"I read it, and read it again. I just couldn’t believe what I was reading," she said.
The email came from the Beat Stolz, the Manager of FC Neunkirch in Switzerland, inviting Victoria to come and play for a year with their academy team which feeds into their D1 and D2 professional teams.
Victoria will be embarking on July 26th with her chaperone, NTC Manager Stephanie Rushton, for a week long orientation at the academy.
Since the age of 10, Victoria split her time between Red Devils Academy training and club teams. "I didn’t know it at the time, but the extra academy training really helped me to prepare. I was just a kid having fun playing soccer 5 days a week."
At the age of 14, Vicky was selected to the Ontario Provincial Program and has been in the program ever since.
Asked what she felt were some of the big moments for her as a young player, Victoria replied: "I can honestly say three major things happened for me that changed my soccer life. The academy, my first real goalkeeping training with a really old guy they just call Keeper, and the big one, being selected to the Provincial Program."
In 2008, Victoria was selected as one of the backup keepers for Coach Bryan Rosenfeld’s Canadian National U17 Women’s team which participated in the CONCACAF qualifying rounds in Trinidad and Tobago.
"I didn’t get to play, but boy, did we train. I was there for the team unconditionally — total commitment is one of the many things Bryan has taught me over the years."
"We are very proud of Vicky Parson’s accomplishments," said Rosenfeld. "Vicky has been with the Ontario Soccer Association’s Elite Player Development Program from the beginning.
"She started in the Regional Program and progressed through the U14, U15 and U16 Provincial Teams to the National Training Centre and she was one of three goalkeepers on Canada’s U17 National Team playing for a berth in the inaugural 2008 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup New Zealand at the CONCACAF Tournament."
Her name on Canada’s U17 roster was what caught the Swiss club’s attention. "We just Googled her and found many articles of success for such a young player," said Stolz.
Upon reviewing videos of Victoria playing and training with the NTC squad, FC Neunkirch commented: "We were impressed with the technical skills shown by Victoria in these videos. We are a young team, averaging 18.5 years, and we are certain Victoria will become a leader within the team and further develop her career through our program."
"The team and the whole staff are looking forward with great pleasure to meet Vicky," said Stolz.
"We are committed to supporting and developing Victoria on her next career step and we all are looking forward to seeing her and Stephanie soon.
"We are very excited about having a Canadian enhancement in our club."
Victoria will return to Canada in August to join the Ontario U18 Canada Games Team looking for Gold in the Canada Games in Prince Edward Island.
Then it’s back to FC Neunkirch in Switzerland until June 2010.
"The opportunity for Vicky to continue her education abroad at a soccer academy in Europe is a great opportunity," said Bryan Rosenfeld.
"Switzerland is a beautiful country, the sport culture is immense and with three of Europe’s top football nations (Germany, Italy and France) bordering Switzerland, I can only see Vicky developing into a stronger player for our National Youth Team program.
"Compound that with attaining a fantastic education in a highly professional environment and I know this life experience will be one she will never forget.
"We congratulate Vicky and wish her the best of success."
Adapted by Wolf Ruck / OSA from article by Jeremy O’Byrne, RDA Columnist