FOOTBALL: Coming home for Christmas

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The 19-year-old is halfway through his first year at Loyola University, Maryland but he is set for a month's holiday back on the North Coast over Christmas and New Year.

Platt and the Coleraine faithful will be hoping to see him back in a striped shirt during this time. But when Times Sport caught up with the Portstewart lad he said he hadn't spoken with the Bannsiders boss about it yet.

"I will be coming home for the Christmas break for around a month or so, which should be a nice break for me from America," said Stephen.

"I don't know what the situation will be with me maybe playing for Coleraine during this time as I haven't discussed that with Davy (Platt). So it will be a case of watch this space until I get home."

The former Loreto College student has settleD well in the States, although he admitted it was tough going at the start, especially dealing with the weather.

"Things are all going well," he said. "I'm enjoying it a lot and have met some great people over here.

"My roommates are all good and the everyone gets on really well in the team.

"The lifestyle can be hard at times because we train every day and along with an engineering degree that can be challenging, but overall I feel it's a lot of fun I've settled in great. It took me a good bit of time to get used to the weather when I came over because it was about 40 degrees every day but it's cooled down a good bit more and its easier to cope with.

"The college in general is very nice, it's small enough only around 4,000 people or so but its a nice campus with quality living areas. And all the classes although hard at times are going well too."

Surprisingly though the teenager was disappointed with football side of things but he is determined to work even harder in the Spring.

"The football itself could have gone better," he said. "I think we went through the season, which is now over, with nine wins, seven losses and one draw so it wasn't great.

"We didn't manage to make the NCAA tournament, which probably won't mean anything to everyone back home, but that would have been a big deal for the University. But it wasn't to be so I suppose you just move on.

"I wasn't overly satisfied with my own performances as I felt there were games were I really could have done better in, and to finish the season without scoring a goal was really disappointing.

"But with the training in the spring coming up I hope to improve a lot during that period.

"It's quite different from the Irish League. Back home the ball is in the air a lot more and for someone like me that can be hard to compete against some of the Irish League players who are very strong.

"So there is a big difference in the physical stature of players in America and here.

"There are some very good teams though. Maryland are very strong with every player being an unbelievable athlete and very fit and strong on the ball.

"Its hard because if you lose the ball in this league you end up chasing it for a long time.

"There have definitely been a few players that stand out. You wouldn't know any of them obviously but the team Iona have a kid that played in the Real Madrid youth set up and a few other Spanish kids who were really good on the ball."

Despite being on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, Stephen has been keeping up to date with all the Bannsiders' matches this season, and he has been impressed with the performances of new striker Leon Knight.

"I have been following the team since I moved over and Leon seems to be doing really well for himself and for the team so long may it continue," said Stephen.

"I always check the result as soon as I can and I watch the highlights on the BBC website. Plus my parents go to most of the games so I can usually get the lowdown from them."

There have been suggestions that Dooley could be getting a first hand view of the Bannsiders again with a full time return to The Showgrounds mooted.

But the flying winger was remaining coy about what the future has in store for him.

"For now I'm just enjoying what I'm doing - playing football, doing a bit of work and having a laugh with the guys over here," he said.

"As I said earlier it's a lot of fun here but you never know what the future may hold."