When Ray Gaddis was six or seven years old, he put on a jersey, looked straight into a video camera and declared, in no uncertain terms, that he was going to be a professional soccer player.
That was nearly 20 years ago.
On Saturday, the prophetic Gaddis will make his 100th start as a pro when the Union take on the New York Red Bulls at PPL Park (7 p.m., 6ABC).
“I say this humbly: The best thing I could’ve done was believe in myself,” Gaddis said after Wednesday’s training session. “I never saw it as a long shot. My dad recently sent me a video of when I was a young kid — he used to document everything — of me saying I wanted to be a professional, of me kind of speaking it into existence. It’s not far-fetched to me.”
Maybe it wasn’t far-fetched for him, but Gaddis has still had to overcome hurdles, first making the Union after getting drafted in the second round in 2012 and then earning playing time even after often being penciled in as a backup.
Before the start of the 2014 season, for instance, it was unclear how much Gaddis would play with Fabinho and Sheanon Williams initially ahead of him on the fullback depth chart. As it turned out, he started all 34 games and led the league in minutes played by a field player, setting him on the path to earn a new long-term contract and hit the 100-start milestone in just his fourth season.
“It’s a blessing from God,” Gaddis said. “I want to thank all the Philadelphia Union fans for believing in me and the coaching staff for believing in me to be able to get to 100 starts. Every time I put on my jersey, I never take it for granted. I always give my best for the Gold and Blue.”
Philadelphia Union
Although he’s played left back for most of his time in Philly, Gaddis was moved over to his right back earlier this season by head coach Jim Curtin, who wanted to let the right-footed defender play his more natural position. That eventually led to last week’s trade of Williams, the first player to start 100 games for the Union — almost all of which were at right back.
What was Gaddis’ reaction to the deal that sent away a friend, a teammate and also someone he had competed with for time the last few years?
“It was hard to see Sheanon go,” Gaddis said. “We spent a lot of good times together. He was always good to me, always talked to me. He was like my brother. I just want to thank him for always pushing me to get better and vice versa.”
If it wasn’t clear already, the Williams trade ensures that Gaddis will remain the Union’s No. 1 option at right back for the foreseeable future — with little competition at that spot.
Does that add any pressure for him?
“I think I thrive on pressure,” Gaddis said. “I encourage pressure. ... This is the game, the game that I love to play. You’ve just got to go out there and lace them up and take care of business.”
In the Union’s first game without Williams, Gaddis struggled in Philly’s 3-2 loss to D.C. United on Sunday, losing track of his marks in the box as Philly blew an early two-goal lead.
For Curtin, though, that was more of a blip than any kind of ominous sign as to how the backline will fare without Williams in the mix. And he still believes Gaddis is one of the best pure lockdown defenders in the league, citing his recent inclusion on MLSsoccer.com writer Matt Doyle’s midseason Best XI list.
“Ray had a tough game, by his own admission,” Curtin said. “But, at the same time, he’ll bounce back. I know what Ray will give me. You know, there’s a reason he was on the league Best XI at the midseason. ... He’s a guy we have all the confidence in the world in.”
Gaddis doesn’t need that kind of recognition to prove his worth. But the 100-start milestone is still an important one for him because it shows how much he’s given to his first professional team. And it reminds him that the dreams of 6-year-olds can come true.
“For me, I was the 35th pick in the draft,” he said. “I come out here and work every day. I always have the same mental approach at every practice. I pray before I get on the field and I also act like I’m the 35th pick and try to make the team all over again. I never try to get complacent. I try to keep a level head, never get too high and never get too low.”
For 99 starts, that mentality has worked well for him. Now it’s on to No. 100 and beyond.