Portland Timbers defender Liam Ridgewell earned his first Major League Soccer victory of the season in a 3-1 win over FC Dallas at Providence Park. The 30-year-old defender from Bexleyheath, writing in his column for Sportsmail, highlighted the passion of Oregon supporters who camped outside the stadium for 50 hours before kickoff just to secure early entry despite already holding tickets.
Ridgewell stopped to chat with the waiting fans while walking around the city with teammate Nat Borchers. He described the atmosphere as special and said playing in front of fans who swing scarves and sing the national anthem was an honour.
Family Visits And Youth Training
The 3-1 victory against FC Dallas coincided with a visit from Ridgewell's family, including his parents Bob and Linda alongside his nine-year-old son Luca and daughter Eva. During their stay in rainy Oregon, the family went paddle boarding on the lake behind Ridgewell's house.
Luca attended Portland Timbers training sessions daily, kicking the ball around and meeting players. He also trained with the Portland Timbers Under-9s team, meeting general manager Gavin Wilkinson and owner Merritt Paulson to ask about stadium costs and club finances. Ridgewell noted he did not want to be too pushy with pressure on younger kids, while joking that his son might pursue a career as an agent or personal trainer.
The father and son also played a game at a local play centre featuring a trampoline dodgeball court. Ridgewell noted that his thighs were burning after 20 minutes of bouncing, and recalled trying to teach Luca the "dodge, dip, dive, and duck" routine from the movie without success. Watching his children leave at the airport was the hardest thing he has had to do, though they plan to return in July.
Teammate Nat Borchers And Summer Plans
Ridgewell introduced central defensive partner Nat Borchers, referring to him as his beard brother. While Ridgewell has been growing a beard to annoy people who tell him to shave, he remarked that Borchers has a massive beard that makes his own look like a nine-year-old boy's, joking that someone could hide squirrels inside it.
A family gathering of 12 relatives is preparing to visit Oregon this summer. Ridgewell's father Bob assisted around the house by setting up outdoor parasols and installing a kegerator for draft beer. Ridgewell has also been practicing table tennis for an upcoming tournament against his brothers.
His brother Gavin purchased a guidebook to plan activities across Oregon. The family plans to visit local vineyards, explore TV-free log cabins in the woods, and trek up Mount Hood, the highest point in Oregon. Ridgewell noted that Mount Hood is an active volcano with an estimated three percent chance of eruption over the next 30 years, offering opportunities for canoeing and skiing.
Off the pitch, Ridgewell works on the Thomas Royall swimwear range. During the Major League Soccer winter break, he attended a meeting at a London hotel to select patterns from thousands of prints. The brand relies on model Stephen James Hendry, recommended by photographer Adam, to showcase Shoreditch and Hoxton hairstyles and tattoos, hoping to expand sales to Las Vegas. Ridgewell added that Hendry discussed football while the designers discussed fashion during meals together.
Matches Against Orlando City And New York City FC
Following the Dallas victory, Portland suffered a 0-2 home defeat against Orlando City, led by Brazilian midfielder Kaka. Ridgewell captained Portland for the match, exchanging greetings with Kaka during the pendant handover after watching him play in previous World Cup tournaments, noting his own foreign language limit was "Gracias and Bonjour".
Portland responded in their next fixture by securing a 1-0 away win against New York City FC. Playing on the grass at Yankee Stadium provided a memorable milestone for Ridgewell, who took photos on the pitcher's mound after previously visiting New York as a young player with Aston Villa. NYCFC forward David Villa missed the match due to injury.
Rivalry Match Against Seattle Sounders
Portland Timbers next face regional rivals Seattle Sounders in a Sunday night fixture, scheduled for 2:30am UK time on Monday morning. Located roughly 150 miles apart, the rivalry match at Seattle is expected to draw 65,000 spectators.
Ridgewell compared the upcoming atmosphere to an Aston Villa versus Birmingham City derby. Having watched the fixture from the bench as a new signing last season amid fireworks and flags, he reflected that the experience confirmed he made the right decision moving to Major League Soccer.
