Seb Hines is what one would call a consummate professional. A professional soccer player since 2005, Hines has been all over England playing with different teams on loan, primarily with Middlesbrough through most of his time there. Loaned to Orlando in 2015, he ended up starting over 20 matches, scoring a goal. The Lions then purchased Hines before the 2016 season, making him a fully fledged player for Orlando, where he once again started most of the team's matches.
Throughout this, Hines was plagued by chronic knee issues that continued to bother him as he played on artificial turf.
“The last two years has been tough, playing with MLS, playing at the Citrus Bowl,” Hines said, “It wasn’t the best of experiences, but just being out there and playing football is what we all want to do. I’m just happy to be back playing in a stadium that has grass, and it’ll help my body moving forward.”
As he’s moved forward into 2017, Hines has had a very different role with the team. He continues to train with the MLS side, but for most of the season he has played with Orlando City B. As one of the veterans on the team, he has helped command the back line and push OCB to a now 12 game unbeaten streak. His role on and off the field, however, expands into a bigger leadership role for much of the younger players on the USL roster.
Check out that touch! @OrlandoCityB capitalizes on a free kick in the 34' minute to take the lead over @OttawaFuryFC, 1-0. #ORLvOTTpic.twitter.com/SooASOiA0n
— USL (@USL) August 17, 2017
“It means I'm getting older,” Hines joked, “Taking on the leadership role and the younger players looking up to me for advice, it means a lot. OCB has done tremendous the last 12 games unbeaten and in any sport that’s a tough thing to do. They’re so young and learning every day. It's a great credit to them and Ant [Pulis] and Rob [Valentino] doing such a good job with them.”
For Hines, despite not playing any MLS minutes, the fact that he continues to get meaningful playing time with OCB and continues to make an impact on the younger players within the club, has been rewarding.
“I take every game as it comes and I'm just happy to be out there playing football,” Hines said. “Being injury free and getting minutes on the field, whether it’s with OCB or MLS, I take every game with the right attitude and I want to win every game. So, for me, if I'm not playing MLS, I want to be playing OCB and with the recent performances, we’ve done really well.”
