By now most Atlanta United fans know Andrew Carleton, the club’s first-ever MLS Homegrown signing, U-17 U.S. Men’s National Team star and recently-crowned USSDA national champion. But what they may not know is he’s part of a whole family of soccer players, and isn’t the only one donning the red, black and gold.
“There’s five of us, three boys and two girls,” Alan Carleton says, “I’ve lived in Atlanta my whole life. We live in Powder Springs now and we all play soccer.”
Alan Carleton – Andrew’s younger brother – is the second youngest of the five Carleton siblings, but has already secured a spot on Atlanta United’s youngest academy team, playing in the Academy’s first-ever competition with the U-12 team.
“I started playing soccer around age 4 or 5. All my family members starting playing, so I thought it would be fun if I joined them and played as well. I played with Southern Soccer Academy, in Cobb. Then a group from Atlanta United went to Dallas last March and I played with them against some of the MLS teams and a couple Spanish League teams. I’ve been on the u-12’s ever since.”
Living in a soccer family has its perks: there’s always someone to join you for an impromptu scrimmage in the back yard, and having a U.S. youth international, pro player living in your house offers a decent perk as well.
“We play in the back yard a lot, all five of us really. When Andrew is home he likes to play outside with us. That’s pretty cool. He helps me out and teaches me a lot of new stuff.
"It’s pretty nice to have someone as experienced as Andrew to help me. He tells me to just keep working hard to become the best I can be.”
But there’s a difference between being a possessing promising talent as a youth player and becoming a pro. Alan says he’ll never forget the moment that changed his family’s lives forever.
“I was at my house, playing soccer, my mom was on the phone with Andrew, and he told her that Andrew could be on the pro team, so I heard my mom yelling and being happy.
"I was really happy and proud of him, because he’s the person I look up to become better at soccer.”
Alan’s older brother isn’t the only one he’s happy to share a training ground with.
“The training ground is way better than I thought it would be, it’s really nice. It’s awesome to just be practicing and having some of the best pro players in MLS right over there not far away from me. I look up to Miguel Almirón and Carlos Carmona – Miguel plays in the same position as me, and he’s just one of the best players, I think in MLS.”
The entire Carleton family has season tickets to Atlanta United games, and Alan says he’s been as excited as everyone else about how passionate the city has been at the games.
While there are some hurdles to committing to elite-level soccer at this young of an age – like travelling away from your family for tournaments – he wouldn’t trade the opportunity for anything.
“This club is probably the best privilege I’ve ever had to come and be able to play my favorite thing in the world. It’s funny, all I do is just play soccer, and Atlanta United has given me the chance to become even better at this game. I feel really thankful.”
For now, Alan says he’s just trying to work hard every day to realize his dreams of becoming a pro. And if that hard work pays off like he wants, Atlanta United fans could see two Carletons on the pitch at one point in the future.
“I would like to play for Atlanta United if I can, so I’m going to just try and keep playing and getting better, so that by the time Andrew’s age or a little older, I can play for Atlanta United on the first team.
"Maybe Andrew and I could play together, that would be fun.”
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