quality of players teams are signing, a few years ago David Beckham, (Steven) Gerrard, David Villa, Raul.

“I think with these players, you can’t help but drum up interest. If they carry on going on that way, then the leagues will be better and things will certainly be better in the country. With the number of people you’ve got, if you produce some athletes and there’s a lot more interest in soccer here in America, you can only see them being a force to be reckoned with in the future because you’ve got such a vast resource of people to pick from.”

For now, Black is looking forward to utilizing the opportunity to live and work with Mensing as the two continue to work together to fulfill each other’s goals of making their way in their new home.

“Obviously, we both come from the same country, he’s played in Scotland, I’ve played in England, but he’s played football in England,” Black said. “We live together so we’re quite open, and we want to help each other’s development and it’s been great getting to know him. I’m sure Simon will help me. There are good people at the club.”

“It’s something we’re going to grasp with two hands, and we look forward to it,” Mensing added. “Being able to not just play in America, but go to other states and see their stadiums and see their surrounding area, by doing that every week, that’s something I’m really looking forward to.”