England borders Scotland and Wales in the British Isles in the United Kingdom, made up of about 53.9 million people. Home of the British Monarch, England is 74 times smaller than the United States, and consume more tea per capita than anybody else in the world, according to the website Europedia. England is home of the Beatles, Ozzy Osbourne, Daniel Radcliffe, better known as Harry Potter and also home to two Saint Peter’s men’s soccer players.
Jack Pounce and Louis Mobbs, came to the United States to go to Saint Peter’s University for the opportunity to play soccer at the Division 1 level.
Googling England, pictures of the flag pop up with scenic photos of the country, and small blurbs about the it with a map, describing where it’s located. Before a link is clicked, the first headline in the news reads, “As Neville becomes the latest England Euro 96...where are the rest?” Gary Neville is an English soccer player, or football player, that is joining a list of 96 Euro players to become managers. Soccer is a huge part of the the English culture, England was soccer’s birthplace and is one of the most popular sports in the country.
“American universities offer a better student athlete program than back home in England,” Pounce said. “If you are at university in England then you only play soccer recreationally, whereas over here they offer soccer on a competitive level while earning a degree.”
Their journey to the U.S. began four years ago.
“We both went through the same company for soccer back in England when we were 17,” Pounce said. “We found them through London School Boys, another team we played on together. And then from there Saint Peter’s found us really.”
“I came a year later, I worked in England for a year and then I decided to come here with the help of Jack,” Mobbs said.
They grew up together playing soccer and ended up playing for the same university and have built a strong friendship.
“We have become very close over the last 3 years, pretty much seeing him everyday, both on and off the soccer field,” Pounce said. “Coming from the same country, we have a lot of similarities and like a lot of the same things.”
Mobbs was grateful to have someone like Pounce help him adjust to such a big change.
“Well, he probably had it a little worse than me because I had Jack here already,” Mobbs said. “When he came home we met up in London and he told me about it. So I had a bit more of a clear idea, even though it was still unclear, I at least had a bit of a mentor.”
Being one of the biggest metropolitan areas in the states with a wide range of different cultures, Jersey City was a welcome change that Mobbs was looking for.
“Where I’m from it’s all the same kinds of people. There’s no change’” Mobbs said. “It’s not a big city, and not like here and how New York Cities right there, so it’s different for me, but that’s the life that I wanted. So I like it here.”
When asked what they expected when choosing Saint Peter’s, they both look at each other and take a minute to respond.
“Expectations?” Pounce asked with a grin.
Well, we haven’t had the best performances or results, as far as the team,” Pounce said. “We have a good team; things just didn’t go our way.”
The Peacocks had a 7-9-2 record this year, a great improvement from years past records, but the camaraderie they have with their teammates is worth it all.
“And were not the highest funded school either,” Mobbs said. “But we probably got one of the closest bonds to our teammates in the league. So I feel these higher and more profitable schools don’t have teams that click and get together as well as we do. Were all in the same boat, and at the end of the day, it is what it is, and we can work at it and get better.”
Coach Julian Richens, the head coach of the men's soccer team, speaks fondly of both Pounce and Mobbs.
“Very intelligent young men, dedicated, very sociable. They've been a real pleasure,” Richens said. “Jack the a epitome of what you would want as a player, he works hard on and off the field team, and has great team spirit. Louis is a 3 year starter, he's basically taken it in stride. He's had 7 goals this year and is a good character on and off the field, and he wants to win.”
Soccer has been a part of their entire lives with the low and high moments.
As Mobbs said, “Ball is life, right?”
“It all revolves around soccer really,” Pounce said. I’ve been playing since 3 or 4. Training, but I had 3 teams. So I played twice on a Wednesday, once on a Sunday. When I got older, I played Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. So, there’s a lot of football going on, and it’s a lot bigger culture, football wise, over there than over here.”
Their soccer career may come to an end after Saint Peter’s, but if there’s an opportunity to continue, they wouldn’t hesitate.
“I’ve got a couple of open doors, but I’m pursuing that slowly right now, not trying to get my hopes to high. But I’d like to,” Pounce said. “I’m going to trying and play summer somewhere, but we’ll see what happens. Whether it out here or back in England. Whether it’s in Europe, or somewhere else, I just don’t know. We’ll see.”
“If the opportunity came and there’s chances out there, than don’t get me wrong, I’d like to take it,” Mobbs said. “But I feel like I’ve got to that point now where I’m more focused on building a stable career for myself, staying in America, and getting that started for myself, more than soccer.”
Coach Richens says their departure will have a big effect on the team.
“It will be a big hole to fill,” Richens said. They make new players feel comfortable, motivate existing player’s, they're the heartbeat of the team and will be missed.”
Knowing eventually the two may have to move on, and wanting to stay in the United States, Pounce and Mobbs had an idea to start their own clothing company.
“We thought about it last year, but on a very small scale, just putting a few pictures on a t-shirt and saying if anyone else wants one I’ll do it and print it myself,” Pounce said. “But I never really pursued it. Then I mentioned it to Louis this year and we kind of put it on a more structured scale. We actually thought about it and put together a business plan.”
They’ve taken tips from other business owners, and learning as they go.
“So far we’ve got the main logo t-shirts, and we have a symbol that’s also our logo. It’s menswear, the Freight Clothing is our logo, keeping that as the focus while it’s fresh so we can get our name out there,” Pounce said. “It’s t-shirts, jumpers, crew necks, hoodies. That’s what we’re starting with. If it picks up big, we can move into bags, hats, trousers, and other stuff like that.”
They also are using this startup to use this as an experience that relates to their majors.
“I am majoring in Graphic Design and Marketing so Freight Clothing is a great way to test my skills in those areas,” Pounce said. “Louis is majoring in Economics so the fact he handles all the finances is an awesome way for him to learn first hand what it's like in the business world.”
However, being student-athletes, the NCAA rules state that amateurs can't own or operate any business until their contract is up.
“We’re not really allowed to start it, so David our friend is the owner and sole investor. So we’re taking it as more of an experience for later on in life,” Mobbs said. “I’d like it to do well, if it was a steady nice good flowing business that would be the best thing for me.”
They are both excited about their ideas for Freight Clothing and they feel now is the best time to pursue it.
“I feel like we kind of hit the nail on the head. The ideas of the naming and the logo it’s all been something that we’ve thought about but never really tried,” Mobbs said. “At the time were still fresh to America, I had other things to worry about, but now, it sort of feels like the perfect time.”
There using this small startup as a stepping stone to learn for something bigger in the future.
“I doubt it will get big enough to do anything spectacular, but you never know. Just as long as I’m not getting my hopes up too high. We’re just teaching ourselves along the way, it’s all about learning.”
Jack Pounce and Louis Mobbs, came to the United States to go to Saint Peter’s University for the opportunity to play soccer at the Division 1 level.
Googling England, pictures of the flag pop up with scenic photos of the country, and small blurbs about the it with a map, describing where it’s located. Before a link is clicked, the first headline in the news reads, “As Neville becomes the latest England Euro 96...where are the rest?” Gary Neville is an English soccer player, or football player, that is joining a list of 96 Euro players to become managers. Soccer is a huge part of the the English culture, England was soccer’s birthplace and is one of the most popular sports in the country.
“American universities offer a better student athlete program than back home in England,” Pounce said. “If you are at university in England then you only play soccer recreationally, whereas over here they offer soccer on a competitive level while earning a degree.”
Their journey to the U.S. began four years ago.
“We both went through the same company for soccer back in England when we were 17,” Pounce said. “We found them through London School Boys, another team we played on together. And then from there Saint Peter’s found us really.”
“I came a year later, I worked in England for a year and then I decided to come here with the help of Jack,” Mobbs said.
They grew up together playing soccer and ended up playing for the same university and have built a strong friendship.
“We have become very close over the last 3 years, pretty much seeing him everyday, both on and off the soccer field,” Pounce said. “Coming from the same country, we have a lot of similarities and like a lot of the same things.”
Mobbs was grateful to have someone like Pounce help him adjust to such a big change.
“Well, he probably had it a little worse than me because I had Jack here already,” Mobbs said. “When he came home we met up in London and he told me about it. So I had a bit more of a clear idea, even though it was still unclear, I at least had a bit of a mentor.”
Being one of the biggest metropolitan areas in the states with a wide range of different cultures, Jersey City was a welcome change that Mobbs was looking for.
“Where I’m from it’s all the same kinds of people. There’s no change’” Mobbs said. “It’s not a big city, and not like here and how New York Cities right there, so it’s different for me, but that’s the life that I wanted. So I like it here.”
When asked what they expected when choosing Saint Peter’s, they both look at each other and take a minute to respond.
“Expectations?” Pounce asked with a grin.
Well, we haven’t had the best performances or results, as far as the team,” Pounce said. “We have a good team; things just didn’t go our way.”
The Peacocks had a 7-9-2 record this year, a great improvement from years past records, but the camaraderie they have with their teammates is worth it all.
“And were not the highest funded school either,” Mobbs said. “But we probably got one of the closest bonds to our teammates in the league. So I feel these higher and more profitable schools don’t have teams that click and get together as well as we do. Were all in the same boat, and at the end of the day, it is what it is, and we can work at it and get better.”
Coach Julian Richens, the head coach of the men's soccer team, speaks fondly of both Pounce and Mobbs.
“Very intelligent young men, dedicated, very sociable. They've been a real pleasure,” Richens said. “Jack the a epitome of what you would want as a player, he works hard on and off the field team, and has great team spirit. Louis is a 3 year starter, he's basically taken it in stride. He's had 7 goals this year and is a good character on and off the field, and he wants to win.”
Soccer has been a part of their entire lives with the low and high moments.
As Mobbs said, “Ball is life, right?”
“It all revolves around soccer really,” Pounce said. I’ve been playing since 3 or 4. Training, but I had 3 teams. So I played twice on a Wednesday, once on a Sunday. When I got older, I played Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. So, there’s a lot of football going on, and it’s a lot bigger culture, football wise, over there than over here.”
Their soccer career may come to an end after Saint Peter’s, but if there’s an opportunity to continue, they wouldn’t hesitate.
“I’ve got a couple of open doors, but I’m pursuing that slowly right now, not trying to get my hopes to high. But I’d like to,” Pounce said. “I’m going to trying and play summer somewhere, but we’ll see what happens. Whether it out here or back in England. Whether it’s in Europe, or somewhere else, I just don’t know. We’ll see.”
“If the opportunity came and there’s chances out there, than don’t get me wrong, I’d like to take it,” Mobbs said. “But I feel like I’ve got to that point now where I’m more focused on building a stable career for myself, staying in America, and getting that started for myself, more than soccer.”
Coach Richens says their departure will have a big effect on the team.
“It will be a big hole to fill,” Richens said. They make new players feel comfortable, motivate existing player’s, they're the heartbeat of the team and will be missed.”
Knowing eventually the two may have to move on, and wanting to stay in the United States, Pounce and Mobbs had an idea to start their own clothing company.
“We thought about it last year, but on a very small scale, just putting a few pictures on a t-shirt and saying if anyone else wants one I’ll do it and print it myself,” Pounce said. “But I never really pursued it. Then I mentioned it to Louis this year and we kind of put it on a more structured scale. We actually thought about it and put together a business plan.”
They’ve taken tips from other business owners, and learning as they go.
“So far we’ve got the main logo t-shirts, and we have a symbol that’s also our logo. It’s menswear, the Freight Clothing is our logo, keeping that as the focus while it’s fresh so we can get our name out there,” Pounce said. “It’s t-shirts, jumpers, crew necks, hoodies. That’s what we’re starting with. If it picks up big, we can move into bags, hats, trousers, and other stuff like that.”
They also are using this startup to use this as an experience that relates to their majors.
“I am majoring in Graphic Design and Marketing so Freight Clothing is a great way to test my skills in those areas,” Pounce said. “Louis is majoring in Economics so the fact he handles all the finances is an awesome way for him to learn first hand what it's like in the business world.”
However, being student-athletes, the NCAA rules state that amateurs can't own or operate any business until their contract is up.
“We’re not really allowed to start it, so David our friend is the owner and sole investor. So we’re taking it as more of an experience for later on in life,” Mobbs said. “I’d like it to do well, if it was a steady nice good flowing business that would be the best thing for me.”
They are both excited about their ideas for Freight Clothing and they feel now is the best time to pursue it.
“I feel like we kind of hit the nail on the head. The ideas of the naming and the logo it’s all been something that we’ve thought about but never really tried,” Mobbs said. “At the time were still fresh to America, I had other things to worry about, but now, it sort of feels like the perfect time.”
There using this small startup as a stepping stone to learn for something bigger in the future.
“I doubt it will get big enough to do anything spectacular, but you never know. Just as long as I’m not getting my hopes up too high. We’re just teaching ourselves along the way, it’s all about learning.”