How a goalkeeper's van trip ended with a new club

When Milo Beimers set off on a van journey around Europe to find a new club, the final destination was always unknown.

Along with his dad Kevin and their converted transit van, the plan was to travel about 2,000 miles from Belfast to Spain, and eventually into Portugal.

The 18-year-old former Glentoran goalkeeper had a number of trials lined up but no idea where the next step of his footballing career would be.

After 30 days on the road, Beimers has signed for Viterbese, who play in a medieval city an hour outside of Rome in Serie D - the fourth tier in Italy.

"There's been a lot of ups and a lot of downs, but in the end it's worked out and the risk has paid off," said Beimers.

"Living in a van is something new and I'll maybe never do it again, but we've learned a lot from it.

"I'm really proud to find a club and continue my journey in Europe."

After he left Glentoran, where he had been from the age of 13, the initial plan for Beimers, his dad and their van was a 2,000-mile journey with a number of trials.

It was far from the traditional route to find a new club, and it is perhaps no surprise it took Beimers to an unexpected place.

He had a trial with Hercules in Spain, and then flew back to London for another opportunity but a call took him to Italy.

After one month on the road, the successful trial led to him signing with Viterbese to achieve his goal of finding a new club.

"When I came back from England, there was a week where nothing was happening and then suddenly I'm getting signed for a club," said Beimers, who is a Canada youth international.

"My mum always says life moves really slow and then it moves really quickly all of a sudden, and that's exactly what's happened.

"There was a moment of realisation whenever I signed that was just like 'I've done it'.

"You have all this stress built up. You have all these questions like 'why is this not working?' But then to suddenly sign is amazing."

Viterbese were relegated to Serie D last season and Beimers says part of the appeal is wanting to get them promoted back to the third tier.

For the new season they have merged with another club under the banner of Vigor Campagnano Gialloblu, but Viterbese is still their home and DNA.

But that was not the only thing that attracted him to the club, with the facilities, a 7,000-seater stadium and people behind the scenes also key.

"They've been through a lot in the history of the club, and the the people are a big thing for me. I care a lot about how it's like off the pitch.

"Sometimes you just have to go with it and go with your gut."

He wants to establish himself as first choice but his main goal is to help the team back to Serie C, which he says would be "amazing".

Beimers made his debut on Sunday and kept a clean sheet in a 4-0 win over Anagni.

Before he set off on his travels, Beimers had spoken of his dreams of facing Barcelona or Real Madrid.

Now, if the luck of the draw falls his way, he could face the likes of Napoli, Roma or either of the Milan giants in the Coppa Italia.

Eventually, he may even work his way through the divisions where big matches become a regular occurrence.

"That would be unbelievable. I don't think I've even processed that yet," he said.

"To draw against someone that big would be unbelievable. It would be one of the biggest matches in my career."

In the spirit of pushing himself out of his comfort zone, Beimers does not speak Italian while most of his team-mates do not speak much English.

He had initially intended to learn Spanish to help him integrate on his journey, but now Italian is at the top of his agenda with his new team-mates helping him out to help him settle in to his new home in Viterbo.

"The people are so welcoming and they are very open to teaching you stuff.

"I'm slowly getting to grips with it and every day I'm getting better."

On the pitch, he adds the coaching techniques are also something new to learn.

"The Italian style is so different, from the techniques, the way I dive or the way I catch corners.

"It's all new to me so it will take a bit of time to learn it, but I'm excited for it and I'm ready to learn.

"Football is its own language. It's not really the words you say, it's more how you say it. Everyone seems to understand it."

Beimers had hoped the adventure would bring him closer to his dad, who is a Canada-born video game designer, and he says he was "the perfect guy to do it with".

"It was a long trip with a lot of ups, downs and silly arguments over nothing.

"But it's been great and it definitely has brought us closer together. He's a huge part of my life and I've got to hang out with him, which has been great."

Beimers documented his journey on social media and as well as showing the ups and fun aspects of their trip, he was also open about the struggles that come from trying to forge a career away from home, such as home sickness and loneliness.

He says it was important for him to show that side of things, and he wanted to be honest about his experience and not just show off the ideal way of living.

"I missed my friends and family, it was difficult to be away from them.

"There was also the uncertainty of not knowing where you're going, not knowing if it's going to work.

"It's important to show that it can be hard, even when it looks great all the time."

And what about the van, the unsung hero of the journey that had become a travelling home on wheels for father and son?

Beimers and his family converted it after his sister, Charlie, purchased it when it was in "bad shape".

After three attempts to get it through its MOT, the van held up throughout the journey and it will remain in Europe for a new adventure - back with its original owner.

"Her original plan to was go all around Europe in it, and we were just borrowing it for the time being.

"My dad is flying back home and I'm staying here, but she deserves to have it back."

After successfully finding a new club through a unique method, Beimers hopes his journey will inspire other young players to try something similar.

"I've hopefully taught some people that if opportunities don't come to you, then you have to create them yourself.

"Hopefully when I talk about, 'oh, it's been lonely here', it tells people that it's not going to be easy.

"But anything you really want in life is not going to be easy, and hopefully it inspires others to do the same."