It served as a constant reminder. It was always within eyesight. It was simple, yet monumental.
Hallie Bergford had a note taped above her bed while she was at Seattle University with the desire, goal and dream to play professional soccer in Norway.
The significance for the graduate of Tumwater High School was familial; her dad, Peter, had a short stint as a pro in the country that made the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals.
“One of the (club) teams I played with was the team he played for; it was a full circle moment,” Hallie said.
Norway didn’t work out. What about a country 1,500 kilometers south?
“My agent contacted me and said ‘Hey how does the Czech Republic sound,’” Hallie said. “I’m willing to take the risk.”
It’s worked out splendidly.
Bergford enters year two at AC Sparta Prague, a club in the Czech First League in the top division in club soccer in the Czech Republic. It's in the midst of its 60th year for the women’s club and is coming off a league championship.
One of Sparta’s biggest matches is a week away, facing Servette FC in the first of two legs in order to qualify for Champions League, the top tournament for UEFA clubs.
“Definitely good energy and we’re preparing; got to put our best foot forward,” Bergford said. “Just have fun and appreciate the moment.”
Soccer has been in Bergford’s life since she was in elementary school. And she had a direct influence on the game.
Peter played soccer through much of his life and was a first team all-conference midfielder while at Northwest in 1999. He had a brief training stint with the Seattle Sounders before jetting off to Norway to play professionally.
Life had other ideas.
Hallie was born when he was 25. He paused his soccer dream to be a dad.
Now, he gets to watch his daughter live out hers.
“Hallie is that kid, when you see her play, she’s special,” Peter said. “You teach them the skills, the basics. You keep them excited about it. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication.”
During her prep career at Tumwater, Bergford was a prolific goal scorer and was the back-to-back Evergreen Conference MVP in 2018 and 2019. She amassed 36 goals one year and earned her a DI opportunity at Seattle U.
“Sports, in general, bring so much community and have that school pride is so special,” Bergford said. “I had the best of times and that’s what high school is all about.”
Her collegiate career opened with the WAC Freshman of the Year award in 2020. She was a consistent starter over the final three years and tallied a career-best four goals her junior season.
The thought of the journey ending after college did cross Bergford’s mind. Then she referred back to the dream she had posted on her wall.
“I really wanted to make it work,” she said.
Yet once Norway didn’t end up happening long-term, she stood at a crossroads. Either call it a career or press forward.
Bergford took some time to figure out what path to take.
Spoiler: She pressed forward.
“There were two specific moments,” Bergford said. “Right when I got back from Norway, I spent about a week deciding if I wanted to pursue (still playing). That first week in June, I waited a whole month, but I kept training.
“I don’t know how much longer I could have gone like that, honestly. The timing was perfect.”
After a stint with Salmon Bay, the USL team based in Seattle, she got a call from her agent for a contract offer to play in the Czech Republic. It was a brand new country she never experienced before and a nine-hour time difference from home.
It ended up as a smooth transition, aided by three other USA natives in Tori Hansen, Hope Breslin and Ellie Ospeck being on the roster too.
“I didn’t even know where the Czech Republic was when this all started,” Bergford said with a chuckle. “I still want to keep playing soccer so I’m going to say yes and see what happens.”
Her club debut was one to remember.
Against Plzen on August 16 of last summer, Bergford notched a hat trick with goals in the 24th, 45+1 and 47th minute. Then two matches later, the striker recorded another hat trick.
And then in September, she pocketed three consecutive two goal performances.
“There were so many pinch me moments,” Bergford said. “That was amazing.”
AC Sparta was in the Europa Cup over the winter months, the second-best UEFA club tournament, and Bergford notched a signature moment in the quarterfinals. She struck the match-winner in the 120th minute versus Austria Vienna to send AC Sparta to the semifinals.
It also snapped a four-game goalless drought.
“Top-five moment for me in my life,” Bergford said.
While the big dream is playing for the USWNT, Bergford is still taking in the fact she’s playing soccer in Europe against top competition on a weekly basis. The Champions League remains her primary goal, but she also stated – if the chance ever arrived – to play professionally back in the United States.
Still, her dad has had a front row seat to watch his daughter shine. They were able to see her play in person last season as well.
“Hallie is the full package,” Peter stated. “She comes in clutch. I think she’s on the right track.”
And Hallie is grateful for it all. The days of playing at Tumwater District Stadium to being on the pitch in front of sold out crowds only fulfills the everlasting dream she’s wide awake for.
“I feel so thankful and so incredibly blessed and it is nothing I ever would have expected,” Hallie said. “Walking out and playing in front of big crowds, it is something I hope I will never take for granted. I want to keep doing this.”
