In 2004, a then 10-year-old boy in the southern part of the Ontario providence dreamed of becoming a professional goalkeeper. Fourteen years later, Darren MacLeod signed his first USL contract.
MacLeod’s journey started when the then young keeper joined the Waterloo Minor Soccer League. Like most club players, he played “half a game in goal and the other half on the field” and soon would find himself in the goalkeeper position when another keeper went out on an injury. He stuck with it ever since.
That year, MacLeod and - former Swope Park Rangers teammate - Tyler Pasher traveled to Newcastle to play in their academy.