Peter Grogan – from Crettyard to Austin USA

Peter Grogan has been in America for the past 18 months playing soccer with Austin FC II and after his first full season in the States, he took time to chat to the Laois Nationalist about his experience.

In September of 2024, the 20 year old from Crettyard announced he was signing his first professional contract as he went over to America to play for Austin FC’s second string side in the MLS Next Pro.

He got just four games in his debut season, playing just 32 minutes in his debut season having arrived midway through the season. He returned earlier this year for his first pre-season with the club. Grogan says he feels like he’s developed as a player this season.

“As a whole, it’s definitely, it’s definitely been positive,” Grogan told the Laois Nationalist.

“I’d say the biggest thing for me that’s really benefited me is just full time football, that’s what you think and live and breathe every day. Literally full-time compared to part-time football is a big change. It was a big change for me. It definitely took some getting used to, but it’s really, really, really benefited me. I think I’m a much better player compared to the start of this year,” he explained.

“My physical side of my game has definitely kept the same standard, if not increased. So that’s one of my biggest strengths. So obviously I try to maintain that as best as I could as well. So I feel like I’m a better, more well-rounded player.

“Obviously you’re kind of playing in different conditions and kind of getting used to that, but I’d say playing in some of those temperatures that I did this year and training every day, it definitely has increased my endurance and stamina.”

Grogan added that he’s trying to learn as much as he can from some knowledgeable coaches.

“The coaching is really, really good. Lots of insights and the coaches just know the game really well. So trying to be a sponge every day and just take as much as I can from them has definitely been one of my aims. coaches because they’re really, really knowledgeable and know the game very well.

“I always try to be the last to leave, whether it be doing extra on an extra finish and stuff like that.”

He was thrown into the limelight straight away as injuries meant he was the only fit striker in the squad. That meant that Grogan started the season as the starting striker and scored in his first match of the season. Grogan said that it was a blessing in disguise almost to be thrown in the deep end.

“Obviously everybody always wants to be playing, so yeah, I took my chance when I got it, and luckily it came quite early, so yeah, I was definitely happy to be thrown in the deep end from the very start.”

As the season went on, the goals dried up and Grogan lost his spot in the team and went back to being on the bench. Grogan said it was a learning curve for him as he had to learn to play in a new system that perhaps didn’t suit his game.

“It definitely was up and down, but I just try to take all the positives out of it that I can. Obviously, being on the bench, coming in off the bench is always a challenge, trying to make an impact in a game that’s already 50, 60 minutes late, but there are things that you have to learn to do as a player as well,” Grogan explained.

“I really tried to just give my best in every game that I could have. These things happen in the season. We changed the system a few times where maybe a striker of my style wasn’t quite suited to the system we wanted to play for some of the games in the middle of the season.

“Every time I got onto the pitch, whether that was from the start or coming in off the bench, I just tried to give it my best and impact the game well.

“The system was quite tough to get used to. Obviously I’m quite like a quick and powerful player that likes to run in behind and run the channels and get on the end of crosses. This year has been different, being asked to drop in to play with my back to goal a lot more.

“So, yeah, it has obviously tough to get used to, but I’d say it definitely has benefited my game, getting used to that, because, as I said, I think I’m a much more well-rounded player now. My biggest weakness I would say still playing with my back to goal. That’s probably what I want to work on.”

Peter scored four goals and two assists in 1,100 minutes of football this season, and knows that there’s room for improvement there.

“I’m not buzzing with it obviously like I would obviously like to get as I’d like to score every game you know I’d like to um try to be putting every chance away but sometimes that’s just that’s just not the way it goes. But it provides room for improvement,” Grogan added.

“I am really just trying to get myself into the positions where I can get contributions where I goal or assist and just try to always be in the right place at the right time to help the team really.

“And obviously there’s other ways that I always try and help the team as well. So things are important too, like pressing and winning the ball back and working for the team as well.”

He says he’s grateful for all the support he’s received.

“Every day, the support from my mom and my dad and my sister and granny as well, it’s just been brilliant. They came over in April but not seeing them for that amount of time, it was tough so it’s great to be back.

“I definitely do miss home, you know, because there is nothing like home. So being back, even if it’s just for Christmas, is really, really nice.”