Things come full circle for Glinton

As San Jose striker Gavin Glinton ran onto the field at Blackbaud Stadium on Saturday night, he paused for just a second to take in his surrounding one more time.

It has been 18 months since Glinton had been on the field at Blackbaud Stadium, but the memories of the summer he spent with the Charleston Battery in 2006 came flooding back to him.

"This is where my career started again," Glinton said. "I have a lot of great memories playing for the Battery. Three or four years ago I wasn't sure I'd ever play at the professional level again, but coach (Mike) Anhaeuser had faith in me and really gave me a second chance at a professional career.

"I met a lot of great people down here and we had a lot of success on the field. We won a lot of games and we were able to make the playoffs. I'll always be very thankful for the opportunity the Battery gave me."

In all, Glinton scored 13 goals for Charleston that summer and helped lead the Battery to a third-place finish in the USL First Division and a spot in the playoffs.

"Gavin was everything we thought he would be," said Anhaeuser. "If Gavin was healthy all season, which he was, we thought he could have a major impact for us."

When Glinton arrived in the Lowcountry in 2006, he had taken two years off from the game because of injuries. He had been an assistant soccer coach at his alma mater Bradley in 2004 and 2005.

Glinton was selected by Los Angeles in the second round of the 2002 MLS draft. He was on his way to a solid rookie campaign in 2002, playing in all 23 games for the Galaxy, when he broke his ankle after a hard tackle by a Colorado defender.

"It was a bad tackle," Glinton said. "I thought it was kind of dirty, but what are you doing to do."

Glinton was traded to Dallas midway through the 2003 season and broke his ankle for a second time playing for Turks & Caicos in a World Cup qualifying match. It took two years of grueling rehabilitation before Glinton declared himself ready to make another go at the pro game.

"I never really gave up on the idea of making it back to the MLS," Glinton said.

He signed with the Battery in March on a trial basis and quickly became a fixture in the lineup. After leading the team in goals, Glinton signed on with the L.A. Galaxy after the Battery was knocked out of the playoffs. He made his first appearance in an MLS game in more than three years when he played 26 minutes against Dallas at the end of the regular season.

"It was like I had come full circle," Glinton said.

With his ankles fully heeled, Glinton thought the injuries that had plagued him throughout his brief career were behind him when he reported to the Galaxy training camp last spring. But a groin pull early in camp limited his training. By early May, Glinton had started to work his way back into the lineup, but two weeks later, he suffered another setback and underwent surgery for a sports hernia.

"It was one of the most frustrating years I've had as a professional," Glinton said. "I think you learn from it, you grow and you move on. I was trying to get back on the field, maybe a little too soon, and then when I got back on the field I wasn't able to do the things I was used to."

Finally in late June, Glinton was fit again and scored his first MLS goal in more than three years when he knocked one past Columbus on June 23. In 19 games, Glinton started three times and finished with four goals.

"It was just great to finally get healthy again," Glinton said. "I think in some ways it was kind of justice for me to finally get back on the field and to show that I could score goals at the MLS level."

Playing with international superstar David Beckham, who joined the Galaxy in the middle of the season, was an experience Glinton will not soon forget.

"David was a good teammate and a really nice guy," Glinton said. "He kept to himself most of the time, but not in a bad way. His talent is amazing. He works hard. Even when he's injured he gets out on the field and gives it everything he's got. I've got nothing but the upmost respect for the guy."

With San Jose joining the MLS this season, Earthquakes coach Frank Yallop was quick to snatch Glinton from the league's expansion draft. Yallop knew all about Glinton having coached him when the former Turks & Caicos captain had been in Los Angeles.

Glinton was equally as pleased to be selected by San Jose having grown up in Liverpool, CA.

"I'm from the area, it's where I grew up, so it's nice to be back," Glinton said. "Having Frank there is just an added bonus. I loved playing for him last year in L.A. I was excited when he picked me."

Yallop said Glinton will have a vital role with the Earthquake this season.

"I think Gavin has a natural eye for the goal. He doesn't always score the prettiest of goals, but he gets in there and he scores and at the end of the day, that's all that matters."

Staying healthy will be a key for Glinton.

"The biggest thing for Gavin is to keep himself healthy," Yallop said. "It's important to him and it's important for us. We need Gavin in the lineup. I have no doubt that if Gavin stays healthy he'll be productive for us. He gives you everything he's got when he's on the field."

Glinton is expected to be in the starting lineup tonight when the Earthquake take on the Battery in the second round of the Carolina Challenge Cup.

"It'll be nice to get back on the field again and play against some of the guys," Glinton said. "I've had a chance to catch up with some of the fans and the guys, so it's been a great week for me."

Reach Andrew Miller at apmiller@postandcourier.com.