Throughout 2020, KSN has been following the progress of Gillingham’s Luis Binks as he moved to MLS club Montreal Impact from Tottenham’s under 23 side. 

Back in Medway for Christmas, we’ve caught up with Luis again to look back on a very strange 2020 for Kent’s newest footballing export… Part one is the story of how he got to play in the MLS…

Luis reflected on an incredible twelve months; “this time last year I was an 18-year-old playing Under 23s football and I knew that I wanted to get out into the real world of football and go an experience men’s football but if you’d have told me I’d have twenty-seven senior games this time last year after the year we’ve all had, which has been so stop start, I wouldn’t have believed you!”

It was clear to Luis that he was going to enjoy his challenge as he admitted, “I loved it from the start. I met up with the club in Florida and was there for a few weeks then went straight to Costa Rica, so I never saw Montreal until about a month and half after I signed.”

“When I got to Montreal it was so cold – I didn’t like it with snow everywhere but the city itself is brilliant as there is so much to do and so many good places to visit.”

“As for the club, they’ve been brilliant with me, everyone at the club from players to staff to fans have helped me since I arrived as I was arriving as a young kid in another country which can be scary.”

“The MLS is a great league, and I didn’t realise how good it is until I got there; the stadiums in the league are as good as anywhere and the players are all so different with South Americans, Europeans, Africans so it’s brilliant to test yourself against a variety of cultures and playing styles.”

“The jump from under 23s to the senior game in the MLS didn’t surprise me as if I didn’t think I could adapt to the MLS I wouldn’t have gone and if I didn’t think I couldn’t go and stand out I would’ve waited, but I knew that I was ready to go out and start my career.”

“I was happy with just playing 23s as I knew I could play men’. The “jump” was big now I look at it but at the time I was so focus on getting there and doing well I never thought about it, but now that the season is done and I’m looking back on it, it was a brave decision but one that will hopefully pay off in the long run.”

Ironically for a Tottenham youth player, it was Arsenal legend Thierry Henry who took Luis to Montreal, and as we spoke, Luis reflected on what it had been like playing for such a legend of the game.

“He’s brilliant,” Luis admitted. “He’s played with the best and against the best and also worked under the best, so his knowledge of the game is brilliant. He was one of the main reasons I went because I knew that I could learn so much from him.”

“Like any manager he is relaxed and approachable if you need advice or anything but on the flip side if we need livening up, he won’t be afraid to tell us. He gave me a bit of stick at the start (coming from Spurs) but it’s all good, north London is white at the minute so there isn’t much anyone can say from the red side ha ha!”

Next time in our final catch up with Luis in 2020, he’ll be reflecting on what he found when he arrived in Montreal and what 2021 holds in store for our very own MLS export…