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Ivan Colin moved to Bellingham to play for United from McMinnville, Oregon, where he played for Linfield University. Colin has been playing for Bellingham United FC since 2016, but says that he has been playing soccer forever. 

 

“I'm an artist, so somebody came up to me and asked me how long I've been doing art, and I said ‘forever,’ and they said, ‘you know, that's a long time,’” Colin said. “I hadn't thought about it really, but my answer to that question is always, as long as I was able to, so. Since the beginning.”

 

Growing up around soccer, Colin never thought about doing anything else. His early connection to the game eventually shaped the path that carried him through college and into semi-professional play.

 

“My dad has a passion for the game, and like many young Latino boys, that was my introduction to the game, watching him, going out and running around with him,” Colin said.  

 

Colin wanted to reach the next level after college, which pushed him to reach out to semi-professional teams, leading him to United. After settling into the team, Colin found something he didn't expect: an environment that kept him playing far beyond his professional aspirations. 

 

“The culture is the reason why I keep playing, and the guys make it really enjoyable,” Colin said. “At this point, I'm beyond the professional pursuit, so I'm playing purely for the passion and purely for the guys. The players make it enjoyable, because if I didn't have these teammates, it would be a lot harder to come out at 9 o'clock and kick a ball.”

 

Something special about Bellingham United is the range of ages that play for the team. Colin is 32-years-old, but there are players that range from teenagers to 50-years-old. This adds a unique dynamic of very seasoned, experienced players and fresh players with new perspectives. 

 

“Strengths would be that we have been together for a long time,” Colin said. “We've won championships together. In my time here, we've won 5 championships. When I first came, we hadn't won any outdoor championships, and that was a personal accomplishment that I felt very proud of.” 

 

Colin doesn't want to stop playing soccer, but if he were to win another championship, he said that would be the cherry on top of his career and would consider retiring. The pursuit of one more championship isn't just about winning and closing the chapter; it's about honoring the community and teammates who have defined his career. 

 

“But at the same time, I'm a dad. I have a wife, and it'd be nice to win one more, so I think that's always the goal of any team is, to win, to win it all,” Colin said. “It just makes nights like this worth it when there's a banner or a celebration after the season. It's a pretty unique, euphoric experience to win a semi-pro championship.”