News

Simon Mensing Ready To Work With Gary Smith Once More, Begin Life In America

Simon Mensing, the Atlanta Silverbacks
Mar 27, 2015

By Matthew Levine

As Simon Mensing looks back on where he started his career, what he has done in it, and where he is going, it has come full circle in one sense.

At the start of his career, Mensing was a member of Wimbeldon, who was in the English Premier League at the time. However, it was his coach there and now with the Atlanta Silverbacks that is the common thread.

“Gary Smith was a coach when I was with Wimbledon as a young lad, so I knew Gary for a number of years. When I was speaking to him recently I said part of my career plan and path and something I would love to do would be to go over to the States,” Mensing told NASL.com.

And when the opportunity presented itself in Atlanta, “I was all for it,” he said.

After vacationing in the United States a number of times, Mensing and his family knew that it was where their future was beckoning.

The 32-year-old center back will now bring his no nonsense defending to the heart of the Silverbacks defense in 2015.

 “An aggressive one,” he said when describing himself as a player. “I’m a mature player, I like to consider myself an organizer and do a lot of talking. I’m a no nonsense defender.”

Mensing became a fan favorite at Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Premier League, whose supporters were vocal in wishing him well on his journey to the States.

“It’s nice to have that bond with the Hamilton fans. When I was back in the UK, I would go to some of their games as a spectator. I was there for about five years and I did have a strong bond with the fans,” he said of the Scottish club.

"Maybe they appreciated from my side that I always gave 100 percent and nothing less.”

He aims for that same level of interaction with the crowds in Atlanta.

“It’s very important, and what I’ve seen in Atlanta, that soccer isn’t just you turning up and watching the game, but it’s very much family-oriented and the kids have a lot of stuff to get involved in to do before and after games. It’s a whole day event, which is slightly different than in the UK, where it’s sort of you turn up, watch the game, and then go back again.”

“It’s important we give back and interact with the fans. They’re the ones that are paying to watch the product. They’ve go to be happy more than anybody.”

And nothing less than 100 percent on the pitch is what he will bring to the Silverbacks.

“Carry on what I’m doing, to be honest. I’m a whole-hearted player and I don’t like losing,” he said.

Mensing is looking forward to his stay in America, and to play under the guidance of Smith once more.

“If it wasn’t for the gaffer I wouldn’t be here and I’m very thankful for the opportunity,” he said.

The first-year Silverbacks head coach's enthusiasm has certainly not only rubbed off on Mensing as the season approaches but the rest of his teammates as well.

"I’m looking forward to doing it again, this time in America," he said on working with Smith.

“Not just me, but the rest of the boys are looking forward to it. You can already see the his ideas and the way he wants us to play, his philosophy, and his training is really, really good.”

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