Feature from www.ta.no and translated for Franklin Pierce by Aase Kibsgaard ('04), a former women's soccer player at the College and native of Korgen, Norway.

Ayia Napa, Cyprus: Last year he scored 29 goals in 27 matches in the USA. In Odd he scored in his first two matches.

Born and raised in Newcastle, just like his idol Alan Shearer, and with a play that has great similarities to Shearer's, we're all hoping that Odd has found their goal-getter.

Christopher-, or Chris as he prefers, Joyce, is like every other Newcastle boy a big fan of the pride of the city. "I had a season pass for 10 years and watched all their home games during that time period," Chris explains, and he almost gets touched when we comment that his play is similar to this certain Alan Shearer. "Alan Shearer is a God in Newcastle; a fantastic football player and a wonderful human being. He has a mental strength and an attitude nobody gets close to having. Any comparing to him is a great honor," says Chris, who predicts Shearer to be the next manager in Newcastle within one or two years.

Alan Shearer scored more than 30 goals three seasons in a row in the Premier League. Nobody has done that after him. Joyce's scoring statistics are also fantastic reading, even though the level on where he has scored is quite different. 29 goals in 27 matches last year, 22 goals the year before and about 20 each seasons in the university league. Chew on that if you'd like! A real goal getter knows where to find the goal, no matter what level he plays. In the game against the second best team in Sweden, IFK Göteborg, he scored a fantastic goal against international class defenders, and proves that the level isn't causing him any problems.

Dumped in Newcastle

The road to Odd started in Newcastle when he, at the age 11, was picked out to the Academy. There he played with players like Shola Ameobi, who today is one of the stars of Newcastle's Premier League team. 16 years old he was too tiny and was considered "waste" when new contracts were to be signed. Surprisingly, this didn't affect Chris. "This was how it worked under Kevin Keegan, no feeder team, and it was not the best place for young players," Chris continues, and he eventually ended up in Loughborough University. Here he played for three years and scored about 20 goals each year as a forward. "In addition to the university team, I played for a non-league team called Blythe Spartans. The level wasn't bad at all," Chris explains.

For education he came to Franklin Pierce College, where the 24 year old became the great goal-getter. Last year he scored 29 goals in 27 games and the year before he notched 22.

Wanted to go to Odd

After graduation he got connected to the same agent as Olivier Occean. FC Dallas offered him a contract after a tryout, but his gut told Chris that he was looking for something different, and hopefully better. "When Odd got involved I was sure I wanted to play for them after talking it through with my family. The way they play in Norway suits me well and it's not too far home to Newcastle. After being in the club for only a few weeks, I have to say that I'm impressed by the club and the other players. Players like Tommy Svindal Larsen and Fernando de Ornelas keep a high level," says Joyce, but he doesn't find the practices too hard. "The intensity at practice is higher, but I'm used to practice a lot, so it's just fun."

Chris is aware that Olivier Occean was the big star in Odd. "Occean was big in the university league in the US, too. Several of my teammates have told me about him and everything is positive. I saw him in the Royal League[1] match where his club Lillestrøm played against Djurgården (Sweden), and it was easy to see that he succeeded in Odd," Joyce says.

One step up for me

About the expectations for him to be one of the scorers for Odd, Joyce says: "I have goals for everything. I assure you I have goals, but I'm not going to share them with anybody. But one thing for sure, I can promise you that I will do my best in every game for Odd. This is definitely a step up for me and I want to prove to myself that I am good enough. If I do that, I think I'll have good chances in fulfilling the supporters' expectations of me."

The Englishman has, after four and a half years in school, earned a solid education that could have given him a top job within economics on the day back home in Newcastle. He doesn't hide that he feels secure about his future based upon his education. "I don't want to brag, in any means, but it's a good education." Chris explains.

Towards the end, Chris shares his dream, but adds quickly that he first hopes for a long career in Odd. "My dream has always been to run out on St. James' Park as a Newcastle player. I'll keep that dream, but for now I'm just thrilled to have gotten this chance in Odd," the down to earth and very nice Chris Joyce finishes up.

[1] Royal League: A scandinavian league made up of the best teams in the Scandinavian countries