Wisconsin Soccer Central

July 20, 2004: Northwood FC, a non-league team from a borough in northwest London, played host to Championship side Watford in a preseason friendly, helping to launch an incredible career. Despite being on the wrong side of a 4-0 scoreline, Jay DeMerit (Green Bay/Bay Port) impressed Watford manager Ray Lewington, who brought the 24-year-old center back in for a trial and eventually signed him. DeMerit would go on to play six seasons with the Hornets, scoring the opening goal as the team earned promotion to the Premier League and becoming the team captain. He also earned 25 caps for the U.S. national team, starting all four matches at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. DeMerit is now in his fourth season with the Vancouver Whitecaps in Major League Soccer.