TORONTO

Ex-teammates vouch for Toronto FC’s Clint Irwin.

Voices up and down the North American soccer ladder chimed in this week when the Reds acquired the 26-year-old goalkeeper in a trade with Colorado.

One of them, an ex-teammate of Irwin’s with the CSL’s Capital City FC (Ottawa), happens to be a ex-teammate of your’s truly.

“Clint Irwin is the best goalie I’ve played with,” Julien Edwards wrote to me.

Following a standout career at Drake University, Edwards appeared for the Guyana national team while competing in the Canadian Soccer League.

Toronto FC centre-back Drew Moor also offered endless commendation after playing with Irwin in Colorado the previous three seasons.

“He’s probably one of the best shot-stoppers I’ve ever had behind me,” Moor told the Toronto Sun on Monday night.

“Most of all, he’s such a hard-worker. He’s first to the training field in the morning and he’s last to leave in the afternoon.”

Players, coaches and managers all seem to agree. Irwin has earned this opportunity, the chance to be the go-to netminder in a first-class city.

“There was no real indication that anything was going to happen,” Irwin said during a Tuesday morning conference call with Toronto media.

“I certainly didn’t ask for anything.”

But when ESPN reported last week that the Rapids were interested in acquiring U.S. international Tim Howard, he began to speculate.

“I realized it could be a possibility,” Irwin added.

After toiling in obscurity five years ago alongside Edwards in the embattled CSL, Irwin finds himself in, perhaps, the best situation possible.

There’s no doubt he’ll be head coach Greg Vanney’s first-choice ’keeper come March.

Alex Bono, a former top pick, and Quillan Roberts, a homegrown signing, will battle for the second spot. Neither have ever featured in an MLS match.

“I’m thankful to the Rapids for finding a great spot for me and placing me in a position to succeed,” Irwin said. “In MLS, that’s not always the case.

“I’m very happy to be in Toronto. I want to help this team compete for trophies and I want to represent the city.

“The fans are passionate and with that comes high expectations. I’m prepared for that.”

Helping him make that transition is Moor, who the Reds acquired via free agency before Christmas.

The former Rapids duo have already spoken multiple times since the trade.

“Everything is first class (with TFC),” Irwin said when asked to describe his conversation with Moor.

“I’m sure that’s going to continue because my experience has been the same. We didn’t talk much about soccer.”

Asked if it was difficult to play in Colorado, a market lambasted recently for penny-pinching ownership and mediocrity, Irwin remained humble.

“It’s not difficult to play soccer anywhere,” he said matter-of-factly. “We’re getting to play the game we love.”

It’s that kind of passion that has left a mark wherever he has been — including the very bottom of the Canadian pyramid.

“It was a start-up club,” Irwin said of Capital City.

“The Canadian Soccer League gave me the first opportunity. I’ll always be thankful for that. I probably wouldn’t be here.”

REDS DRAFT THREE MORE

Toronto FC selected Rutgers midfielder Mitchell Taintor (59th overall) in the third round during the continuation of Tuesday’s MLS SuperDraft. Additionally, the Reds picked University of Maryland, Baltimore County forward Darius Madison (70th Overall) and Penn State midfielder Brian James (80th Overall) in the fourth round.

While all are considered long shots to make Toronto’s MLS roster, a USL deal with TFC II is possible.