Hugo Thompson '25 Recruiting Profile

Hello Coaches,

Perhaps the biggest influence on my outlook on life is that fact that my parents are mixed race/culture/religion/countries. My Dad is British and thanks to him I have a UK passport. My Mum was born in Kenya, now Canadian, and is Indian, Russian Jewish and English. I have spent lots of time with all the very different branches of my family and have travelled from a young age.

My Dad played football (soccer) to a high level in the UK and then coached 3 teams after marrying my Mum and moving to Canada, including mine. So I have literally grown up with soccer in my blood. At age 10, Dad starting taking me to play in Europe, giving me more great exposure to different countries and cultures. I played in Belgium, Sweden, UK, Spain, and Amsterdam; playing up a year each time.

My mother is a natural health writer, so I've had extensive bodywork (craniosacral, physio, chiro, osteopathy, etc,) literally from birth, along with homecooked food and practicing meditation and other mindset tools like EFT Tapping and hypnotherapy. I think I'm unique in having grown up with a mind/body/spirit paradigm of wellness, success and fulfillment.

One of the most inspiring moments I have had off the field was when I bumped into Gianfranco Zola (ex Chelsea and Italy international) at Notting Hill tube station in London, 2019! I asked him what his advice would be for me, looking to play football at the highest level and he told me these three things:

 1. Love the game and play with passion.

 2. Work hard and continue to learn every day.

 3. It is a marathon not a sprint!

His words have had a huge impact on me and are why I feel I should also progress in my personal and academic development - which college will give me. So although I have already been scouted by Chelsea, Luton Town, Portsmouth and Leyton Orient in the UK, my plan is to play excellent high-level football/soccer while also getting a degree, and then afterwards move into the pro footie arena.

I am a high energy, very social person and my friendships have always been a priority for me. I attended a Fine Arts school in Canada up until Grade 10 (I majored in Photography, Drama and Dance) and performed many times during this time I which loved. Here at Royal Russell in the UK, I have really enjoyed my marketing courses (both my parents are entrepreneurs) and media studies/communication.

My family has wild horses and in 2021 we bought a 160-acre off-grid ranch in BC, Canada, which I enjoy for the nature and nearby water sports, as well as the animals and learning about regenerative farming. 

I am a dynamic, international, social, fun, assertive person, yet I am also grounded, compassionate and always look for the positive in people and situations. I feel I would be a valuable addition to any team and I look forward to playing college soccer in the U.S. as the next exciting milestone in my marathon!