Most soccer fans’ encounters with their favorite players consist of brief post-game autograph sessions or lucky right-place-right-time moments out in the world. San Antonio FC supporter Julie Elizondo and her family, however, got a special opportunity to meet midfielder Michael Reed up close and personal after winning the Lunch With a Player contest, presented by Toyota.
Elizondo and her family met with Reed for lunch at Alamo Café on Wednesday, where they talked about their personal lives and experiences. While having the chance to meet a professional athlete was interesting for Elizondo and her husband, one of the aspects they appreciated most about Reed was his interaction with their 11-year-old son, Julian, and his two friends, Israel Reynosa and Andres Prado.
“It was a really fun experience to sit with Michael over lunch,” Elizondo said. “The boys were really excited to sit and chat one-on-one with a professional soccer player and share their stories about the teams they play on currently.”
Julian, Israel, and Andres received some valuable advice from Reed about improving their game, however the biggest surprise for them was how friendly and approachable a pro player could be.
“I didn’t expect him to be very friendly,” Julian said. “He’s funny and he would try playing the game we play, but he wasn’t too good at it.”
“He talked to us normal, like an actual friend,” Reynosa said. “It wasn’t like he was just some soccer player.”
Reed, who only has the chance to meet fans thoroughly on rare occasions, appreciated the opportunity to get to know some of the people who support him and San Antonio FC.
“There’s such limited time after the games,” Reed said. “You run into people every now and then in stores, but the questions that they asked, where they come from, their background, who they are, it’s refreshing, especially since it’s the San Antonio family.”
Opportunities like this are special for Reed because being a professional athlete gives him the chance to make an impact in people’s lives and influence kids in a positive way.
“It’s very humbling,” Reed said. “Obviously we don’t just play for a job. We play for the fans, we play for our family, we play for much bigger reasons, and hopefully I can be a good example to the youth.”
Lunch With a Player is a contest held by Toyota, the official naming rights and jersey sponsor of Toyota Field. San Antonio FC and Toyota struck a multi-year founding partnership in March 2016.
Most soccer fans’ encounters with their favorite players consist of brief post-game autograph sessions or lucky right-place-right-time moments out in the world. San Antonio FC supporter Julie Elizondo and her family, however, got a special opportunity to meet midfielder Michael Reed up close and personal after winning the Lunch With a Player contest, presented by Toyota.
Elizondo and her family met with Reed for lunch at Alamo Café on Wednesday, where they talked about their personal lives and experiences. While having the chance to meet a professional athlete was interesting for Elizondo and her husband, one of the aspects they appreciated most about Reed was his interaction with their 11-year-old son, Julian, and his two friends, Israel Reynosa and Andres Prado.
“It was a really fun experience to sit with Michael over lunch,” Elizondo said. “The boys were really excited to sit and chat one-on-one with a professional soccer player and share their stories about the teams they play on currently.”
Julian, Israel, and Andres received some valuable advice from Reed about improving their game, however the biggest surprise for them was how friendly and approachable a pro player could be.
“I didn’t expect him to be very friendly,” Julian said. “He’s funny and he would try playing the game we play, but he wasn’t too good at it.”
“He talked to us normal, like an actual friend,” Reynosa said. “It wasn’t like he was just some soccer player.”
Reed, who only has the chance to meet fans thoroughly on rare occasions, appreciated the opportunity to get to know some of the people who support him and San Antonio FC.
“There’s such limited time after the games,” Reed said. “You run into people every now and then in stores, but the questions that they asked, where they come from, their background, who they are, it’s refreshing, especially since it’s the San Antonio family.”
Opportunities like this are special for Reed because being a professional athlete gives him the chance to make an impact in people’s lives and influence kids in a positive way.
“It’s very humbling,” Reed said. “Obviously we don’t just play for a job. We play for the fans, we play for our family, we play for much bigger reasons, and hopefully I can be a good example to the youth.”
Lunch With a Player is a contest held by Toyota, the official naming rights and jersey sponsor of Toyota Field. San Antonio FC and Toyota struck a multi-year founding partnership in March 2016.