TAYLOR Dyson cannot be accused of not putting in the miles to earn a Hyde United contract.
For the midfielder’s journey has taken him from his hometown of Swinton to Tameside, via the US states of Ohio, Kentucky and Texas.
The 22-year-old took a gamble by heading to Notre Dame College in Ohio before studying at Bowling Green State University.
As well as his football education, he gained a degree in business management.
Now he has joined Nick Spooner’s side after impressing in a trial, he hopes to get top marks in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.
“Chasing football is how I ended up in Ohio,” said Taylor as he recalled the scenario when he moved thousands of miles away at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic
“Opportunities come up different ways and I chose that way to go, out to America and I’ve kind of never looked back after that.
“I was a second-year scholar at Salford City and they came in and did a pitch. As soon as I saw it, I was convinced.
“Then Covid-19 hit and I was like, ‘Maybe this is a good opportunity to go over there while obviously we’re shut down over here.’
“That’s the way it came up and that’s the way it panned out.
“When I went, we still had to wear masks. We still had to get Covid-19 tests every day when we were out there. So, it was definitely tricky.
“I had to isolate in my dorm – a two-person room and my roommate was from Malaysia. We had to stay together for two weeks and would have food delivered.
“I think we were allowed outside together for an hour or two. Then we were just kind of stuck to our own devices in the room.
“But once I could play, the football was good. You have your university time but throughout the summer the university’s closed.
“They have a summer league. All the university and college athletes go and play in that.
“Ohio was my university league, then as the summer opens you can have a free agent and go wherever you want. One summer I was in Kentucky, one summer I was in Texas, and then last summer I was at Toledo in Ohio.”
Taylor and Hyde begin their campaign at the Project Solar Stadium against Lancaster City on Saturday, August 9.
Even though it is the height of summer, it is a fair bet the conditions will be different to what he was used to in America.
And the thought process of the game on these shores will be much changed, along with not having a ‘crazy rule.’
Taylor added: “When I played in Ohio it was in the 30s. When I was in Texas, I was playing in 35 degrees.
“That was like two water breaks a time, but I definitely prefer this weather. Sometimes, though, I do think, ‘Wow, I do need a drink.’
“Playing in the cold, though, is definitely easier. It’s easier on the lungs as well.
“The biggest thing difference between England and America is they’re just all athletes there. England’s more about football brains and America’s definitely more athlete brains.
“In America, they have a crazy rule, I don’t really get it, but if you’re subbed off in the first half, you can come back on in the second.
“It’s crazy, but you get your rest. We’d sub probably four of the starting 11 in the 40th minute, give them a 20-minute rest rather than a 15, and put them back on.
“I was just like, ‘What?’ I was shocked when I first got there, but I got used to it.”
Now he is here, and he is glad to be home, Taylor and Hyde are aiming up the Premier Division table.
But he has off-field aims as much as on field as he told The Correspondent: “Personally, I just want to play football. As much as football can and help a team win, and as a team, push for playoffs and see ourselves at the top of the table.
“And I’m definitely looking for a finance role out there somewhere. Would that be a finance role at a football club? I don’t know.
“If something comes up like that, I’d take it.”