Portland Outdoors - Portland Football Club

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Nathan Teixeira started playing soccer in the North Leeds Minor Soccer system in grade three.

He attended training camps in Brockville and continues to play on the junior Lions of Rideau District High School, but like other local kids he had nowhere to play in the summer time.

That changed this year when the Portland Football Club (PFC) - a team for boys ages 15 and younger- was brought back to life. They compete in the East Region Soccer League.

"I am happy because it keeps me occupied as a side thing from work in the summer," said Teixeira.

"Soccer is probably my favourite pastime. Before [PFC] there would be a gap after North Leeds," he said. Scoring comes easy for Teixeira. Halfway into the season he is the second most productive player in the league with six goals. Thus far he has scored all of PFCÕs goals, but he knows it is not just one striker that is responsible for making a team work.

"I have a really good supporting cast this year. It is probably the best team I have ever been with in my life. I just make the most out of the opportunities I get," he said.

On Thursday PFC led 1-0 at half time on the road against the Cataraqui Clippers of Kingston. It was the first away goal for the team all season. However, the boys closed their road game series with a 2-1 loss. Teixeira expressed his disappointment.

"The last couple of games have been frustrating. Sometimes we come out for the first half but then we donÕt show up after halftime and we give up a lead weÕve had. Or we donÕt show up for the start of the game and we have to play comeback hero in the second half," he said.

However, despite losing all games on the road, there is reason for optimism in the Portland camp. Away results have improved, and today, Thursday July 6, PFC will play at home for the first time since June 15. At Kin Park on Harlem Road the fans have come out in great numbers.

"I think that in the second half of the season we will be a little bit more experienced because we played all these teams already. We had some really close games against Cataraqui. Even the game against Kingston United we were down 3-1 and we almost came back to win the game," Teixeira said.

In their first home game in three weeks PFC will meet one of the best teams in the league, the ÔAÕ selection of the Cataraqui Clippers U16 boys. PFC will need the help of their fans once again. "It warms my heart to see so many people come out to the games and that helps us play better," said Teixeira.

"I think Portland is special because it is such a small community. Everybody knows about the soccer and more people come out than at any of our away games."



		Back to PFC homepage Teixeira keeps on scoring for PFC By Marco Smits The Review-Mirror July 6, "0">




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