If you have ever done an Internet search on the last name “McQueen”, chances are Steve McQueen’s Wikipedia entry was probably one of the first results. Steve Mc Queen was, after all, one of the most beloved Hollywood stars of the last century.
While most people associate the name Steve McQueen with the nickname ‘The King of Cool’, Chase associates that same person with a different moniker: grandpa.
But unlike his grandfather, Chase wants to make a name for himself in soccer, not movies. This has not always been easy, as his grandfather’s last name has at times overshadowed his career, but he says it’s not as challenging as some might think.
“Most people just ask me, ‘why aren’t you in acting?’” says a laughing Chase.
While Chase is in full pursuit of a career in soccer right now, he does admit that it wasn’t his first sport.
“I got into sports when I was 12 and then I kind of hit my growth spurt where I was over six feet at 13. I played basketball up until my freshman year of high school,” he says.
“I had always loved soccer, I had always loved sports, and then I met a [soccer] coach named Edi Mujic in Malibu where I grew up. I tried out for his team and then made the decision [to pursue soccer].”
Edi was the one who nudged Chase towards becoming a goalkeeper.
“I really didn’t know anything about goalkeeping and Edi kinda put me under his wing and I kind of made the decision that I wanted to pursue this when I was probably 15. Around then I said ‘This is what I want to do with my life, I want to dedicate myself to this. This is my life’.”
His pursuit of his dream took Chase to England, where he played for Cheshunt FC and Ilford FC among other teams. Unfortunately, Chase’s career was set back by an injury last year, which required him to have surgery and leave England.
“I had an unfortunate injury over in England where I tore the ligament in my ankle,” he says. “My parents and everybody kind of supported my decision to come home while I recovered from the surgery.”
The support of his parents has been pivotal for Chase, and he was quick to recognize them for it.
“I can’t thank my parents enough. I feel blessed to have such great parents. They’re very, very supportive.”
Chase mentioned that while recovering physically is obviously hard, it is not the most difficult obstacle that injured athletes face.
“The hardest part really is the mental [part]. Not being able to do anything for a long amount of time is really tough.”
But now that Chase has recovered from his injury, he has made the decision to try to play in the U.S., something he is excited about.
“My decision is to play again next year. I think that there’s something special going on in U.S. Soccer right now and I think it would be really cool to come home and be a part of it.”
Chase will be taking part in the Shale Classic later this month, where he will play for ISN FC. But while he is certainly enthused about showcasing his skills, the thing that he is looking forward to the most is simpler than one might think.
“I’m just looking forward to playing again, you know? Doing the thing I love.”
The King of Cool would be proud.
Follow Carlos Mojica on Twitter @CD_Mojica.
