Neil Orridge, Business Director at Charlotte United, is a busy man. The North Carolina club is gearing up for 'tryout week' which will see more than 2,000 youngsters descend upon Charlotte in just three days of football trials.

But Charlotte United's staff went above and far beyond the call of duty to find the time to take personal care of our stranded under-18s last month - and Neil found the time to speak to readingfc.co.uk last week.

"This was the third trip of its kind," he began. "First we welcomed your women's team, then your under-16s came over, and late last month we hosted Reading's under-18s squad.

"The relationship between Charlotte United and Reading is something special. You guys have built quite a following here. When we play our games, you will regularly see a hundred or more kids sat in the stands wearing Reading shirts.

"We take great pride in this relationship. In terms of size and numbers, we are a massive club out here in the US and we've been approached by the likes of Everton, Tottenham and AC Milan with regards to setting up a European connection.

"But we didn't want to view it as just a relationship on paper - it had to feel right.

"And this relationship with Reading Football Club is based on close bonds between the people at each club, and they have enabled us to build a relationship that benefits both parties."

The connection was created and then nurtured by RFC Community Trust Manager Lee Herron and the transatlantic bond has grown stronger ever since.

"Lee Herron has been absoltely golden from day one," Orridge continued. "I first met Lee three years ago and knew he was a man of his word.

"From that point onwards, this relationship has been based on trust and everybody on both sides of the ocean now realise how great this relationship now is.

"At Charlotte, we consider ourselves a 'family club'. And that is what attracted us to Reading - you guys had the same approach.

"On one of my first trips over to England, I met with your former captain Graeme Murty - who happily sat down and chatted to me for more than three hours on a game day!

"That told me everything I needed to know about the club and the set up Reading have."

Eamonn Dolan's under-18s had a fantastic trip to the US - a trip that was initially due to last a week. And Orridge agreed that the players' impact out in Charlotte had been immense.

"On the face of it, Reading's presence in Charlotte, of course, added a certain something to our local tournaments.

"Reading's level of play adds a little prestige and enables us to bring in high level players and teams from around the United States.

"But the real impact came in the way they led our coaching clinics for the young footballers here. In that opening week we ran two football clinics, each with more than 150 kids attending.

"And both clinics were huge successes because they were run by the players and not the coaching staff. That 'hands on' approach from the players helped the local kids really form a personal bond with some top Academy players.

"And your players really took them in, taking time out to form individual relationships with all the young players at our club. They went the extra mile and for that we are very grateful.

"And of course, Noel Hunt accompanied the squad out here too, and just treated everyone like one of the guys.

"He was not what I was expecting of a professional footballer - he certainly broke that stereotype. He remains a first class role model for our kids."

Once the Icelandic volcanic activity hit home and it suddenly became apparent that our under-18s' stay would stretch well beyond the week initially planned, it was time for Charlotte to go the 'extra mile'. And how they did!

"When we found out for sure they'd be delayed we had just fielded 700 soccer games in two tournament days - so when that Monday came around, they day they were meant to fly home, it was 'exhale time'. 

"I thought 'What in the world are we going to do?' For the short term it was simple logistics - arranging to keep them in the hotel for the next 24 hours whilst we tried to work something out.

"I knew our community would respond. But I didn't realise to what extent they would respond. It completely blew me away.

"Within hours we had one of the nicest hotels in Charlotte telling me they could stay with them a long as their stay in America lasted!

"They were eating out twice a day and it didn't cost a dime. There were gift baskets being delivered, events being planned, people dropping by with crates of cookies - even those people who couldn't afford to give money, gave their time.

"And not because they wanted anything in return - simply because it was the right thing to do. Everything and anything Charlotte had to offer, they did while Reading Football Club were stranded here.

"It was quite touching. hospitality in this part of the US is fantastic, but this was also confirmation of how our community felt about Charlotte United as a club and a staff.

"And, even after they had been stranded, every member of the Reading FC party were adamant in wanting to help in whatever way they could while they were here.

"We put on a few more clinics, some with local schools, and Lee, Eamonn, Noel and the other staff happily agreed to coach a number of our practices as we geared up for the state championships."

And it seems, in a time of adversity, the relationship between Charlotte United and Reading Football Club has grown even stronger!

"We've got a lot of our youngsters now speaking regularly with members of your under-18s on facebook - and at least one of your players is planning to come over here on holiday, to stay with the friends he made whilst here.

"You get the feeling this bond is going last for a long, long time."