Darnell Johnson began his long journey to the SHL in the most unlikely of places - On the not-so-mean streets of St Petersburgh Florida, playing Jr Soccer. Far from a stand-out at a young age, Darnell was always a little small for his size and a bit clumsy. As he aged his technical ability improved, but he always relied on that great base of stamina he built up from his youth. A coach always used to say "If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort," and that was a mantra Darnell took to heart. Work harder than anybody else, and that was the origin of the Darnell Johnson we all know and love. With an emphasis on high motor, grinding physical play and a lack of technical ability leading to an emphasis on clinical positioning, it was no wonder Darnell gravitated towards the back field, lining up on the wings in defense even from an early age.