WINDSOR, Colo. — Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC had a lot of firsts in 2023: their first season at Future Legends Complex, first Player of the Year winner, and, most importantly, first USL League One playoff appearance and win.
Certain players experienced firsts as well, specifically forward Billy King and defender Lucky Opara, who played their first seasons in the United States.
King, a 29-year-old from Edinburgh, came to Hailstorm from Irish club St. Patrick’s Athletic and has also played in England and his native Scotland during his career.
“I loved my time there and met lots of great people,” King said of his time at St. Pat’s. “But after three seasons I felt like I needed a change and that’s when I decided to make the move to Hailstorm after speaking with Éamon.”
A native of Nigeria, Opara joined Hailstorm from Spartaks Jürmala in Latvia and has also made stops in Switzerland, Finland, and Estonia throughout his professional career.
“I have always loved the idea of playing in America,” Opara said. “So when my agent and Éamon contacted me about the opportunity, I was very happy to come.”
Both players said they were impressed at the passion and development of the soccer fan culture in the US.
“I was surprised by the already passionate fans here since most the clubs are new,” Opara said. “Football in America is developing every day.”
King added that development extended to the product on the field as well.
“I was surprised how good the standard was in the league,” King said. “There were no easy games, especially away from home. Everyone is extremely fit and athletic, and I had to adapt quickly to the pace of the games.”
Both players said there are unique aspects to playing in the US that required an adjustment for them in their first season stateside.
“The biggest difference is the heat. I rarely played games in the heat I experienced in the US, so that took time to adapt to and acclimatize,” King said.
Opara, who last played in a country the size of West Virginia, said Hailstorm’s travel requirements took some time to get used to.
“Traveling to another club is just a few hours’ drive in Europe, but in America, you have to fly for a few hours to another state,” Opara said.
Despite all the changes, both King and Opara had the same big takeaway: an affinity for their teammates and the camaraderie in Hailstorm’s locker room. They’ll each get to experience it again as both King and Opara are returning to Northern Colorado for the 2024 season.
“I love it here in Colorado,” Opara said. “And I feel like there is still a lot left to accomplish.”
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The home of Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, 118-acre Future Legends Complex will feature 6,500-seat TicketSocket Park, 2,500-seat Future Legends Field, multiple baseball diamonds, multi-purpose fields, an indoor sports arena, lodging, and retail; and will host guests for major sports leagues, tournaments, events and more.
More information is available at HailstormFC.com and FutureLegendsComplex.com.