All Whites defender Sam Brotherton has left Auckland City to join Wisconsin-based USL League One club Forward Madison.
Brotherton (26) returns to the state where he played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers, and it’s his third professional contract with clubs in the United States.
Main photo: Sam Brotherton … part of last season’s successful Auckland City squad. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
Announcing his signing by the Forward Madison Flamingos, head coach Matt Glaeser said:
“(He will) bring a lot of experience and quality to the backline
“(He’s a) big presence, he’s good on the ball, and he’ll definitely be a big vocal leader for us.”
Brotherton said: “I am excited for the opportunity to represent the Madison community again and experience playing in the environment created at Breese Stevens Field.”
Madison Forward’s average attendance at Breese Stevens Field was nearly 4,000.
Forward Madison play in USL League One which sits below MLS and the USL Championship in the United States football pyramid. The team was founded in 2018, playing its inaugural season a year later.
Auckland-born Brotherton started his football career as a Westlake Boys High student and as a youth player with Wanderers SC. He has played for New Zealand at U-20, U-23 and full international levels.
He has pursued a professional career that has taken him to the United States, the United Kingdom and back to New Zealand where he was a member of the Auckland City squad that won four titles last year.
Clubs have included Des Moines Menace (US) and North Carolina (US), Sunderland (UK) and Blyth Spartans (UK).
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