Chattanooga Football Club defender Jordan Dunstan, shown during a July match in 2014, played in a soccer game for the first time in nearly 14 months in the 1-1 friendly draw Thursday night.It's been more than a year since Jordan Dunstan has played a soccer match.
While it hasn't been that long for Michael Brooks, the 29-year-old's availability to play has been compromised because of his job.
Yet Thursday night, each had an opportunity to get back on the pitch for the Chattanooga Football Club.
The two had ample playing time for Chattanooga FC (13-2-2) in a 1-all tie against the Tigres UANL reserves in a friendly match. CFC hosts the Dutch Lions from Houston at 7:30 tonight in a National Premier Soccer League South Regional playoff at Finley Stadium.
Chattanooga FC will be honoring the four Marines and one sailor who lost their lives one year ago today in Chattanooga. There will be special graphics displayed on the Jumbotron honoring each of the Fallen Five soldiers, and Mayor Andy Berke will speak to the community before kickoff.
Players, coaches and fans will participate in a moment of silence during the match, and a special-edition "#Noogastrong" T-shirt will be available for purchase for $20, with all of the proceeds going to the 7-16 Freedom Fund, which provides post-secondary scholarships and pays expenses for the families of those affected.
Dunstan and Brooks have started for the club in the past, but Dunstan, who also is a member of the Bryan College soccer team, tore his ACL against the Atlanta Silverbacks on May 27, 2015. Brooks has been available to play a little more this season but hasn't been needed as much as the organization has crafted a deep roster.
"Everyone's journey is different," CFC coach Bill Elliott said Thursday. "Michael is so busy with his business and he's been so successful with it, so he doesn't get to be here as much as we would like him to be or as much as he'd like to be.
"Jordan, it's been a long journey back. I could not be happier for him to finally get some minutes, get back in the game. It's good to see he's on the road to recovery."
Brooks is a co-founder of the company Spire, which promotes healthy living. The business formerly known as LifeKraze, which was founded in 2010, has apps on both Android and Apple devices that "improve happiness and healthiness" in people's lives, according to Brooks.
The Fredericksburg, Va., and Clemson standout has been able to play a little more for CFC this season, as he's spent more time in Chattanooga, and he has been able to serve as a mentor to some of the younger guys - some of whom he shared the pitch with on Thursday night.
"I love being around the guys," he said. "I love being around to help the young guys. I come back every year because of the fans. The city is so awesome, the coaching staff is amazing, and the camaraderie is the best thing in the world.
"I want to keep coming back. I want to be a part of it as much as I can."
Dunstan redshirted for Bryan during what would have been his senior season and will return for the Lions - who are coached by CFC women's head coach Drew Courtney - this season. He had a goal and four assists during his junior season in 2014, and with Thursday being his first action in nearly 14 months, he admitted there were some nerves about game action on his surgically repaired kneen.
"It's been a tough road back," he said. "It took a lot of hard work to get to where I'm at, but it's all worth it now that I'm back on the field and can look to go forward with everything.
"Since I've been out, it's shown me how much work is required to stay healthy and go forward with my career. I appreciate where I was, but I appreciate it even more now that I'm back."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.