Preston Greaves

Preston Greaves is a Antarctican soccer player who currently for Hashville Hashtags FC, usually as a striker. He is also the captain of the USA's soccer team, as well as the top scorer in the Antarctic Premier League, scoring 378 goals as of July, 2012.

Greaves has won 3 APL titles, and two South Pole Cups.

Early life
Greaves was born in Iceland, to parents Ryan, an explorer, and Maria, an accountant. He began playing football at the age of 6, for a local recreational club. He then tried out for a competitive youth team, where he was accepted.

2004-2005 Season
At the age of 15, he was noticed by Hashville scouts. He was scouted for 3 years, and at the age of 18, he was offered a contract to Hashville, which he accepted. He arrived at Euphoria Stadium with two other new signings, Freezelandian star Desmond Kilkenny, and Terrian youngster Ryan Junior. He made his professional debut against FC Inland, where he scored a hat trick. Immediately, he became an instant star for Hashville. In the same season, he helped Hashville win their 2nd title, scoring 2 goals in their 3-1 victory against Mojave Athletic.

Greaves finished out his season with 46 goals, which set the record for most goals in a season.

2005-2006
In Hashville's first game of the season, an away match versus the Dorkugal Dorks (who magically escaped relegation), Greaves scored 6 goals, as his team destroyed Dorkugal 10-0.

However, in Hashville's 8th season match versus Shiverpool, Greaves was injured with a broken flipper. He was out for 7 months. By the time he returned, the season was over, and he made no significant impact on the game. His team placed 4th place. Greaves only scored 9 times.

Hashville also participated in the South Pole Cup, but were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Varcelono.

He won USA Young Player of the Year.

2006-2007
The 2007 season was a normal run-of-the-mill season for Hashville. Greaves scored an average of two goals per match, and ended the season with 43 goals, 3 goals shy of his 2005 record.

Greaves was speculated to move to a team in Liga de Futbol, however he denied all speculation. Athletico Metido made a big of 196 million coins to buy Greaves, however he denied the contract offer. He revealed at a press conference he didn't intend to leave Hashville.

In the South Pole Cup, Greaves led his team to glory, winning in the final match versus Sporting Lisboa in the Lisboagalese league, Super Liga. He scored 2 times, winning 3-2.

He scored 7 times in the South Pole Cup.

2007-2008
In the 2008 season, longtime head coach, Mike Salmon, resigned to help Yow establish their own football league. He was succeeded by Alex Arias, former assistant coach of Newton United. Arias decided to appoint Greaves as team captain, replacing 37 year old Ernest Tibbets. After the season, Tibbets retired. Greaves scored 56 times, breaking his record by 10 goals. He won his 2nd league title, against the Neo Domino Lasers, in a thrilling 2-1 victory. Greaves assisted Ryan Junior in a 31st minute goal, faking out his defender, and playing a nice through ball to Junior. However, in the 52nd minute, Jason Nesta, a Ligurian player, scored a header from a corner kick. The game raged on until the 87th minute, where Greaves dribbled from half-field, using his precise dribbling skills to fake out almost the entire team, dribble past the goalie, and score. This goal was named Goal of the Year. Greaves went on to win man of the match.

In the South Pole Cup, Greaves was largely absent, as he was at the 2008 Olympics, playing for the USA. he USA made it to the quarter-finals, but lost to Castilla, who went on to win the gold. He scored 8 goals in the group stage, 2 in the round of 16, and 1 in the quarterfinals.

2008-2009
Greaves led his team to glory, scoring 57 times, once again breaking his record. He helped Hashville win its 4th title, by scoring all 3 goals in the final versus Shiverpool.

In the South Pole Cup, he was injured in the first game. The club assigned Greaves to train the youth team's strikers, in his injury absence.

2009-2010
In the 2010 season, Hashville went on an unstoppable winning streak, where they went all 32 games without losing. They only tied twice, both to FC Club Penguin. He scored 54 times.

However, their winning streak ended, when they lost to South Pole City in the APL Cup final. They went to the penalty shootout, where Greaves missed the penalty that would've let Hashville win their 5th title. Greaves later said in a press conference, "The PKs humbled me. I realized that even though I am one of the best players in the APL, I still need to continue to train."

In the South Pole Cup, Greaves was largely absent, as he was training with the USA World Cup team, as well as Jason Giddens.

2010-2011
The beginning of the 2011 season saw the arrival of youngster Jason Giddens, a 15 year old Antarctican player. He was bought from the Shiverpool youth academy. Many compared his playing style to Greaves, and Greaves himself stated, "Giddens is a great player, and he will no doubt be my successor when I retire."

In the 2011 season, Greaves scored only 32 times, because he took up the role of attacking right midfielder, after Hashville's regular attacking right midfielder, Freezelandian Conor Shanahan was traded to FC Sovilla in Liga de Futbol. The striker was given to Jason Giddens, as the head coach wanted to develop Giddens by playing first team. Greaves was fine with his new role, but later stated we would prefer a left or right winger position.

Greaves redeemed himself from last year's error by scoring the winning penalty in the PK shootout against FC Varcelono.

2011-2012
The season began badly for Hashvile, as Jason Giddens got s long-time injury in a game against Enderby City FC. Greaves once again had to take up a role as striker, and scored 59 times. Many thought Greaves was in his prime, with many of his goals being rated as goal of the week.

His most famous goal was scored this season. In a game against South Pole City, Greaves began running from the right side of the field. He executed a perfect hocus-pocus, then went on to rainbow flick past two defenders. He then stopped, and began juggling the ball. A defender approached him and he kicked the ball over the defender's head and resumed his run. He passed the goalie, but he was not done yet. He dribbled past another 2 defenders, flicked the ball up into the air, and executed a bicycle kick. The goal got a standing ovation from the crowd. The video of the goal went viral on WaddleTube, and was rated as the greatest goal of all time.

Style of play
Greaves is a natural-born striker. He is known for his fancy dribbling, and powerful shots at goal. Greaves is moderately fast, being able to outrun some midfielders, but not able to outrun defenders. He is also known for his determination, with head coach Alex Arias stating, "If we need a goal, Greaves gives it his all to get one."

He is criticized by the media for being sustainable to injury, and being a ballhog. However, longtime teammate and team vice-captain, Desmond Kilkenny has stated, "Preston has the amazing ability to spot the easiest run, and if he thinks he can do it by himself, then we let him do it, and stand by if he needs backup."

Controversy
After a game against South Pole City, where Greaves scored twice, Yowian player, Maximino Quezada Mota went up the Greaves and pushed him to the ground when Greaves offered to swap jerseys. Greaves got up and knocked him out in a right hook, stating he learned it from watching boxing.

Both Greaves and Mota were suspended for one match.

Personal life
Asides from soccer, Greaves enjoys watching basketball and boxing.

He is the cousin of Jeff Fraley, an Antarctican football player who plays for Real Metido, and John Stinson, a professinal basketball player.

Trivia

 * Greaves has scored 378 times as of July 22, 2012.
 * Greaves is good friends with Leon el Messiah. They sometimes play together for charity work.
 * Hashville has plans to build a statue of Greaves in the middle of their planned soccer complex.