Less than 30 miles west of Toyota Park, home to Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire, is Naperville North High School.
Will Johnson loved his days there, but he used to take off whenever he could to try to jump into training sessions with the Fire. They played at Soldier Field and for a couple years at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, less than two miles from his high school. He eventually made is professional debut with them in 2005.
Johnson, 30, now a midfielder for Orlando City, stood on the Fire’s training field Friday with a half smile on his face remembering those youthful days as an up-and-coming talent.