Because Football

In Episode 87 of the Because Football Podcast, we chat with Kevin Rye, Founder of Think Fan Engagement. Kevin tells us how his early experiences as a fan of AFC Wimbledon made him aware of the importance of the formal relationship between clubs and their fans. This goes beyond matchday experiences and performance on the field, but creating structures, regulations, and formalized relationships betw...

Can promotion and relegation fundamentally change the landscape of soccer in the United States? Hardcore fans have been begging for it for decades and USL has answered the call, announcing the intention to adopt a more meritocratic, dramatic, and exciting soccer system in 2027. In Episode 86 of the Because Football Podcast, we interview Brett Johnson, Chairman of Rhode Island FC and Centreville Ba...

In American Soccer, we’ve heard for decades that the game is finally catching on. Sometimes, it feels like groundhog day. But there is one indicator showing positive signs - the growth of soccer-specific stadiums, especially for clubs at the second and third tier of the professional pyramid. In Episode 85 of the Because Football Podcast, we interview Justin Papadakis, Deputy CEO & Chief Real E...

In Episode 84 of the Because Football Podcast, we chat with Dan Rutstein, President of Business Operations at Orange County SC of the USL Championship. In 2023, he was formally appointed President of Orange County SC after serving as interim club president, during which time the club set new records in ticket sales, sponsorship, and merchandise, and expanded charitable programming. In this episode...

In Episode 83 of the Because Football Podcast, we welcome Catalina Dunn, Marketing Manager at Soccer in the Streets. At Soccer in the Streets, Catalina plays a vital role in spreading awareness of the organization's mission to use soccer as a catalyst for positive change in underserved communities in the Atlanta region. Catalina shares what she has learned in her more than six years of experie...

In Episode 82 of the Because Football Podcast, we welcome Nicholas De-Long, Head of Academy for North Somerset Sports Foundation, a full-time 16-19 football education programme, in addition to his role as Head of Football for North Somerset Regional Talent Centre, which serves - 1100 boys and girls from ages 7-16. Nicholas has had an adventurous career, spending decades as a physical education ins...

In Episode 81 of the Because Football Podcast, we chat with Jonathan Todd, Director of Social Impact for Philadelphia World Cup 2026, the organization leading local efforts in the host city. Throughout his career, Jonathan has directed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion departments in multiple industries, in addition to time spent in non-profit and city government. In this episode, Jonathan shares t...

Is it possible to start a semi-professional soccer club part-time? In Episode 80 of the Because Football Podcast, we chat with Joey Lipoff and Charles Salazar, co-founders of Sunflower State FC, a USL 2 and WPSL club serving the Kansas City area. After meeting and playing together at Rockhurst University, Joey and Charles saw a need in the soccer community for affordable, high level team to give l...

In Episode 79 of the Because Football Podcast, we’re joined by Charlie Latshaw III, current Head Coach for Des Moines Menace of USL 2, and regularly one of the league’s top performing clubs. The Menace made headlines in recent years with a US Open Cup run where they signed a handful of former pros like Sacha Kljestan (who had played for the club back in the PDL days), Bradley Wright-Phillips, and...

Competition makes soccer enthralling - but at its best, this game offers more than wins and losses. In Episode 78 of the Because Football Podcast, we chat with Rachel Jolley, Program & Marketing Director for the Tampa Bay Sun Foundation. The foundation is the impact-driven arm of the Tampa Bay Sun, the Inaugural Champions of the Gainbridge Super League. A Tampa Bay area native, Rachel’s has ba...

Despite the booms and busts throughout history, American soccer has a lot to be proud of. From the bright lights of MLS and NWSL, to pre-professional teams in small town America, the game is alive and well. In Episode 77 of the Because Football Podcast, we chat with Eleni Hitchcock, General Manager at Columbus United FC of USL 2 and VVP of Business Operations at Virtual Veep. Eleni tells us about...

If you are an obsessive soccer fan, you know that the game isn’t just about what happens on the pitch - it’s about the journeys we take, the cultures we discover, and the wonderful people we meet because (of) football . It’s when we use footy as a vehicle for exploring the vast world around us that we can truly appreciate all this game means and offers. In Episode 76 of the Because Football Podcas...

Is there something missing in your local soccer community? Well - don’t pout about it - build it yourself! In Episode 75 of the Because Football Podcast, we chat with Ira Jersey, the Founder and Men’s General Manager at Real Central NJ Soccer of USL 2 and WPSL. In this episode, Ira tells us about how growing up on the muddy fields of Long Island shaped his love for the game. After decades as a pla...

American soccer has had its share of ups and downs - but there are many encouraging signs right now. A great example is an announcement by the Pittsburgh Riverhounds to expand their existing stadium - growing from a capacity of 5,000 to 15,000, in anticipation of a transformative era for the club. In Episode 74 of the Because Football Podcast, we chat with Ryan Shaffer, VP of Marketing for Pittsbu...

If you love the game of soccer - and want it to be a central part of your life - what’s stopping you? In Episode 73 of the Because Football Podcast, we chat with Nick Manske, a Fan Service Representative for the Philadelphia Union of MLS. In addition to his role in the soccer industry, Nick is also the City Manager for Street FC Philadelphia, a pickup soccer community in a dozen cities around the...

It's been a rallying cry, a fiery debate, a humble plea for decades. American soccer fans have been calling for the implementation of promotion and relegation - just like the rest of the world. The USL is answering that call as it plans to implement pro/rel, plus a newly sanctioned Division One league, in 2027. In Episode 72 of the Because Football Podcast, Jeremy Alumbaugh, President of USL Champ...

Recently, the game of soccer has been showing its importance in American culture in a variety of ways - especially in the growth of pickup soccer communities around the country. In Episode 71 of the Because Football Podcast, we welcome Monica Rojas, Head of Community and Communications at Plei, a pickup soccer platform operating in 28 regions across the U.S. that makes it easy to play anytime, any...

The reality we see depends on the stories we tell ourselves. The stories we accept. The stories we reject. And when it comes to American soccer, stories are critical to understanding the opportunities and potential pitfalls of the current state of the game. In Episode 70 of the Because Football Podcast, our guest is Garret James Hokr, Account Executive in Member Services for Gotham FC of the NWSL....

In Episode 69 of the Because Football Podcast, we invite Kaitlyn McComb, Director of Ticket Sales and Ticket Operations for the Annapolis Blues, a pre-professional club in Annapolis, Maryland that offers a men’s team in USL 2 and women’s team in USL W League. In just 3 seasons as a club, the Blues have embedded themselves in the local community, offering free soccer clinics, player appearances, an...

The New York Cosmos are back... but many are asking the question... why?!?! In Episode 68 of the Because Football Podcast, we chat with Cosmos CEO Erik Stover about how the club is planning to do things differently (and better) in this third incarnation. The foundation of that plan is player development of the rich talent in the North Jersey area, as well as community development and expanding acc...

Professional football is a hyper-competitive industry. It can be ruthless, cutthroat, and overwhelmingly results-driven. Where do qualities like courage and kindness come in amidst all that intensity? In Episode 67 of the Because Football Podcast, we welcome Matt Hancock, CEO of Port Vale Football Club, currently of EFL League One. Matt shares his personal journey from learning about the game and...

For Episode 66 of the Because Football Podcast, we're trying a different format. Rather than interviewing an incredible guest from the world of soccer, our host Andrew Baggaley will be sharing updates on his round the world journey that took him to football communities in 17 countries in the past 18 months, a new documentary series, and giving his perspective on the new FIFA Club World Cup. Hi...

When it comes to making an impact off the field in terms of community engagement and building trust, it is critical that football clubs think long-term about their goals. In Episode 65 of the Because Football Podcast, we chat about having a successful framework for building partnerships with Jan Twete, Director of Global Partnerships for VfL Wolfsburg of the German Bundesliga. As Jan shares, footb...

Jason Triglia is Founder and Owner of YerbaCrew, which sells Yerba Mate tea, Yerba Crew bombillas, a variety of mate gourds, and serves as an educational and community hub with its series of "Mateada" events in the Philadelphia area. As a sponsor of the Icarus Cup, Jason loves the opportunity to share mate with people who have never tried it before and to be a part of a vibrant, powerful soccer co...

The growth of MLS in the past 25 years is undeniable, but its the lower levels of American soccer where some of the most impactful success stories live. A great example of that is Chattanooga FC, an MLS Next Pro and WPSL club that has set attendance records and has a hold on their local city. In Episode 64 of the Because Football Podcast, we chat with Derrall Stalvey, SVP of Strategy for the club....