By David Benoit
Special to the Reporter

When the New England Revolution hosted the Chicago Fire on August 20 at Gillette Stadium, a Dorchester kid returned to his home, where family members and friends eagerly awaited him.

Ryan Johnson grew up playing Dorchester Youth Soccer and now is a member of the Chicago Fire, one of the strongest teams in Major League Soccer. The 21 year-old has grown up a lot since he first stepped foot on a Dorchester field at the age of six, but it was there that he got his start and a big reason why he believes he is now playing professionally.

"I grew up in Dorchester playing over by Franklin Park, and it means a lot to me when I go back and play against New England and see my friends and family," Johnson said by phone after an afternoon practice in Chicago. "I was placed on a really good team at a young age, it contributed a lot."

Johnson was born in Jamaica in 1984 but grew up watching his dad play soccer here in Boston, where his skills developed extremely quickly, according to Dorchester Youth Soccer's president Steve Weymouth.

"Ryan began playing for us when he was six. He was always playing from the left side, he was always athletic," recalled Weymouth, who thinks Dorchester can claim a little bit of credit for his success. "He was usually playing one or two age groups above where he should have been playing."

When Johnson had outplayed his competition he moved on to some of the elite travel teams in the state and eventually on to Melrose High School. There he just kept getting better and his talent was making him stand out.

Dean Serino coached Johnson at Melrose High, where he became his standout player and was named the Boston Globe's 2002 player of the year, and only had the best things to say about him.

"He was the best. I've coached 18 years and he's the best player I've ever seen. He was in a whole class by himself, got better every year," Serino said. "He's funny, he's a great teammate to have. He wasn't from Melrose -he was a METCO kid- but he fit right in."

The time Johnson spent dominating Massachusetts Division I soccer led to a four-year scholarship at Oregon State University, where he set Beaver records for assists in a single season and over his career. As a four time All-Pac-10 player, Johnson proved he was ready for the next stage.

In January he was drafted by Real Salt Lake in the MLS as the 26th selection, and a few months into the season was traded to Chicago. He's been back to play New England twice, once with each team, and he loves every minute of it.

"It's great. Every day I am living a dream. I'm playing with guys I used to watch on a TV."

One game stands out as a more memorable than the others: A match when he played for the Jamaican National Team against the United States this spring.

"That's probably the biggest game I've played in," he said. "I never expected that to happen so soon. At first it was nerve-wracking, but once you touch the ball a few times the nerves go away."

Johnson still fondly remembers his time as a boy in Dorchester and believes that if the kids playing in the league today believe they can make it to his level, then they better keep working at it and never give up.

"If you feel that you have the talent and feel like you can play at the next level, it takes a lot of work, it doesn't happen overnight," he said. "Stay out of trouble. I'm one of the lucky ones."

Johnson said that if at all possible, he would come back to Dorchester Youth Soccer and talk to the kids there about his experiences as a professional and the road he took to get there.

"I definitely would do it, if it works out and the situation is right," Johnson declared.