He had yearned for a fairytale career at his boyhood club Colchester United.

But when his U’s hopes were dashed, Adrian Webster went on to live the American dream.

Webster went from turning out for Colchester reserves to playing against the likes of Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Eusebio for Seattle Sounders.

And the former Monkwick schoolboy’s adventures are recounted in ‘Eternal Blue Forever Green’, a new book which recounts Webster’s colourful days as part of the United States’ emerging soccer scene.

“As a young boy, it was always my dream to play for Colchester and it was disappointing that didn’t happen,” said Webster.

“I’d have loved to have had the kind of career my friend and colleague Micky Cook had with Colchester.

“But my career went in a different direction and I went to the U.S.

“And during my time out in the States, I played against Franz Beckenbauer, Eusebio, Pele and Gerd Muller.

“I also got the opportunity to play out there with George Best - he got himself into great shape and showed why he was world class.

“It was kind of like a Disney adventure.”

Webster grew up supporting his home town club Colchester and signed professional terms at Layer Road, in 1968.

But he found his opportunities limited under boss Dick Graham and during his four-year spell with the U’s, his first-team chance never came.

After leaving Colchester, a spell in non-league football followed before Webster’s luck changed.

Former Colchester player Bobby Cram took over as player-coach at Vancouver Spartans in 1972 and signed Webster, along with team-mate Neil Partner.

And after two years in Canada, Webster got the chance to play in the North American Soccer League for the emerging Seattle Sounders.

Webster said: “I loved my time at Vancouver but then I ended up playing for Seattle and signed a full-time contract there, which is what I really wanted.

“It really was a tremendous opportunity and one that I jumped at - I ended up staying there for six seasons.”

Before long, Webster was rubbing shoulders with superstars like George Best, Alan Hudson and Bobby Moore.

And on one memorable day in 1977, he captained the Sounders in the final of the Soccer Bowl.

“They were exciting times,” said Webster, who played against Pele on four occasions during his time in the States.

“In my first couple of seasons playing for Seattle, most of the players were coming towards the end of their careers.

“There were people like Jimmy Gabriel, Harry Redknapp, Geoff Hurst and Mike England out there at the time.

“You also had younger players who were hungry to do well and impress, so it was a nice blend and the two complemented one another very well.

“Each year that I was out there I know that I had to improve, because the quality of the players who were coming over were getting better and better.”

After leaving Seattle Sounders in 1979, Webster played in the Major Indoor Soccer League and coached in Arizona and Phoenix.

But after nearly 20 years in the States, he returned to Essex in 1991 and soon after, linked up with former club Colchester.

Webster undertook several roles with the U’s including Centre of Excellence Manager and worked with his former team-mate Micky Cook within the youth set-up, at Layer Road.

“I pride myself on the players we helped to bring through from the Colchester youth set-up,” said Webster, who has been working at the Colne Community College for nearly ten years.

“I had an input in some of the boys who are in and around the first-team squad there now, players like Drey Wright, Sammie Szmodics and Tom Lapslie.

“I’m pleased that they’re getting time in the first team and that young lads are getting the opportunity.”

Webster says he has enjoyed recounting the many stories and memories that came out of his fascinating spell in the States.

“It’s been like doing a jigsaw puzzle, putting the pieces back together,” added the 63-year-old.

“I’ve said half jokingly that if this book takes off, then I’ll tell the truth in the second book!

“There are some funny stories and it was often a case of work hard, train hard, play hard and party hard.

“That was the era that I played in.

“I don’t want to do any of my former team-mates a disservice.

“They did like to have a drink but when it came to training and playing, they worked their socks off.”

Webster will always be considered a gem in Seattle, following his time in the Emerald City.

And now his colourful contribution can be enjoyed in ‘Eternal Blue Forever Green’, with whom he has collaborated with Wivenhoe-based sportswriter Rob Hadgraft.

The book is published in paperback and as an-e-book by the Seattle-based company ‘Bookstogonow’ and can be purchased online via Amazon and www.bookstogonow.com For more on this story and all of the latest Colchester United news, see the Daily Gazette.