The Saturday Interview

WHEN Ben Callon and Leon O'Neill met as students at the Lancashire football academy, their passion for football was all they had in common.

Two years and a trip across the Atlantic later they are now best mates and two of the most highly-rated young players in the university soccer scene in the United States.

Callon, of Rishton, has just won the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship with the Rio Grande University from Ohio.

The 20-year-old former Colne winger scored the winning goal in their final of the championship, which pits the country's top universities against each other, last month to secure Rio's first national soccer victory in 60 years of trying.

His efforts also won him a place in the American All-Star team, the tournament's top 11 players.

Midfielder O'Neill, 22 from Whalley, starred for Walsh University, Ohio in the championships and was their only player picked for the regional All-Star side.

Callon is a lifelong Blackburn Rovers fan while O'Neill's allegiances lie with Liverpool - but it is playing at the top level in the US rather than the Premiership that they dream of.

O'Neill said: "I wouldn't want to come back here.

"People say to you that the only reason we play there is because we did not make it here, but the standard is higher than college level in England.

"It's a different world. The facilities are much better and their professionalism is just amazing."

Callon added: "Two players left Rio Grande this season and one is going on to play in the MLS (Major League Soccer) and the other is going into the A league, their equivalent of Division One. The MLS is tough to get into but I know I could get a club in the A League.

"You can't be paid money while at college but I have played a couple of games in the PDL (Premier Division League) which gets scouts from the top MLS clubs. So there is a chance to be noticed."

Age difference kept the pals apart during their school days. Callon captained St Augustine's High School of Billington and O'Neill won back-to-back Hyndburn & Ribble Schools titles for Norden High School in Rishton.

They first met at the Lancashire Academy at Preston College where they combined football with studying for a leisure and recreation qualification and struck up a useful midfield partnership on the pitch.

Callon said: "We had never played against each other until this season when Rio Grande played Walsh."

As the pair recall the game, O'Neill shakes his head as Callon grins.

"We won 4-0 and I scored," said Callon. "We were friends except for when we were on the pitch.

"I remember Leon putting a challenge in on me that I wasn't too pleased about."

It was the Lancashire Academy that gave Callon his chance to move to the States in July 2002 - and also paved the way for O'Neill's switch last summer.

Callon said: "There were few chances to turn professional here and the academy gave me the chance to move to Rio Grande.

"I got a week's trial and did enough to get a scholarship.

"We have 15 British lads, five from Preston, and one German at Rio. It made it easier to settle because I was around people I knew."

Callon returned full of tales from overseas and set up O'Neill with a move. He explains: "I knew that Walsh were about to lose a quick forward. I spoke to Leon's coach there and said that if he wanted a replacement then I knew just the player."

Ex-Manchester City professional Ged Tarps flew over to watch O'Neill and offered him a place at Walsh but his dream soured when he realised his team-mates were not at his level.

He said: "I am the only English player at Walsh so I am a big fish in a small pond. I know could do better if I had better players around me."

After hearing about his mate's frustrations, Callon again began brokering a move - this time to Berry University in Atlanta, Georgia.

He said: "I knew Leon was unhappy so I spoke to a few other teams and Berry came up with something. If he goes there we will meet again in the nationals and that is a huge game."

The American dream is definitely paying dividends for the pair at the right time with the game starting to take off over the Pond.

Callon said: "Soccer is the highest participant sport in high schools. They have baseball and basketball that are huge but soccer is catching up.

"People say the States is the easy option but unless you play in the Premiership you could not play against a higher standard of young players over here."

O'Neill added: "You test yourself against some of the world's top young players.

"I have played against US under-20 internationals that could easily make it here in the Second or Third Division."

Despite their success, neither have forgotten their roots.

Callon said: "We have played in the local leagues and when we are back we still go and watch local games. That's where we started and we don't forget that."