A FORMER Helston man will soon be known to millions across the globe as he presents a flagship American TV soccer show.
Dan Thomas, 32, who grew up in Lowertown, has been chosen to co-host ESPN FC, a daily, half-hour programme about global football news that launches on Sunday.
While soccer is not as popular in the US as sports such as American football, basketball and baseball, TV coverage of the sport on ESPN can attract audiences of almost 1.4 million, and ESPN is also available worldwide via satellite.
Dan, who attended both St Michael's and Mullion schools and played footie as a youngster in Mullion, called it his biggest break to date.
Speaking from his home in West Hartford, Connecticut, Dan said: "It's the biggest thing I have done for the exposure and number of people who may be watching."
Dan, who studied broadcast journalism at Solent University in Southampton, said: "I was working in Madrid where I presented Extra Time for five years. I then moved to ESPN presenting FC Press Pass, a football show that was aired in the UK, Africa and the Caribbean."
He said ESPN then offered him a job fronting its first half-hour soccer show with SportsCenter anchor Max Bretos.
Dan, who recently returned to Helston to visit his parents, said he gained valuable experience while working as a young man in Cornwall – including a stint on the West Briton.
"I worked with [the late West Briton reporter] Noel Perry in Helston and at BBC Radio Cornwall reading their sports results," he said.
"I also presented a hospital radio show at Treliske. It gave me the drive that helped me push on with my career and gain valuable industry experience.
"I played for Mullion (FC) but realised I didn't have the talent to go professional, so I did the next best thing – talking about football."
