Relentless Rookie: David Goldsmith's Professional Career Is Just Beginning
“I would strongly encourage aspiring footballers to attend this combine and to showcase yourself in front of as many coaching staff and scouts as possible. It only takes 1 game to catch the eye of a team so the more opportunities you give yourself the more likely you are to succeed.”
Growing up in Bristol, England, David Goldsmith was a standout youth player having spent 5 years at the West Bromwich Albion English Premier League Academy. He found his way to Butler University in 2013 where he wasted no time making a name for himself.
It began his rookie campaign with the Bulldogs where he earned BIG EAST Rookie of the Year and ended his senior year with a pile of awards including Big East Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, NSCAA Second Team All-American, NSCAA First Team All-Region, BIG EAST Co-Offensive Player of the Year and BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Offensive Player.
Accolades aside, Goldsmith was always focused on becoming a professional footballer and understood the work it took to become one. That dream became a reality when Indy Eleven announced the signing of David Goldsmith on March 21, 2017. Having played 4 years at Butler, Goldsmith was more than familiar with the local Indy Eleven club and thrilled about beginning his professional career.
“I have wanted to become a professional football player for as long as I can remember. It is a fantastic achievement and a proud moment for myself and my family. However, I am always looking forward to the next task and opportunity and am never satisfied. I always want to improve, better myself and win championships.” said Goldsmith.
Like any rookie, Goldsmith found himself fighting for time early in the season stepping on the pitch for a total of only two minutes in his first six NASL matches. As the 2017 season has progressed though, Goldsmith’s mentality and hardworking approach has allowed him to break into the starting lineup. July 30th, he earned his first start and made it a memorable night by notching his first professional goal as well.
The path to pros varies for every footballer but all who advance have a mindset of continuous improvement, diligent hard work and dedication to being the best teammate possible. Goldsmith holds these qualities in addition to his natural skillset, but as many before him have advised, he urges all future footballers to take action, be proactive and train, train, train.
He added, “I would strongly encourage aspiring footballers to attend this combine and to showcase yourself in front of as many coaching staff and scouts as possible. It only takes 1 game to catch the eye of a team so the more opportunities you give yourself the more likely you are to succeed.”
Read the complete interview with David below:
MPSC: Every footballer has a journey and a story to tell about their journey. Now that you've reached a milestone in your career by signing a pro contract, what would you like to share with aspiring players to help learn from your mistakes and obstacles?
Goldsmith: Every player’s path in football is going to be different but everyone at some point is going to face some adversity. You are going to face setbacks in your career but it is important to remain level headed, confident and never give up. When you face adversity, you need to be mentally strong, put it behind you and look forward for the next opportunity to prove your worth. Work hard and good things will happen for you. Never give up.
MPSC: Now that you've had time to get acclimated a bit, tell us more about your current setup. What is your typical training day like? What has been the biggest surprise about being a pro? What has been your best football moment for your new club so far?
Goldsmith: We train 4-5 mornings a week with a game on the weekend. Our sessions are from 10-12am with some tactics meetings and video analysis beforehand. On Wednesdays we go to a local gym, IFAST, to build and maintain muscle strength. The club is run similar to other environments I've played in the past such as at college and back in England but the quality, pace and physicality is a little bit higher and quicker. My proudest moment so far would be making my professional debut against Miami that my parents were able to be there to watch.
MPSC: What do you hope to accomplish with your current team and what are your goals as a footballer down the road?
Goldsmith: This season we are aiming to win the NASL championship. That is always the goal at the start of every season. Personally I hope to learn from the experiences I will have in my rookie season and improve as a player. In the future I hope to develop a long and successfully career in the game.
MPSC: How did the Midwest Pro Soccer Combine better prepare you for the pros?
Goldsmith: It helped as a great stepping stone to training and playing in a professional environment. I got to play with and against some of the best players in the country showing me the level required to play as a professional.
MPSC: What was the highlight of the 2016 Midwest Pro Soccer Combine for you? Would you recommend aspiring footballers to participate?
Goldsmith: I would strongly encourage aspiring footballers to attend this combine and to showcase yourself in front of as many coaching staff and scouts as possible. It only takes 1 game to catch the eye of a team so the more opportunities you give yourself the more likely you are to succeed.
MPSC: Think back to the first moment when you realized, you dreamed of being a pro footballer. Now that you've accomplished that dream, what does it feel like?
Goldsmith: I have wanted to become a professional football player for as long as I can remember. It is a fantastic achievement and a proud moment for myself and my family. However, I am always looking forward to the next task and opportunity and am never satisfied. I always want to improve, better myself and win championships.
MPSC: Do you have any mentors, supporters, family or friends who you'd like to thank?
Goldsmith: Of course my family. They have done so much for me over the years and have sacrificed a lot to help me follow my dreams and have always been my biggest supporters. I have had many fantastic coaches and team mates on and off the field that have always pushed me to better myself. My college coaching staff at Butler lead by Paul Snape have been fantastic mentors and coaches for me the past 4 years and have helped my dreams become a reality so a special thank you to the 3 of them. Also thank you to Indy Eleven for believing in me and giving me this opportunity!
MPSC: What was it like for you to return to Ultimate Soccer Arenas AS A PRO? It's a building you spent time in with the Bucks and at the Combine so that must have been special.
Goldsmith: I have spent a lot of time over the past 3 years at Ultimate so of course it was a great occasion to return and see some of my teammates and coaches who have done so much for me. After 3 years at the Bucks and then the combine, the return in some ways brought my journey in a full circle as this time I was there playing as a professional which is what I had been training and competing to become for the last 3 years.
About the Midwest Pro Soccer Combine
The second annual Midwest Pro Soccer Combine will take place on Monday, December 18th & Tuesday, December 19th at the Legacy Center Sports Complex in Brighton, Michigan. The combine will accept the top professional prospects to play for two days in front of professional coaches, scouts and intermediaries from North America and abroad. Click here to apply to the 2017 combine.