On Wednesday, Chicago Fire goalkeeper Matt Lampson was the subject of MLSsoccer.com's latest edition of THE WORD, a long-form series focusing on the biggest topics and most intriguing personalities in North American soccer. Chicago-based author Scott Powers dove into the backstory of Lampson's personal fight with cancer, his path to professional soccer following treatment, and his subsequent efforts to fight the disease in the community in the years since.
Read an excerpt below:
“He spent a lot of time with us,” says Rick Ey, who was the St. Charles head coach at the time. “He came to practices and to games. He came to our events. It seemed to me he was appreciating something to be a part of. He was caught in limbo. He was so successful in high school and was ready to jump to the next level. All of a sudden he was stuck. I like to think it helped him to stay positive to stick around things. He had the support from his coaches and support from his former teammates. I remember him hugging guys at end-of-year banquet. We recognized him as being part of the team.”
Lampson knew being out on a soccer field, like the occasional rack of ribs or flame-broiled cheeseburger, wasn’t what was best for him. He couldn’t help himself. He wanted to live. Cancer couldn’t deny him that.
Visit MLSsoccer.comto read the full feature and click here to watch Lampson discuss his experience.
