When Brandon Eaton signed for his hometown team - the Richmond Kickers - in 2017, he felt like it was a dream-come-true.

“It was really a surreal feeling,” he said. “To have that opportunity in Richmond presented me was definitely a blessing.”

After all, Eaton had lived close to or in Richmond all his life. He grew up in nearby Chesapeake, and after spending his freshman year at Virginia Tech, transferred to Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. After graduation, he wasn’t even sure if he would continue playing soccer. But when Eaton got the chance to represent the team in his backyard, he took it.

Filled with pride and hope, Eaton couldn’t have predicted what would happen next. Shortly after his signing, he lined up for an exhibition game against D.C. United’s U-23 team. As D.C. was preparing to swing in a cross, he felt something.

“It was just kind of a freak accident, Eaton said. “I caught my studs in the grass and felt a little jarring feeling in my knee.

“At the moment I didn’t think much of it, I actually played on it for three weeks. I played in a game against FC Cincinnati, but each time I played it got to a point where I could barely walk, so I finally got an MRI done and it turned out that I tore my ACL and meniscus.”

For Eaton, it was devastating news.

“Basically, my pro career at that time for me felt like it was over.”

In fact, Eaton considered retiring from soccer altogether. He wondered if his injury could be a sign from God. He had been right at the cusp of a such a tremendous personal achievement, only to have it all torn away from him at the final moment.

With little else to do, Eaton turned to his family for help.

“For me it was my mom and my brother, they supported me through the whole thing,” he said. “Whenever I was pushing ideas of, ‘Maybe this is a sign, maybe I shouldn’t do this,’ they would just stop me there and be like, ‘No, this is what you’re meant to do at this time. Take it as a sign that this is just a challenge to see how bad you really want to continue doing what you love.’

“That’s the mentality I had all throughout rehab. It was a challenge. Something that, if I could overcome this, then it was definitely meant to be.”

In the end, Eaton did finish his rehab. When he came back, though, he faced a new problem: his spot on the team was gone.

“I came back into Richmond after the season already started, so I was still not under a contract at all,” he said. “I was basically coming in as a trialist again because of my situation. It was a lot of pressure, but it was just a great feeling to be out on the field again. Moving around and touching a ball was really special for me.”

During his trial, Eaton impressed enough to earn another contract. During 2018, he filled in where he was needed. When starting right back Alex Lee retired midway through the season in August, Eaton moved from his regular defensive midfield role into the back line to provide cover.

Looking back on the year, I’m very proud of what I had gone through to get back to playing, and playing in a lot of games considering my situation was great for me,” he said.

In the offseason, Eaton didn’t re-sign with Richmond. Instead, his luck came around in a different way. He had a second “freak accident,” but this time, it was a positive one.

While on his way to a preseason camp in Tampa, Eaton received a text from Neil Hlavaty, his teammate with Richmond who had recently retired and signed on as the assistant coach for Forward Madison FC. Hlavaty wanted to know whether Eaton would be at the camp.

“I was like, ‘Yeah, why, what’s up?,’” Eaton said. “He told me that (Madison Head Coach) Daryl Shore would be there watching.”

Hlavaty said to Eaton that he had told Shore about the promising prospect from Virginia, and that Shore wanted to watch Eaton play.

“I went out there, just focused on playing, and I guess things went well,” Eaton said. “I guess it was a freak accident, but I think it was all meant to be.”

When preseason begins in early February, Eaton will be more than up for it.

“I’m definitely ready for this,” Eaton said. “I couldn’t be more excited to work with Neil again, who I admired while we were in Richmond, and I’ve heard only good things about Daryl.”

In particular, Eaton is already relishing his trip back home. Fully recovered from injury and ready to prove himself across an entire season, Eaton said he can’t wait for FMFC’s Sep. 14 away game against the Richmond Kickers. For him, it will be the moment to come back to his old home and prove what he can do.

“It’ll be a special, special feeling to come back and play against Richmond, and I’m looking forward to getting a win and having those bragging rights over former teammates, Eaton said. “I’m looking forward to putting together a special year.”

Brandon’s signing will be confirmed pending league and federation approval. Follow Brandon on  Instagram at @ba_eaton. Get tickets to see Brandon in Forward Madison FC's inaugural season at https://www.forwardmadisonfc.com/tickets.