That was for the u23's & they lost 5-3, not a great start.
Sam Brotherton (Forward Madison FC | US)
He played the whole game at least...
Started again in a 1-0 win over Rovers in the u23 Premier League Cup. Think this was the last game of the group stages.
Better than conceeding 5
Playing games hopfully he is getting used to the England play.
Any match reports out there?
Any match reports out there?
Not much seems to have been said here but the U23 comp is seen as a bit rubbish here in the U.K. (ie glorified training). The better players in the comp are normally loaned out for competitive football with League 1/2 clubs. A loan would be the best thing possible for him next season.
vader you grinch, wish the lad well instead of predicting his demise
Exactly.
Actually have a hunch that Brotherton will forge a successful career. Maybe not at Sunderland or ever in the EPL/Championship, but somewhere. Rated on the US College scene, and by the NZF coaching staff - who despite criticism of (sometimes justified) - will know more about spotting/nuturing long term football talent than any of us. You can't write a 20 yr kid off after a couple of patchy games for the national team.
Definitely athletic, and again a hunch that he has a bit of that mental toughness that he'll need to succeed. Good luck to him.
The main thing for him is that his pro career has started - and at a club in one of the world's top leagues.
He may well not make it at Sunderland but he's in the shop window for clubs in the Football League to have a look at him too.
Being on the books of a Premier League club is going to look great on his CV and open doors for trials at other clubs e.g. elsewhere in Europe like Scandinavia and in North America.
So the future's looking all bright for him at the moment as long as he works hard and builds on his potential.
Plenty of players who have failed to make it in the UK or Europe have also ended up getting contracts at the Phoenix e.g. Smeltz, Barbarouses, Parkhouse, Bertos, Paston, McKain, Watson...
Full game for the U23s this morning in a 3-1 loss to Manchester United
From the Fever's new sponsor "Pacific Attitude"' travel agent website promoting Confeds Cup packages:
[quote=Napier Phoenix]
vader you grinch, wish the lad well instead of predicting his demise
Plenty of players who have failed to make it in the UK or Europe have also ended up getting contracts at the Phoenix e.g. Smeltz, Barbarouses, Parkhouse, Bertos, Paston, McKain, Watson...
Rodriguez too..
For @RokerReport: Who is @SamBrotherton96? We put #SAFC's New Zealand international defender under the microscope
Just not getting picked for the u23 side at all yet making AWs. Out of favour? Woud playing however
Ah scratch that he played last game
Ah scratch that he played last game
If you mean sat on the bench the entire game then yes.
Their twitter feed said he came on
Ah right you are... didn't realise they'd played a cup match on the 29th - a 5-0 spanking from Brighton & Hove Albion. He started and was subbed off after 50 minutes.
Yeah and youd hope based on that and where hes playing he wouldnt be in the national team set up
On the bench for Black Cats U23 most recent trial game.
Certainly doesn’t appear to be close to first team consideration, at the moment.
Sunderland after relegation to League One have had a big clean out, lots of new players and academy players getting action in pre season trials.
Brotherton has one year to go on his contract.
Age 21, I imagine could try MLS/USL if doesn’t work out in the UK. Was a bit of a star at his US College, and will have contacts over there.
From Flying Kiwis
“Sam Brotherton going out on loan from Sunderland was a good idea. Dropping all the way down to the National League North was a little more debatable but at least he was going to get some games… until he went off injured halfway through his debut. Brotherton hasn’t featured since and it’s been a month but now we know why. The Blyth manager confirming that he’s suffered a relatively serious knock and he probably won’t feature again until December.
Alun Armstrong: “Sam had a scan earlier in the week and it looks like he’ll be out for at least two months, he’s suffered some ligament damage and will take a while to come. I’ve never known such an injury list at any club I’ve been at as a player or a manager – we’ve got four central defenders out.”
Back from injury, and on the bench, as Blyth Spartans are knocked out of FA Cup 1-0 by York City.
Doesn't really seem to be working for him at Sunderland (now on loan to Blyth).
Wouldn't be surprised if next year if he's let go and tries the USL route, being known to some in the US from his time in college soccer.
He signed a 4 yr deal with the Black Cats in Feb 2017 - so contract expires around Feb 2021.
Has joined North Carolina FC in the USL
[NEWS] New Zealand International and Former @SunderlandAFC Center Back @SamBrotherton96 Strengthens North Carolina FC Backline
— North Carolina FC (@NorthCarolinaFC) January 29, 2019
Read | https://t.co/c24YlGmHaf pic.twitter.com/RHB4NePFYK
Back from injury, and on the bench, as Blyth Spartans are knocked out of FA Cup 1-0 by York City.
Doesn't really seem to be working for him at Sunderland (now on loan to Blyth).
Wouldn't be surprised if next year if he's let go and tries the USL route, being known to some in the US from his time in college soccer.
He signed a 4 yr deal with the Black Cats in Feb 2017 - so contract expires around Feb 2021.
So it's come to pass. Shame as thought he may have the goods to make it in the UK/Europe.
Still young enough to have another go later I guess - but for now he just needs to be playing regular pro football.
North Carolina FC finished 9th USL Eastern Conference last season, one spot out of the USL playoffs.
They were 6th worst out of the 16th teams in Eastern Conference re goals conceded.
Their new coach just spent the past year as the USA interim coach.
More Flying Kiwis -
Anyone who’s watched that excellent (if a little voyeuristic) Netflix doco series Sunderland ‘Til I Die knows that the last couple years have not been a great time to be a Sunderland Football Club player. When the Black Cats were relegated from the Premier League a few months after Brotherton signed on, it felt like maybe that would be an opportunity for him to move closer to the first team with them in a lower division. Didn’t work out like that at all though. Things went from worse to disastrous and Brotherton was stuck just trying to get a crack in the U23s, never even getting close to the first team. And once compatriot Michael Woud left, the writing was on the wall for Brotherton.
So in the English summer he left on loan for Blyth Spartans in the National League North, possibly a lower division than ideal but at least he’d be getting games… then he only lasted 46 minutes in his first game before a bout of ligament damage struck him down and he missed several months, eventually recalled from his loan without appearing again for the Spartans. His contract with Sunderland was due to expire at the end of the season and it was all a bit of a bummer, really, for one of the country’s best young defenders.
Which is why this is such good news…
Excited for the next chapter with 
Sam Brotherton@SamBrotherton96
Excited for the next chapter with @NorthCarolinaFC 
See Sam Brotherton's other Tweets
Sam Brotherton has signed with North Carolina FC for the upcoming 2019 USL Championship season. Back in the country where he had such a decorated college career over two years at the University of Wisconsin. The American pro “soccer” scene is a bit of a dodgy one at times, but with Miguel Almiron getting a big money move to Newcastle FC after leading Atlanta to the MLS title last year and with big changes in the structure of the USL, better aligning it as the division below MLS, things are getting better.
Cool thing about North Carolina FC is that it’s the male affiliate of the North Carolina Courage, the NWSL team that Abby Erceg just captained to the championship… so inspirational kiwi defenders are a bit of a beloved sight in the city. Should bode well, the coach sounds like he digs him.
NCFC Head Coach Dave Sarachan: “Sam is an experienced international center back and will be an important piece to our back line defending. Sam is excellent in the air and comfortable in distribution. More importantly he has the ability to organize and lead a backline. I look forward to having Sam play an important role for us this season.”
And there’s always a huge kiwi presence in the USL. Brotherton joins a crew that in 2018 featured James Musa, Elliot Collier, Bill Tuiloma, Kyle Adams, Myer Bevan, Monty Patterson, Kip Colvey, and Cory Brown - Tuiloma and Collier on loan from MLS clubs. Plus kiwis Simon Elliott (Sacramento Republic) and Cam Knowles (Portland Timbers 2) were and remain head coaches in the division.
As for the 2019 crew, James Musa and Kyle Adams are already confirmed to be back with their same clubs. Same deal with Tuiloma and Collier at the MLS level. Myer Bevan you’ve already read about. Kip Colvey has retired. The other two we’re still waiting on news from.
Up Next: Preseason battles
90 mins in a 4-1 win over Louisville City.
90 mins in a 4-1 win over Louisville City.
Very good result first up. Louisville City have been the USL champions for the past two years, so no mean feat to tip them up.
Encouraging signs for Brotherton too, needs to be getting regular game time and it looks as though he's found his level, even if it is early days for him stateside.
90 mins in a 1-0 win at Bethlehem Steel.
Two games no goals conceded. Good start to the season.
90 mins & a yellow in a 1-1 draw verus Charleston Battery.
North Carolina's goal at 93 mins.
84 mins in a 2-1 loss to Atlanta United II.
90 mins in a 3-0 win over Charlotte Independence.
Full 90 for Brotherton as North Carolina get back to winning ways with 3-0 victory against Charlotte Independence.
90 mins, a yellow and a goal as Nth Carolina beat Hartford Athletic 4-1.
90 mins as North Carolina (NC) draw 0-0 at Indy Eleven.
NC 4th in Western Conference USL.
90 mins and a yellow in a 2-1 loss to Ottawa Fury.
90 mins and a yellow in a 0-0 draw verus Birmingham Legion.
Scored against NY Red Bulls II, in the USL this morning.
North Carolina 2-0 up at HT.