MARIANHAMN. The journey from hectic New York to a small island in the middle of the Baltic Sea couldn’t be longer. Physically, there are 6,400 kilometers between them, but the distance feels long mentally as well.
It’s also a long journey from the giant stadiums of the NWSL, the main American women’s soccer league, to the tiny National League.
But that’s it Taylor Aylmer24, is now standing, in front of the idyllic Merikorttel of Mariehamn’s Itäsatamata, and greets with a slightly confused look – yes, we are in the right place.
He has used his phone’s map application to navigate on the bike, because during the first month and a half, he hasn’t had time to become familiar with the island’s sights.
Time has passed while getting used to the new everyday life.
– To be honest, I knew almost nothing about Finland, he reveals.
Aylmer has arrived in the National League from the US women’s premier league NWSL. The series is considered one of the best in the world, some even think it’s the best in the world.
Finnish defender Natalia Kuikan similarly, Aylmer has even been able to celebrate the series championship, at the end of the 2021 season, in the ranks of his former club Washington Spirit.
Åland United’s foreign signings are nothing new in themselves – the team is known for renewing itself every season. The most interesting names are included, and it is not the first time that a newcomer has an eye-catching cv.
But many times the players who arrive in Åland have ended up in big clubs without significant playing time. Aylmer is an exception: he accumulated up to 25 matches in the NWSL.
Only one question arises: what the hell is he doing in Finland?
Aylmer snorts from his coffee and begins to tell. The opportunity to move to the island opened up stealthily. Aylmer prepared for the new season in the United States, but no contract was reached.
– When the plans fell through, there was an opportunity to go here. I was talking to the head coach By Steve Beeks with on the phone and he briefly told what kind of place Mariehamn and Åland are. Very quickly I decided to take the opportunity and suddenly I was here.
Or the trip didn’t go quite smoothly. First, he missed his connecting flight in Stockholm and then had to take a couple of buses to the port where the ship left.
Aylmer had heard from Beeks that it was an island. However, he did not expect to be transported overnight to away games on the ship.
Sleeping on board still takes some getting used to. It’s very different from previous guest trips that consisted of flying to cities like Seattle and Portland.
On the other hand, everything is close on the island, unlike in the former home in New York.
In Mariehamn, Aylmer assures that he had a good time, even though the change was a shock at first. New York never sleeps, but in Mariehamn the cafes close their doors already in the afternoon.
– It was pretty crazy, everything is so different. It’s so quiet and peaceful here, Aylmer begins but hastens to continue.
– Different in a good way! It’s fun to walk down the street without being surrounded by constant hustle and bustle.
An emergency vehicle driving by reminds a little of the old life, but only for a few seconds.
Åland United is a special place by Finnish standards. Along with Kuopio Palloseura, it is the only club where players can play professionally.
That’s why the team has medals year after year.
But not living as lords on the island.
When the National League budgets were published for the first time ever in the spring, Åland United was second with a player budget of 178,000 euros.
Still, compared to the United States, everything is small.
The Washington Spirit’s home stadium can hold 20,000 spectators. 12 people work in marketing and communication alone. For comparison: Åland United has listed nine people working in the background of the club on their website.
When asked about the thing that surprised him the most, Aylmer answers, somewhat surprisingly, gym etiquette.
– When entering the gym, the shoes are taken off and changed into other shoes. We don’t have that in the US! I was really surprised when the girls told me to remember to take different shoes to the gym, Aylmer laughs.
Through difficulties to victory
Aylmer describes playing in the NWSL and above all winning the championship as the fulfillment of his dreams.
But it was close that he was to stop playing football completely.
When the corona pandemic started, Aylmer still had a club, but when the league resumed operations, Aylmer no longer fit into the club’s plans.
– I was without a club, and players were no longer accepted into any club, because the corona situation was still on. It was a pretty tough time. I wonder if I even want to continue playing, or if I should try again.
Aylmer decided to try.
It paid off, as he ended up joining the ranks of the Washington Spirit for two seasons.
Although Aylmer remembers his time in Washington fondly, the truth is that life was not all easy.
In addition, there was a fierce battle behind the scenes for the ownership of the club.
– It was a pretty tough time, Aylmer admits.
– Even if you don’t want to see or witness something like that, it’s amazing to see how the players responded. How strong women play in the series and how brave they were when they used their voices. I feel really lucky to see these women fight for rights in front of all our players.
The story is somewhat similar to Kuika’s Portland championship year: through difficulties to victory.
In the United States, Aylmer is also used to tough competition. In Washington, his friends were Trinity Rodman and Kelly O’Hara like stars.
Rodman, 21, who has been in the public eye all his life because of his famous father, is also undeniably one of the most followed players of the summer World Cup. Rodman was booked into the NWSL as the youngest player of all time, only 18 years old.
– He is a great player and a great guy. I have nothing but good things to say about him. It’s crazy to think how young he is, Aylmer begins.
– He seems so mature. He always wants to do more, do everything better and learn, it can be seen in training every day. It also shows in his game. He has a really bright future.
Aylmer praises the experienced O’Hara as an excellent leader who demands a lot not only from himself but also from those around him.
In the NWSL, the competition is fierce every single day during practice, as there is a merciless battle for playing spots. There are also several options available for each game location.
He has also inherited competitiveness himself.
– I think it is also behind the success of the USA. Everyone is so competitive. There is always someone fighting for an opening or even a substitute’s place. Everyone wants to be better and better all the time.
In Maarienhamina, however, Aylmer is only passing through.
Still, the goal here is also clear.
– I know that my team’s goal is to win the league. I also have the same goal. I always want to win.
It is clear that Aylmer has his sights set on even bigger fields – either in Europe or in the United States, even if the midfield quarterback does not directly name any league.
– I want that when I finish football, I know that I have given the sport my all and that I have reached my maximum development. I want to experience different ways of playing football and learn something new wherever my next adventure takes me. Soccer is a fun sport because it takes you where you need to go.
will show the football National League match KuPS–HJK on Sunday 21.5. from 14:00. During the break, we see an insert about Aylmer’s teammate Jacqie Hand, who will be seen as the only National League player at the World Cup. All 64 matches of the FIFA World Cup on channels 20.7–20.8.