Posted by

Harjeet Johal ,

May 25, 2017 Twitter

@HarJournalist

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VANCOUVER, B.C. - A football player never forgets that initial moment when you walk out on to the pitch for your first appearance with the first team. On Saturday afternoon at B.C. Place, Tyler Pasher made his debut with Sporting Kansas City against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The 23 year-old was in the starting eleven for Coach Peter Vermes. Although the visitors lost 2-0, this will always be a special memory for Pasher. "It felt great," said Pasher. "Obviously, it was something I've been dreaming of for a long time. It was great just to finally get out there and see what it was all about." The Elmira, Ontario native, has had quite the journey to get to where he is today. He spent his youth years with Newcastle United, and Toronto FC's academy. Finish side, PS Kemi came calling in 2013. Lansing United was a destination in 2014. The Pittsburgh Riverhounds, and Swope Park Rangers of the USL were next. Sporting Kansas City liked what they saw from Pasher, and signed him to a contract on December 2, 2016. "A bit of a roller-coaster," said Pasher as he reflected on his journey. "I thought of quitting, I thought of continuing to play off and on for a good two or three years. I finally found Sporting's second team. With hard work, and determination through the first season with, Swope Park Rangers, I earned myself a first team contract. How many months later, and I've made my debut. It's a bit nostalgic. I can't be more grateful for the opportunity that I got."



It's a #SportingKC debut in @MLS play for winger @Typash 👏👏



The Canadian played in one CCL game last year, also vs. @WhitecapsFC. #VANvSKC pic.twitter.com/yMGyXHdHG4 — SKC Matchday (@SKCmatchday) May 20, 2017

Pasher earned forty-five minutes of action before being substituted off just before the second half kicked off. A road weary Sporting Kansas City side was looking for a spark. The midfielder was left to watch the rest of the match. Vermes liked what he saw from Pasher in his debut. "He’s got very good qualities," said Vermes. "He’s a pacey kid, very good dribbler one-v-one. He’s very good in the final third. He’s got a tenaciousness to him. This was a big step for him, but it was a good introduction into MLS and I think he’s got a good career ahead of him. He’s got a good mentality." A passionate Pasher has always had an inkling that he wanted to be a professional footballer. He grew up with Vancouver Whitecaps FC's David Edgar. They would both train together, and learn from Eddie Edgar, David's father. "His father taught me everything I knew as a kid growing up playing the game. When I would go over to England, I would live with David, because he was at Newcastle as well. I kind of lived with him for a few weeks at a time, and back and forth, and what not. We've obviously stayed in touch, and he's like a big brother to me. We're pretty good friends," said Pasher. Eddie Edgar was a scout with Newcastle United, and he liked what he saw from Pasher. It wouldn't be long before he setup a try-out opportunity for Pasher with Newcastle. "I think it really hit me when I was 9 years-old," revealed Pasher. "That's when I made my first trip to England. I went to my first game, and I was a ball boy at Newcastle vs Liverpool. I got to see the stadium with 60,000 people, and these big huge name players like Steve Gerrard, and Alan Shearer. When I was in the stadium training with the team, in these beautiful facilities, it became a reality of mine. 'This is what I want, I want to be able to be in a stadium like this'."



Pasher's try-out with Newcastle was an early success. He would play forward, defence, or wherever he was needed. Everything was going great, and he kept getting invited back over, and over again. David Edgar was playing with Newcastle and got to see Pasher learn, and develop from the early days in Ontario, all the way to Newcastle. "He's sort of similar to me," said Edgar. "He had that inroad when I was there. He's a good kid, he wanted to learn, he had all the attributes. Obviously Newcastle saw something in him. It didn't quite work out, but he's worked his way back up, and he got a well deserved start." While representing Newcastle in the English Premier League didn't materialize. It did open further doors for Pasher. He eventually returned to Canada and spent 2010 - 2013 with the Toronto FC academy. He was much closer to home, and still playing the beautiful game. Playing for Lansing, Pittsburgh, Swope Park, and now Sporting Kansas City has proven to be a long, and tough road. Pasher, and Edgar have always kept in contact and remained friends. Edgar made sure to send Pasher positive thoughts before his MLS debut. "I found out he was starting so I gave him a call just to congratulate him. I still speak to him, and obviously my Dad still speaks to his Dad, so we're quite close," said Edgar. Edgar will likely be giving Pasher another call when he checks off another big accomplishment on his career path. Playing for Canada on the international stage remains a top goal. Pasher has been called in to a Canada camp before, but he has yet to make his senior debut. He's hoping new gaffer, Octavio Zambrano will change that. "It would definitely complete the milestone of my career," admitted Pasher. "So far, everything I've wanted to accomplish, I've accomplished. That's the next thing I want to accomplish, and once I accomplish that, then I can really start setting some new goals, and new ambitions. To be able to say 'I made my MLS debut, I signed my MLS contract, and I debuted for my men's national team,' it's just the (trifecta)." Zambrano and Pasher have both exchanged emails. All that's left to happen is the call into camp, and another first team cap. If it happens, it happens. Pasher is looking to solidify his role with Sporting Kansas City. If Canada comes calling, that's bloody great. David Edgar doesn't need Canada to pick up the phone and invite Pasher. He knows what kind of quality, and determination Pasher brings. It would not be a surprise to Edgar to see his friend turns his first MLS cap into a long career for club and country. "He's got all the attributes to have a good career," said Edgar. "He's worked hard, he's worked his way back up. There was a time when he wasn't quite sure what he was going to do, and he's got his head down and worked hard. He can really do well. Obviously, he's getting the opportunities there now." Tyler Pasher may not be a name that most MLS, and Canadian supporters are familiar with, but you should be. He's the kind of guy that has had to work, work, and keep working to get where he is. Canada is always looking for more young talent, and proven footballers. Pasher is on the right path to making a name for himself, and it all starts with that first cap. He's got his MLS debut out-of-the-way, and the only way is up.



