Soccer Cleats 101: An Interview With Bryan Byrne

26-year-old Irish-born winger Bryan Byrne, currently with the Ventura County Fusion, owns and operates Soccer Cleats 101. He kindly sat down with Soccer City FC to discuss his collegiate and professional careers, his website, and the important factors that go into a good pair of cleats.

Q. What was your fondest memory of competing with Kildare County in Ireland?

I think my debut is my fondest memory. I started with the team as an under 21 player, and became the first player in club history to have come from the local Sunday league! I had to work really hard to break into the team, and I got an assist that night, which made it even more pleasing. If I was to go with my least fond I would have to say the hairdryer treatment our Coach Dermot Keeley gave us, although it was always merited!

Q. How did you end up stateside with the UCSB Gauchos?

Dermot Keeley’s son Alan was playing at UCSB, and when he returned to Ireland, the UCSB coach’s came recruiting for more players. It was not long after my debut and they heard I was a quick winger. Dermot recommended me and they came to watch me play, as it happened I was just what they was looking for. After the coaches described Santa Barbara to me, and described their plans for the UCSB team, I was in!

Q. What is your assessment of collegiate soccer here in the U.S.?

I was very shocked when I arrived over here. To be honest it kind of floored me! I think at the time my ego had exploded as I got a lot of press before coming over here. When I started playing with the team I soon discovered that I was nowhere near the level of some of the guys. After playing collegiate and professionally I can honestly say that the level of US soccer is rapidly on the rise. I am very much against younger players leaving college early to pursue a professional career!

With how MLS is structured, my best advice for younger players is to take advantage of having the opportunity to get a college degree and train daily. In MLS you can be dropped at any moment, and there is now no reserve league, how are players supposed to improve? I look at my Alma Mater UCSB and the players who have chosen to leave early and think about the opportunities they have missed by leaving school early!

Q. What are/have been some of the challenges and rewards of playing professional soccer?

The biggest challenge for me was consistently playing. MLS is structured in a way that does not really improve the development of younger players. When I was at New England we played one week on three weeks off! Personally, I need a run of games to get going. In college it was not until mid season that I really got going. Now that there are no reserve leagues this challenge become a greater issue.

There are many rewards. Just knowing that you have an impact on young players is an amazing feeling. My favorite part was the ‘Questions and Answers’ segment, as you really get to share with kids what it is all about. Growing up my Dad always talked about George Best and how he would spend hours outside alone just kicking a ball against a wall, and that was something I always wanted to emulate. Sharing stories and setting goals for younger kids is exciting to think about!

Q. How did the idea for the website come about?

The idea for the website came from my love and experience with soccer. I remember one day trying to find a review for a pair of Lotto cleats I was thinking of buying and really finding nothing. After some research, I found some very generic sites that all had the same information. Thus, I thought it would be a good idea just to write about the ones I wore...from there I got some positive feedback and the site has rapidly grown.

My goal is to supply relevant information from my experiences with a pair of cleats. In the last few months, I have been able to increase the number of reviews by actually wearing cleats in practice and in games. With so many new pairs hitting the markets, it makes sense so other people know what to expect from cleats before they buy!

Q. Have you heard back from readers regarding your great reviews of the numerous soccer cleats out there?

Yes, it has been great! I get emails from people asking questions and some who just want to give their opinion of the reviewed cleats. I encourage everyone to comment and share their experiences with a pair. I am only one review, and I know other people have differing experiences (or in some cases extremely similar) with the same pairs. The more info that is available, the easier it will be for others to know if the cleats would actually suit them, if anyone wants to leave information about the cleats they wear please feel free to do so.

Q. Any future plans or additions to the website?

We are currently adding a new one page solution for people looking for a particular ‘type’ of cleat. It is going to be in a ‘best of’ format. We are also in talks with an interactive soccer website about sharing our content with them. That will be something to watch out for. As always though, we will be looking to provide the newest personal reviews with no bias!

Q. What is the most important factor when choosing the perfect soccer cleat?

Without a doubt it is find comfort in your style. Ronaldo or Messi would not be great players if they consistently wore boots that did not suit their feet. It is not all about being the one to stand out in the newest or most sought after shoes. Once you find your niche stick with it. And of course make sure you read reviews to ensure you have information on what you are getting!

And don't forget to check out the other journalists and bloggers who have spoken with Soccer City FC -- Soccer Journalists - Soccer Bloggers: Interview List