PHOTO | FRANKIE SANCHEZ - The Furness Brothers: Theo, Seb, and Dom

Web Editor’s Note: For more photos, click here!

The West Texas A&M Men’s Soccer team was never more of a brotherhood until now. Straight from Middlesbrough, England, the three Furness brothers take the field for the Buffaloes. Sebastian, 22, tends goal, while Dominic, 21, and Theodore,18, play in the midfield. For the Furness brothers, soccer has been a way of life rooted deep in their family.

“When my dad played soccer, he played at the same club we played at when we were in England,” Sebastian said. “My granddad is from Liverpool and he had a really strong futbol background. We all grew up with it in our family. My other granddad was a big influence on me because he used to take me to and from training three times a week when my parents couldn’t.”

From a young age, soccer has been a large part of their lives. In 1993, the three boys attended their first soccer practice. At the time, Sebastian was six-years-old, Dominic was five, and Theodore was three. Although the brothers started playing soccer at the same time, this year is the first time they are all playing on the same team because of their age differences. For the brothers, different ages meant different team assignments.

“This has been quite the experience because I’ve never ever played on the same team as my brothers because I’ve always been younger,” Theodore said. “This has been the first time we’ve gotten to play on the same team, so that has been quite good. I really enjoy it.”

PHOTO | FRANKIE SANCHEZ - Dom Furness

The boys were separated last season. Sebastian and Dominic were discovered and brought from England by head coach Butch Lauffer, thanks to a recommendation from senior forward Ben Everson. Everson had spotted Lauffer during a trial game that turned into a recruitment of the young forward. After hearing the news of the brothers from Everson, Lauffer traveled overseas to watch them play.

“Ben Everson called me one day and said, ‘Our coach is interested in getting you and your brother here. Are you interested?” Sebastian said. “One thing led to another and we have Ben Everson to thank for that.”

During the 2008 season, the three Buffs from Middlesbrough (Everson, Sebastian, and Dominic) told Lauffer about the youngest brother, Theodore. Without seeing Theodore in action, Lauffer offered him a scholarship and brought him to West Texas to play alongside his brothers.

“Seb, Dom, and Ben recommended me, and Butch brought me over,” Theodore said. “He had never actually seen me play. It was only Seb and Dom who had seen me play.”

Now that the three brothers are all together as Buffaloes, they are rarely apart. Sharing an apartment, friends and the love of the game has brought a sense of family onto the field.

“Now we are teammates and you always get along with teammates,” Theodore said. “It is better because I understand Seb and Dom more and how they play, so it is easier to get along with them on the Pitch.”

Although the brothers spend a lot of their time together and are very similar, their distinguished personalities follow them on-and-off the field: Sebastian, outgoing; Dominic, reserved; and Theodore, stubborn.

PHOTO | FRANKIE SANCHEZ - Seb Furness

“Seb is a bit of a character,” Dominic said. “He is always doing daft stuff. Always making people laugh.” Sebastian felt differently about his brothers.

“Dom is very strong-headed. Strong-willed,” Sebastian said. “He likes doing things his own way. Theo is the same. He’s really strong-headed and strong-willed. They are really stubborn characters, but in a good way.”

Just like any family, the Furness brothers have their fair share of sibling rivalry to push them ahead on the field.

“We all play different positions, but if you are talking to Theo, he would probably say he has the most ability,” Dominic said. “If you are talking to me, I would say I have the most ability. As for heart, I would give that one to Theo.”

Sebastian is a goalkeeper and doesn’t figure into the competition that arises from his brothers both playing midfield, he finds his own way to compete with Dominic and Theodore.

“I would say I’m a lot more vocal than the other two,” Sebastian said. “I’m more of a leader in the way I talk and in the way I communicate. Where Dom is more of a leader, and the same for Theo, in the way they play and the way they are always positive and never scared of getting the ball. It’s inspiring for the team. I’m more of a vocal leader.”

Despite rivalries and differences, the brothers prefer to play soccer together.

“My brothers have always played, and I’ve always tagged along,” Theodore said. “I’ve always wanted to play soccer with them.” Dominic and Sebastian agree that they would rather play on a team with their brothers than anywhere else.

PHOTO | FRANKIE SANCHEZ - Theodore Furness

“I really enjoy playing with my brothers because I think we all have the same soccer philosophy,” Sebastian said. “We all want our team to play in the same way. We are all big leaders in the way we play at the Pitch. I know my brothers are winners, so I want them on my team.”

The difference in personality takes a back seat to the striking similarities within the brothers. Each one is a Sports and Exercise Science major at WT and hope to play soccer professionally in the future. If they don’t get that opportunity, then they each want to coach at the college level.

“I’d really like to coach at the college level,” Sebastian said. “Butch does a really good job with us and I’ve been enjoying working with the coaching staff here. That’s inspired me, maybe when my playing days are finished, to get involved in coaching.”

The Furness Brothers have added more to the team than goals. They have brought leadership, unity and family onto the field this season. To see the Furness brothers and the rest of the men’s soccer team in action, make sure to be at their next game at the Pitch Oct. 16 against Northeastern State at 3 p.