Midfielder returns to Timbers' turf

Andrew Gregor brings pro moves, leadership, winning mentality

By jason vondersmith

The Portland Tribune, Mar 16, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Andrew Gregor takes a practice shot with FC Portland soccer club in Hillsboro this week as he gets ready to tread again on Timber turf.

L.E BASKOW / P0RTLAND TRIBUNE

He’s home, and Andrew Gregor doesn’t want to leave again.

“I’m content with playing and finishing out my career in Portland,” says Gregor, the former Sunset High and University of Portland soccer standout who recently signed with the Portland Timbers.

Gregor, 31, inked a two-year deal with the Timbers, who open preseason training Monday. If all goes well in his first full season here, Gregor wouldn’t mind renegotiating, signing another deal and riding off into the sunset.

Meanwhile, as part of the reason why he secured his release from the Seattle Sounders and signed with the Timbers, Gregor plans to finally complete his sociology degree at Portland.

Gregor had only one semester of classes left when he turned pro in 1998. But he has to take some updated classes and plans to finish his education in August.

“I felt like it was time to do it,” says Gregor, who enters his 10th season of pro soccer. “I made a commitment (back in ’98) to my family, myself, the University of Portland and everyone out there that I would get my degree.”

He’s excited about rejoining the Timbers, with whom he played 13 games in 2004, helping the team go 18-7-3. He’s excited living and playing here, and resuming coaching with FC Portland. He’s an unabashed Portlander.

“I’m proud to be from this town,” he says. “Soccer in Portland is what made me as a person.

“People enjoy the game and see the good things that come out of it.”

FC Portland club climbed to top

In 1994, he and Chris Brown, a former Jesuit star and UP teammate, helped FC Portland win the regional and national U-18 championships. It’s still the only boys title by a club from Portland, Gregor says. “It’s something we’re all very proud of,” he says.

After his four-year career at UP (1994-97), Gregor played in Major League Soccer with Columbus and Kansas City before joining the A-League (now the United Soccer Leagues First Division).

He spent seven seasons with the Sounders, scoring 31 goals and 23 assists and developing a reputation for physical and aggressive play and attitude. A yellow card has never been foreign to Gregor.

1 | 2 Next Page >>

Facebook	Digg	Del.icio.us
Newsvine	Stumbleupon	Reddit