This England native may be the biggest World Cup fan in Jackson
· Yahoo Sports
At The Station watch party in Fondren for the World Cup match on Thursday, June 25, James Gledhill stood out in a Team USA jersey, his bright blond hair styled short and spiked as he joined in the support for the U.S. against Türkiye.
For Gledhill, the British-born coach of Belhaven University's men's soccer team, the night reflected the same dual identity he has carried throughout the World Cup — supporting the U.S., in the moment while keeping a close eye on England's run through the tournament.
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Wednesday will be a busy day of football ... er soccer ... watching for Gledhill. Like Team USA, which plays in the knockout round Wednesday against Bosnia and Herzegovina, England also plays Wednesday, facing the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"I've now been in the States 25 years," Gledhill said. "I'm married, got kids... just living the American dream in Jackson, Mississippi."
That journey began thousands of miles away in Huddersfield, England, where like many young footballers, Gledhill dreamed of playing professionally. After being released by his club, a friend told him about the American college scholarship system. His mother encouraged him to try one semester.
He never went back.
Gledhill built a career that has stretched from the University of Mobile to coaching stops at Mississippi College, Holmes Community College and Temple University before arriving at Belhaven, where he fueled their rise into a regular conference contender. In 2024, Belhaven captured its first Collegiate Conference of the South championship and earned the program's first NCAA Tournament berth.
"What's really neat about Jackson, Mississippi, is it's definitely a soccer community," Gledhill said. "It's a very family-oriented culture. Everybody takes care of everybody. Everybody is welcome."
Former Belhaven player Thomas Blake, who is now the assistant women's coach at Belhaven, said Gledhill's impact goes beyond results on the field.
"I don't have enough words to describe 'Gled'... He's just a very energetic individual, very personable. He's someone that you feel that you can talk to, have conversations with, understand things," Blake said.
Blake, who played at Belhaven after beginning his career at East Central Community College, said those qualities extend beyond individual relationships and reflect a broader culture around the program and the sport in the city.
"Jackson is a big melting pot when it comes to soccer," Blake said.
The Belhaven University men's soccer team has an international flavor with all three coaches native to England, including assistant coach Jason Ward and graduate assistant Callum Bryan. The team also features players from Puerto Rico and beyond the continental U.S., such as Ecuador and Venezuela.
Around him, other former players, coaches and friends at the watch party echoed similar statements, describing Gledhill — often referred to as "Gleddy" in conversation — as a coach who stays closely connected to his team even after they leave the program.
That lasting connection is what makes the sport work across age groups, communities and nationalities.
"It's an easy sport because five-year-old boys and girls can play, it appeals to people of all ages," Gledhill said.
Earlier in the tournament, Gledhill also traveled with family and friends to Dallas, where he joined a larger group of coaches and soccer supporters to watch England play Croatia on June 17.
"There were thousands of people outside, and just having a great time. It's a very festive environment," Gledhill said.
Supported by several college programs, club systems and a steady flow of international influence, Jackson has developed into a hub for the sport in Mississippi.
"There's quite an international group in this area," Gledhill said. "People from all over the States just gravitate towards Jackson, Mississippi."
Throughout the tournament, Gledhill said he's seen this energy online all over the country, from Scotland fans in Boston drinking the bars dry to Norway fans rowing in Times Square.
"People have got it in their blood," Gledhill said. "It's the world sport, everybody plays it."
Mary Evans is a reporter for the Clarion Ledger.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: This England native may be the biggest World Cup fan in Jackson