Beyond the Touchline: An interview with Battery defender AJ Paterson
DefendCharleston goes one-on-one with the Battery’s new addition to the Wall of Doom, AJ Paterson.
AJ Paterson standing 6'2" fits right in the Charleston Battery’s backline, otherwise known as the Wall of Doom. The Key Largo, Flordia native shares a similar story with his teammate Nico Rittmeyer. Paterson’s father also drove the younger Paterson, 90 minutes each way three times a week in order for him to play competitive soccer.
The hard work and dedication paid off as Paterson, chose Wright State University over Florida Atlantic for the most interesting reason…snow. Paterson growing up in the Florida Keys fell in love with seeing snow for the first time and wanting to experience all four seasons and left Florida for Dayton Ohio.
Paterson had an impressive collegiate career. Making 76 appearances, scoring 17 goals and recording seven assists. He was awarded the Horizon League Player of the Year, three out of his four years at WSU.
Those stats drew the attention of NYCFC who drafted Paterson as the 42nd pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft.
Paterson went unsigned and eventually signed with Bethlehem Steel FC making one appearance against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2018.
After a highly successful preseason, the Battery signed Paterson and he made his Battery debut in the 2019 season opener against the Ottawa Fury. Paterson led nearly every team defensive stat, playing a full 90 minutes and recording 3 clearances, 1 block, 3 interceptions, 1 tackle, and led the team with 12 out of 17 duels won, and 11 out of 15 aerial duels won. That performance earned him DefendCharleston’s man of the match award.
For this Beyond the Touchline interview, we sat down with AJ to see how his sophomore year in the USL is starting out in Charleston.
Hey AJ. Growing up in Key Largo, your dad drove you 90 minutes each way to practice three times a week, what was that like?
When I was six years old I joined a U9 team in Kendall, which was about an hour and a half from my house. And on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, my father drove me right after school straight up to practice until I was 17/18 and able to drive myself. It was a battle, doing my homework in the car, doing it right before some games, you know it’s tough but he made the sacrifice even with his jobs and working around his hours and everything so I’m really appreciative for that.
This past November you were called up and played on Grenadian National Team and scored a brace in the League of Nations, is that something we will see more?
Yes, actually we have a game on the 24th of this month and I’ll be going to that.
Editors note: Puerto Rico hosts Grenada on March 24th, 2019 at 4:00 pm EDT.
You were drafted by New York but didn’t play with them, but you signed with Bethlehem last season. Being with Bethlehem last year and now with the Battery this year, what are key differences between the two teams and the coaching differences between Bethlehem and Coach Anhaeuser?
Last year with Bethlehem we focused to mold our game around that of the (Philidelphia) Union, so we just played their style and it was strictly possessive. You know, caring for the ball more than attacking. When I got down here Coach Augie said we want to score goals, we want to attack, possession is nice and I expect to keep it, but we want to go forward and score goals. And that gets everyone working for one another, everyone is working so much harder off the ball on the ball and it was a big difference and change but I like it.
Other than the Battery, who is your favorite team and who do you idolize?
First and foremost Chelsea FC. I’m a blue through and through. As for players, I think there’s no question about it, Lionel Messi is the best player in the world, he is the best player ever to step foot on this earth.
When I was in college and being that I was a midfielder I really idolized Nemanja Matić and his role as the six, he demanded the ball and he is left-footed like myself. I really liked him but now that I have transitioned to the defensive side of the game, I watch a lot of film on Virgil van Dijk. I think he’s is the best center back in the world right now. The things he can do is just amazing and he is such a big presence and such a powerhouse back there he is just fun to watch.
Some players have superstitions and pre-game / post-game rituals. Do you have any of those?
I pray before every game, that is something I always do. But nothing superstitious like stepping on the pitch with my right foot or anything like that.
What was the most influential piece of advice someone has given you?
I would have to say at the time my assistant coach in college, Jake Sumpter. He asked me if I want to become a professional soccer player around my junior year. I told him yes, that’s the only thing I could see myself doing. And he said you know, less than 1% of collegiate soccer players on the men's side become pro. If you want it, you have to work for it and you have to do it, nothing will be handed to you.
And to this day that is something I hold onto every day because you know, if you look at what happened to me last year at Bethlehem, only making one appearance, you know I just wasn’t a fit in their system. That would have been easy for me to say, ah I didn’t get what I wanted, or this and that, but those words rang out in my head and I just had to go out there and work harder and luckily I landed here in Charleston.
For the youth that are playing in local clubs and academies, what advice would you give them that you wish someone told you when you were in say U10, U13?
It’s actually another piece that I was told, I just wish I’d listen to, which was hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. My dad said that to me probably three times a week. And I think that is something that kids nowadays need to know, that there is a lot of talent, kids are out there starting younger and getting better faster, and that work ethic has to be there. You have to go out there and bust your butt because there are people who are less talented than you, that will go out there and run through a wall and they will get that spot, they will get the opportunity and it’s happened time and time again. I think that is something that I wish I listened to growing up and I would tell that to any young player that’s aspiring to go far in the sport.
Thank you, AJ for sitting down with us. And yes, two calendar dates AJ has circled in his calendar, April 13th and the regular season finale on October 19th against Bethlehem Steel are ones you are not going to want to miss.
As always, thanks for reading! Be sure to read all our Battery coverage here and be sure to follow DefendCharleston.soccer on Twitter and Facebook.
