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Men's Soccer Athletics Communications

Alumni Spotlight: Alan Hannon

Why did you choose Belhaven?

"I chose Belhaven mainly because of the coach at the time, Marty Shirley. He'd already brought a couple of Irish lads over, and we met at a tournament in Memphis. Knowing there were other Irish guys there made the transition to America feel a lot easier. I'd also spoken to a few of the lads who were already there, and everything I heard was really positive, so it felt like the right place to start."

What is your favorite memory from your time as a Blazer?

"It's hard to pick just one, but a few stand out. Freshman year, we beat Union 5–0 at home when they were ranked fifth in the nation; that game really showed what we were capable of. Another big one was beating William Carey 1–0 away in a really intense conference match; both teams were nationally ranked at the time, so winning on their turf was special. And finally, beating Mobile 2-1 in overtime at Newell Field my senior year was huge I scored the winning goal, and the atmosphere was unreal."

What do you miss the most from your time at Belhaven?

"Honestly, just playing soccer every day. We were always training during the season, in the off-season, indoor, futsal any chance we got. You don't realize how lucky you are until it's gone. I also miss the people and the relationships with teammates, coaches, and professors. It was a small campus, so you could really connect with everyone, which helped a lot as a student. But playing soccer every day with the lads is what I miss the most."

How do you stay involved with the game of soccer today?

"I coached for about 15–16 years, including during and after my time at Belhaven, and earned my coaching badges along the way. I've stepped away from coaching the last few years, but I definitely see myself getting back into it at some point—I really miss it. A lot of my friends are still coaching, and I still love watching and supporting the game."

Who is the best player you played with?

"There were a lot of great players, but a few stand out. John Kehoe was an excellent central midfielder—tenacious, technical, and very smart on the ball. Ricky Machel was a natural leader and captain, calm under pressure and strong athletically. Juan Rodriguez was a great finisher with pace, skill, and a strong work rate. Gui Brandao was technically brilliant, with a great left foot and quick movement, and an even better person off the field. And outside of Belhaven, I played with current Blazers coach James "Gleddy" Gledhill at the PDL level—an extremely intelligent player and a natural finisher."


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