by Gail Fritsch

John Lavin, world class soccer coach, finds his new home in Seymour to be more than he bargained for. Native of England, Lavin first had a taste of American soil in the state of New Hampshire. Then, wooed by the state of Iowa soccer association, Lavin agreed to hold soccer camps for several large schools.

It was there that he was exposed to the true American way. Upon reaching the end of the season at a tournament, he had his first “tail-gate potluck”. It so deeply moved him that the parents of these children not only cared about the game but how much they “teamed together” for their children, devoting hours to practice and never missing a game.

When approached by the university system to coach the state of Iowa soccer team, it was not a difficult decision to make, having seen the love of soccer that was displayed. There he met his bride and confidant, Lisa. After two and a half years of coaching and many trials experienced there, Lavin decided to return to England to pursue other options. They had agreed, though, that they would someday return to America so that their children would have the opportunity to be involved with their family and the “American Way”.

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