When you grow up surrounded by ocean water in the Florida Keys as AJ Paterson did, you get used to traveling long distances.
But even by Key Largo standards, going from Florida to Dayton, Ohio, to New York City to Bethlehem, Pa., is a meandering journey to professional soccer. That’s the path the Bethlehem Steel FC midfielder has been on ever since he was spotted on a side field in a tournament in Florida by Wright State University head coach Bryan Davis.
“I didn’t play for any big clubs, I didn’t play for any big academies growing up,” Paterson said.