Words of wisdom from one of the highest profile footballers on the planet are being used to inspire a new generation of players in Launceston.
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Helping run some kids' clinics at Launceston City, newly-installed club captain Sam Ridgard has been passing on advice picked up from a brush with fame during his widely-travelled soccer career.
Among the destinations graced by the English playmaker was Los Angeles where he worked as camp director for LA Galaxy Orange County - an affiliated club to the MLS franchise.
Ridgard's stay in California coincided with that of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Swedish international whose star-studded career has taken in top European clubs Ajax, Juventus, Inter and AC Milan, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United.
He didn't pass up the opportunity to meet the great man and listen to his advice.
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"He's just what you see," Ridgard said.
"He was watching his kid play and did not want to be bothered much. He was shouting at the ref a bit, just like anybody else.
"He was very talkative to the kids. He was telling them to work hard and that they would get nothing for free. He told them to keep working hard and follow their dreams."
Having also worked in Kansas City and Chicago and managed more than a thousand kids in soccer camps, Ridgard turned his focus to Australia and has signed on for a season at Launceston City.
The 27-year-old from Belper in Derbyshire has embraced the captaincy role handed to him by new coach and fellow Englishman Roger Hardwicke.
Playing in a creative role behind centre-forward Noah Mies, Ridgard has scored in consecutive games against South Hobart and Devonport and was inspirational in 10-man City almost pinching a point off the champions on Saturday.
"It definitely helps having an English coach," he said. "I feel comfortable with him and we're buying into the way he wants to play which is very much the English way. He knows what he wants and has got us doing things like pressing the way Liverpool do."
Teaming up with another English import, former Northern Rangers striker Rob Gerrard, Ridgard has enjoyed making himself at home, but admits Launceston is a contrast from LA.
"It's a beautiful place. It's a bit quieter than what I'm used to. It feels a bit like Belper actually. It's got a lot of heritage and has an old town feel to it which I like.
"I only met Rob a couple of months ago but he's probably my best friend now. We live together, work together, play football together."
The pair work at Island Block and Paving, laying a foundation for the fitness required to get through the condensed NPL season.
"It's physical here," Ridgard said of Tasmanian soccer. "You have more time on the ball but players back home are probably more technical. It is a bit more raw here."