On May 3 at Scudamore Field at NKU Soccer Stadium, Camden Sphire took the next step of his professional career. Following in the footsteps of other Academy standouts, the 17-year-old midfielder made his first professional start for FC Cincinnati 2, playing 65 minutes in a 5-0 victory over Toronto FC II.
After making three appearances as a substitute this season, Sphire finally earned a spot in the starting lineup. The journey has not been easy, but hard work during the offseason has helped elevated his play, and with it, his confidence.
“It's been from the start. In preseason, being at that level, watching him really play well with the academy. That alignment is happening a little bit more, and just giving him a pathway and the confidence, like ‘you can do it, you can be out here, you can play at this level,” Sammy Castellanos, FC Cincinnati 2 head coach said.
Sphire, a Cincinnati native, grew up rooting for the Orange and Blue, with vast aspirations to follow his dream of playing professional soccer. He recalls being on the opposite end of the spectrum as a young fan, rooting on FC Cincinnati from its first kickoff.
“When I was seven, FC Cincinnati got a USL team so we attended every game in Nippert Stadium and I was their biggest fan asking for autographs, standing in the pouring rain and wishing to be one of them,” Sphire shared in an Instagram post after making his professional debut earlier this season.
In 2018, when FCC won the MLS bid and formed a professional team, a direct pathway to professional soccer was laid out in front of Spire, offering a chance to make a name for himself in his hometown.
Along with the MLS bid, FCC formed an academy for young players, like Sphire, to get the proper development needed to translate their talent to the next level.
With his future laid out in front of him, Sphire became one of the first to be scouted to play for FCC Academy’s Discovery Program at just 11 years-old, marking Camden’s first step to playing professionally.
Sphire’s path to professional soccer was a new experience for many people outside of just himself, with the club only having existed for a few years, but the path he set out for himself would soon become the standard that kids from around the nation would seek to become a football great.
“There's no question, they put their head down, they do what you ask of them, they try to help their teammates, they work to their maximum capacity every single day, and they deserve every success they've had, and will go on to have,” U18 head coach Chris Paddington regarding Sphire’s development. "It's great to see him just set a pathway for the rest of the players to follow.”
Sphire stood out in the Discovery Program, and shortly after made the FCC U13 Academy team. From there, Sphire moved up through U14, U15 and U16 teams, excelling at every level against some of the best competition in his age group in MLS NEXT play.
“He's one of the guys that's an original from Cincinnati, and he's gone through the academy, from the birth of it, to where it's at now,” said Castellanos after Sphire’s first professional start last month.
The young Cincinnati native has since made four more starts in NEXT Pro for FC Cincinnati 2 and has made nine appearances total this season.
For Sphire, getting scouted to play in MLS NEXT Pro was already a dream come true, but getting to play for his hometown team made it all the sweeter.
“It has been an amazing and blessed ride to always have Cincinnati across my chest since I was a little boy till now,” Sphire said. “I couldn’t be more thankful to God, the best family in the world, friends, incredible teammates, coaches, trainers throughout my athletic career in all sports and the FC Cincinnati organization.”
On his path to professional soccer, Sphire participated in multiple different sports outside of soccer, making friends along the way that he still cheers on to this day. This humble attitude has propelled him forward at every level, and has made him a desirable asset because of his ability to make his teammates better players and competitors.
In the MLS NEXT Playoffs, Sphire left his mark and carried the U18's to the quarterfinal, securing wins against IMG Academy and FC Delco. Paddington reflected on Sphire’s path to earning meaningful reps, and commended his ability to make the best of every opportunity presented in front of him.
“Opportunity comes where it's needed, and when it came, I think he stepped in and grabbed it with both hands,” Paddington said about Camden Sphire’s desire for an opportunity. “He's been on a bit of a roller coaster, obviously. Against Columbus crew he was excellent. I thought he was our best player. If I'm not being biased.”
Sphire recognizes the opportunities he has been presented with not just on the pitch but in the community, making sure to sacrifice his valuable time to help kids in youth camps in the Cincinnati Area. As a kid living out his dream, it’s important for Sphire to help other kids live out theirs.
“For many years now, to show my thankfulness and help little kids reach their dreams, I choose to volunteer hundreds of hours of my time for free to help kids each year at soccer camps,” Sphire said. “So to all you kids out there—you can do it. No dream is too big if you work hard.”
With his first professional start in the books, Sphire is focused on the next chapter. Driven by visions of hearing fans chant his name, he remains focused on representing his home town club and making his family—as well as all others who have helped him along the way—proud.
