The familiar roar of planes overhead brings a strange sense of comfort, yet the Annapolis students find themselves immersed in a foreign culture.

The young men from the United States Naval Academy, who may one day serve across land, sea, and air, including potential jet pilots, embarked on a unique journey one Saturday in March to the banks of the Clyde for a friendly visit.

From Jurgen to Yoker and Pele to Davie Cooper, the midshipmen are experiencing the diverse world of Scottish football, transitioning from American soccer to the local “fitba’” as part of their spring break journey.

This trip is an integral part of their college soccer program’s spring break agenda.

“They approached us about a year ago to organize this,” explained Eric McAleer. Although he prefers to be known as a Clydebank season-ticket holder, his role as the senior vice president at WorldStrides is key here. WorldStrides is a company that arranges international trips for student-athletes.

The US navy cadets train at Holm Park in Yoker as a flight passes overhead

Coach John Hacker talks to his US Navy air cadets football players during their Scottish trip

McAleer, who has roots in Scottish football through his past play with Falkirk, East Stirling, Beith, and Pollok, has carved an impressive career in the United States. He founded WorldStrides, later selling it to a private equity firm, and continues to work there, facilitating global travel for around 7,000 aspiring footballers each year.

The trip by the members of the academy in Annapolis adhered to the structure built by McAleer.

‘I weigh up various factors,’ he says. ‘I ask the coaches: ‘’What are your objectives, what do you want to achieve, what standard do you want to play at”?’

The naval academy was thus confronted by sides from the top level of the SPFL, while also having training sessions that help build team morale. Visits to Celtic Park and Dumbarton for games has also introduced them to a culture of football that the students have certainly studied but not experienced.

‘This is a very busy time,’ concedes McAleer who was born and bred in Clydebank. ‘We have 450 players in seven countries at the moment, including Portugal, Italy and Germany. We have the men and women’s teams of a college playing at Bayern Munich today.’

These unfortunates will have to silently grieve the missed opportunity of not experiencing the delights of the Chookie Hens and the Bankies. But what they don’t know can’t hurt them.

In truth, there are substantial upsides to coming to Scotland. McAleer points out that the travellers have been immersed in a country that holds football as its most important sport and has a history that can intrigue, even beguile.

‘Davie Cooper was my hero,’ he says. McAleer has travelled the world, but standing under a Clydeside sky he can recall moments of watching the marvellous winger in full stride at Clydebank.

Former Falkirk player Eric McAleer founded WorldStrides, who send 7,000 aspiring footballers around the world every year

The US Navy players get into their stride during a training session in Yoker

On The Road’s Hugh MacDonald, above left, has a chat with coach John Hackworth

‘My football life began here and has continued in America,’ says McAleer who left at the end of the last century to begin a coaching career on the other side of the pond.

His contacts book is filled with names of those Scots who have climbed to the top of world football.

‘I talked to the lads at the welcome meeting and pointed out that the English Premier League, the strongest division in the world, had four managers from Glasgow alone not so long ago.’ Sir Alex Fergson, Owen Coyle, Davie Moyes and Kenny Dalglish were following in the illustrious footsteps of such as Bill Shankly and Matt Busby.

The coaches and players from USA are all, however, familiar with this back story.

Freshman Luke Palmer makes the almost mandatory verdict of ‘awesome’ when he reflects on his visit to the land that invented football.

He has four years of study to complete and then five years in the navy ranks to serve before he can consider another path. He views this not as a sentence but as an opportunity.

‘I am going to keep myself open as to what I do,’ he says in his early days as a cadet. ‘The potential to be a pilot is on the table and that would be really cool. But I have time to figure it all out.’

He is on a scholarship at Annapolis, with his football skills paving the way to a new route in life.

‘I have played soccer my whole life and it has given me this opportunity,’ he says. His grandfather went to Annapolis, and Palmer says: ‘It was never something I would turn down.’

The Scottish game has given him immediate lessons. ‘It is more technical,’ he says of the games against Dundee United and Celtic. ‘These kids do not make bad touches or misplaced passes.’

At the end of the practice, the lads board a bus to watch Celtic against Motherwell.

‘I know a lot about Celtic,’ he says. ‘I grew up with a Scottish coach and I watch Celtic in European games. It will be a great experience to see them live.’

The visit to Scotland is breaking new ground for coach John Hackworth whose credentials include being an assistant at the US national team under Jurgen Klinsmann and managing both Philadelphia Union and St Louis City.

On December 5, 2025, Hackworth was named head coach for the Navy Midshipmen men’s soccer team, becoming just the seventh head coach in the 105-year history of the programme.

‘I’m 56 and it is the first time I have been in Scotland, though I have been in England and Ireland,’ he says. He has a firm grasp of the importance of the game to Scotland. ‘I have a lot of Scottish mates and they have told me about it,’ he says.

He has close links, too, to fellow countrymen working in Scotland. His most famous association is with Klinsmann, who coached USA from 2011 to 2016.

The US Navy Air Cadets football team training at Holm Park in Yoker, Clydebank

‘I have been blessed to have so many influences from all over the world,’ he says. ‘Jurgen, obviously was a first-class footballer and very unique coach and leader. It was a privilege to be on his staff and work under him.

‘I have made lifelong relationships with these sort of guys, sharing ideas and philosophy. It makes me a better person, a better coach and a better leader of young men.’

Growing up in Tampa, he immediately fell in love with football, watching the local Rowdies where his favourite player was Rodney Marsh and he saw Pele play with the New York Cosmos.

He worked with Cameron Carter Vickers at under-age level, and Auston Trusty played alongside his son. He is impressed with the personality and the progress of both.

They chime with his philosophy as a coach. ‘It is about finding players who love the game – whether they be seven or 37 – and recognising that passion and adding to it,’ he says. ‘How much do they love it? How much do they want to grow?’

The visit to the birthplace of football is just part of discovering the answer to these questions. The hubbub of player noise under the descending planes into Glasgow airport suggests a firm salute to the joys of football from the midshipmen far from home but close to what they love.