December 17, 2024 – Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Empire Strykers News Release
Ontario, Calif. – The Empire Strykers of the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) today announced they have signed street football icon Jack Downer to their first team through the 2025-26 season, pending visa approval. The move marks another unlikely chapter in a remarkable story, as Downer, a former top prospect in his native England, three years ago defied the odds by surviving a near-catastrophic soccer injury that required two separate life-saving surgeries.
The latest addition to the Empire roster is a two-time Superball Panna World Champion, the term panna referencing a specific subcategory of street football. In the sport, two players face each other, and a winner is determined either by one scoring more goals than the other in a three-minute match or by one managing to touch the ball through their opponent’s legs for an instant “knockout.”
As one of the world’s best street footballers, Jack Downer has built a massive social media following and has collaborated with global soccer superstars as well as some of the biggest clubs on the planet.
“Jack’s journey is truly inspirational,” said the Strykers’ head coach, Onua Obasi. “As someone who dealt with nagging run-of-the-mill injuries during my playing days, I can tell you they have the potential to crush your spirits. Of course, none of my injuries came close to ending my life, nor did any of them derail my career when I was still a kid. Jack’s perseverance through all his trials is a testament to his character, and the skills he brings to indoor soccer could give him a real edge. We can’t wait to see how far those qualities take him.”
A standout at the youth level, Jack Downer was being scouted by Charlton Athletic FC. However, any hopes of joining the Charlton academy evaporated when the storied English club lost interest due to the talented midfielder suffering an ankle injury at age 14. Disillusioned, Downer turned his back on eleven-a-side soccer but soon discovered his love for street football, practicing obsessively and competing while enjoying the subculture’s emphasis on community and inclusivity.
Having moved to London for university as an 18-year-old, the Englishman began gaining in popularity as a social media influencer, the main driver being his participation in a reality TV-type show published on the official Adidas YouTube channel. The show awarded some of the world’s best street footballers spots on…