David Norman’s soccer career started when he was just two or three days old.
Of course he didn’t know it at the time, but his grandfather — also David Norman — was so excited by the new addition to the family, he signed newborn David to the Coquitlam Metro-Ford minor soccer association he founded.
Today [Friday], Norman Jr. fulfilled that early expectation when he signed a contract with the Vancouver Whitecaps that runs through the 2018 season with options until 2021.
He’s the team’s first completely homegrown player, having developed all the way through the Whitecaps’ youth system since he was nine years old, through its residency program as he attended Dr. Charles Best secondary school and last year with the developmental team, Whitecaps FC 2.
Norman Jr.’s path to signing on the dotted line couldn’t really be helped. Besides his grandfather’s role as a builder in minor soccer, his dad, David Norman, was a central midfielder for the Whitecaps when the team was part of the old North American Soccer League and then with the Vancouver 86ers, as well as numerous appearance with Canada’s national team.
Norman Jr., 19, said he’s been around the game as long as he can remember.
“As soon as I started walking, I was kicking a ball,” Norman Jr. said. “My love for the game was ignited.”
But it was a family trip to Scotland when he was nine years old that burned into him a desire to make it his profession.
His dad was a longtime fan of the Glasgow Rangers, and when their schedule showed a Champions League match against FC Barcelona and a derby match against their crosstown rivals Celtic in the same week, the family packed their bags and headed across the Atlantic.
“Seeing the whole city revolved around a soccer club, it’s a different atmosphere,” said Norman Jr. “My goal became I wanted to play for the Rangers. I wanted to be a pro footballer and play overseas.”
Norman Sr. said David’s passion for the game was apparent early on.
“When he was eight, he watched every single game of the World Cup. He just has an absolute love and desire for the game.”
Turning that passion into a professional contract has been the product of a lot of hard work and commitment by Norman Jr. to develop his technique, tactical awareness and physical prowess as he rose through the Whitecaps’ youth and residency programs, as well as a season at Oregon State University. But it’s his son’s willingness and dedication to work hard that’s been his ticket to success, Norman Sr. said.
“What downgrades a lot of players is they don’t have the mentality, they don’t work hard enough.”
Norman Jr. said he had a good role model to show him the way.
“To have his knowledge of what it takes to become a pro footballer, the mentality and attitude you have to have, I was very lucky,” he said.
And now that he’s signed with the Whitecaps, Norman Jr. said he has no intention of taking his foot off the gas.
“It’s a great feeling to sign that first contract, but I’m not satisfied with that,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll get some minutes and show them I deserve to be there.”
