Category: Sidewinder Insider

By Scott Adamson
Adamsonmedia.com

The FIFA Women’s World Cup debuted in 1991 and has since evolved into a true sports spectacle. This year’s event – starting Friday in France with the hosts taking on South Korea at Parc des Princes in Paris – offers more prize money than ever before ($4 million to the winners and $30 million distributed) and total in-game attendance is expected to be near one million.

More than 720,000 tickets had been sold 50 days ahead of the Cup, and the opening match as well as the semi-finals and final are already sold out.

A global television audience of 764 million watched the WWC in 2015, and those numbers are projected to be even larger this time around.

In short, the month-long competition will be yet another testament to the rapid growth of women’s soccer and a feast for supporters all over the planet.

The United States is currently ranked No. 1 in the world and comes in as defending champions of the competition. Twelve players from that squad are back, including Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe.

France is also one of the favorites to lift the Cup, buoyed by the 1-2 punch of Kadidiatou Diani and Eugenie Le Sommer. The fact that Corinne Diacre’s charges spend the entire tourney in friendly confines also provides a big advantage.

But there are plenty of other countries in the mix, with Germany, England, Japan and the Netherlands leading the way.

Certainly the teams will be eyed closely by those who play and coach the game, such as Unity FC’s Harlie Ford and The Citadel gaffer Ciaran Traquair. Their interest goes beyond a quadrennial showcase.

For them, the World Cup lets the world see what they do day in and day out.

Ford is a 21-year-old defender for the Deltona, Florida-based club, which plays in the Florida Central Division of the United Premier Soccer League’s Southeast Conference. A standout on the field and in the classroom, soccer has been a major part of her life for most of her life.

Already a graduate of Stetson University, she’ll play collegiately for Webber International University as a student assistant in the fall.

Unity’s team captain and among its career leaders in minutes played, Ford is a fierce defender who can also step up and be a presence wherever needed on the roster. She even filled in as goalkeeper in a match last season, recording a clean sheet.

Traquair is entering his fourth season as head coach of the Bulldogs’ women’s soccer team. His 2018 club finished 9-10, marking the most wins for the program since the 2010 campaign. Kessy Bradshaw was The Citadel’s first postseason award winner since 2014 when she was named to the Southern Conference All-Freshman Team last fall.

Before coming to The Military College of South Carolina, Traquair coached three All-South Atlantic Conference performers and the SAC Freshman of the Year at Division II Anderson University in the Palmetto State.

One of his former AU players, Idoia Agirre, currently plays professionally for SD Eibar in Spain.

Traquair is a native of Scotland and played soccer at Shorter College in Rome, Georgia, before going on to suit up for Mississippi Brilla FC and Chattanooga FC.

He’s been coaching since 2007, with his first head coaching job coming at Wesleyan College.

The player and coach were asked to provide their perspectives on World Cup 2019, and here’s what they had to say:

The first WWC was in 1991 and it has grown in stature ever since. Which was the first one you remember watching?

Harlie Ford: The first WWC I remember really being invested in has to be the tournament from 2011. It was the last year Abby Wambach played, and the U.S. took the pitch by storm, playing with such great energy, up until Japan took us down in penalties. Every game was close, I think three of the games in the knockout round went to penalties. Pretty awesome soccer all around.

Ciaran Traquair: I think the 2011 World Cup was one of the first instances where I looked on with added interest. Germany had done a fantastic job of making it a true spectacle like they have done before on the men’s side on many occasions. It was probably the first time I started witnessing genuine direct competition for the U.S. women’s national team. Several countries had really advanced their women’s game from top to bottom, and it was showing on the highest stage.

 What match stands out most in your mind, and what player do you remember best?

Harlie Ford: Again, I have to go back to the final of the 2011 Cup. Every time the U.S. thought they had it, Japan would come back with such fury, refusing to be beat. Wambach was insane, though, matching their tempo and was the only U.S. player to score on penalties. Even though the result didn’t slide in our favor, it was a good note for her to retire off of. It also helps that we ended up getting Japan back for the loss in 2015.

Ciaran Traquair: Probably the 2011 final between Japan and the USA. Japan ended up winning on penalties after a 2-2 draw after extra time. It was Japan’s first World Cup win and it was done with a bit of style and class. Aya Miyama was a player who stood out. I was fortunate to train alongside her on a few occasions in the summer of 2010. A good friend was on staff at the now defunct Atlanta Beat. We were drafted in as the opposition ‘scout team’ in preparation for one of their upcoming games. Miyama was a fantastic player up close, and it was outstanding to go on and see her score in a World Cup final.

 How important do you think the WWC has been in not just getting young women interested in soccer, but in athletics overall?

Harlie Ford: The 2015 WWC saw record television ratings and a dramatic increase in game attendance. All eyes were on these lady ballers and they all performed above expectations. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that the WWC has encouraged thousands, if not millions, of young women to challenge adversity in sports and to go out there and be active. In countries where there wasn’t a place for women’s soccer, we are seeing clubs and teams rise up and flourish, which makes the world all the better for it. National teams that used to be known for an easy match (i.e., South Africa vs. USA this past May) have proven their resilience and growth. The women’s game is changing and I am personally so excited for it. I hope this World Cup proves to be just as inspiring as the rest.

Ciaran Traquair: I don’t think we can underestimate the hype and excitement that this World Cup has already created worldwide. The message is always clear from the top athletes in the women’s game – believe in yourself, work hard, don’t let anyone tell you can’t do it. The women involved in the WWC are top professionals who set a great example of the heights a young girl can aim for. For me, being active, involving yourself in sports, and realizing your competitive potential is exactly what this WWC should bring out in young people. On top of that, let’s hope that young girls see the true fun and enjoyment of this sport and tournament.

 Finally, who is your favorite in this year’s WWC and who is your dark horse?

Harlie Ford: As much as I would love to root for the U.S., I think France is by far the favorite for this tournament. Their technical skill and calm control of the pitch is beyond admirable and it looks like they are going to be a heavy hitter this year. I’m going to put England up as a dark horse, simply because of the energy coming out of their head coach (Phil Neville). It’s clear that he loves his team and I think he makes the game more about his players than the result, which is a great way to build character and chemistry. I would also like to give Jamaica a good run at the tourney. I played against Jody Brown, who is one of the youngest players at this Cup, and I would love to see her go all the way. Regardless, I am certain she will be making waves and I hope to buy her jersey one day.

Ciaran Traquair: I’ll have to side with France since they have home advantage. It was a huge advantage for the French men’s national team at the recent World Cup. France WNT are a quality side, and they will be playing in front of a full house for every game. The expectation of the French people will be to win the whole thing. A lot of the French squad play their club football at Lyon (the best women’s club team in the world). My dark horse would have to be Scotland – solely because of my allegiance and it being their first ever tournament. Good luck to (manager) Shelley Kerr and the squad.

The Fan Cave at my house doubles as a guest room, and considering it’s basically wall-to-wall memorabilia, it serves as quite the conversation starter.

But memorabilia conjures memories, memories are reminders of the past, and one friend who has occupied the Fan Cave calls it the “Death Room.”

She’s not wrong.

World Football League, United States Football League, World Hockey Association – every wall is a tribute to leagues and teams that no longer exist.

But leading into the museum/mausoleum is a much smaller room that is devoted entirely to soccer – and no league is more prominent than the original North American Soccer League.

There are a pair of NASL game balls, including one autographed by members of the Philadelphia Fury (Mick Jagger, Peter Frampton, Rick Wakeman and Paul Simon were investors). There are programs galore, ticket stubs, even a press pass for the 1968 Atlanta Chiefs.

Shoot, I have a Team America media guide – the Team America that existed before Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Pam Brady turned them into World Police marionettes.

Some of my artifacts were obtained via eBay, a few came from yard sales, and one in particular is an actual purchase that has survived for 43 years now.

It’s the 1976 edition of “The Complete Handbook of Soccer,” edited by the late, great Zander Hollander. It includes more than the NASL, of course, but what was once the biggest soccer deal in North America is given the most ink.

It’s currently displayed in a shadowbox, but now and then I’ll take it out and thumb through it.

Today will be one of those days because it’s the anniversary of the death of the original NASL.

I can’t remember if I heard about it on ESPN or saw a blip in the local paper – and living in Birmingham, Alabama, it would’ve been no more than a blip – but the news that came down on March 28, 1985, was no surprise.

What once was a 24-team league that showcased the “rock star” New York Cosmos had only two teams left when it went teats up.

Thus, the sport that had taken the United States (and parts of Canada) by storm was nothing more than a drizzle by the time the league shuddered.

They were fun times while they lasted, though.

Seeing the World Cup on an episode of “Wide World of Sports” in 1970 made me curious about association football, but the NASL turned that curiosity into a passion.

By the time Pele suited up for the Cosmos in 1975 I was already a huge fan of the Beautiful Game, although I was still working through finding “my” NASL club.

I already liked New York because of Werner Roth and Shep Messing, but Kyle Rote was a homegrown superstar, and that made the Dallas Tornado attractive.

Elton John was part owner of the Los Angeles Aztecs, so the team in SoCal was a cool option (especially after Sir Elton convinced George Best to sign), and the Tampa Bay Rowdies also had a certain charm, mainly because their marketing team had us all believing that “soccer is a kick in the grass.”

Ultimately, it was the arrival of Giorgio Chinaglia in 1976 that convinced me to go all-in with the Cosmos, and a super supporter was born.

I soaked up all the NASL news I could find, and when the league was shown on ABC for a three-year run starting in 1979 I was in front of the TV for every match – didn’t matter who was playing.

As the decade rolled over to the 1980s, however, the bloom was already off the rose.

While the Cosmos once packed the Meadowlands, their attendance began to decline rapidly – and interest in America’s premiere soccer organization was going downhill fast, as well.

By 1984 the NASL was down to nine teams and the Cosmos’ final home match that year drew less than 8,000 fans.

A league that had turned soccer into the “sport of the future” in North America was becoming a thing of the past, and when only the Minnesota Strikers and Toronto Blizzard were willing to be part of the circuit in 1985, the plug was pulled.

I was heartbroken.

Sure, it was mostly a retirement league for international stars looking to cash in on their fame one last time, and it wasn’t built to develop American players.

Yet, I didn’t care.

In the days before the Internet, social media and thousands of television channels, it was a way to actually see players I had once only read about.

It inspired me to forget my dreams of playing American football and embrace my 5-8 frame, which was the exact height of Pele’ and just an inch shorter than Best.

Playing high school soccer was one of my favorite experiences (I wore No. 10, by the way), and I probably wouldn’t have been inspired to work at it so hard if not for the NASL.

Naturally, my fandom has evolved in the 35 years since the league’s demise.

Most of my interest in American soccer is at the grassroots level; I gave a loose follow to Major League Soccer for many years, but now I can take it or leave it. My hope is that the National Premier Soccer League’s new professional venture will grow into something I can truly get behind.

As for international football, it’s so readily available I can watch top-tier competition from around the globe practically whenever I want. (Celtic FC, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund – in that order – are the clubs I support).

But I’ll never forget the “good old days,” and being a North American Soccer League enthusiast were some of the best days of my sporting life.

 

Since immersing myself in amateur adult American soccer over the last year, the primary circuit in my orbit has been the National Premier Soccer League. And considering my locale (the Upstate of South Carolina), Asheville City SC, Greenville FC, Atlanta SC (formerly the Atlanta Silverbacks FC) and Chattanooga FC have been the clubs I’ve kept the closest watch on.

It’s been fun to map out the “must-sees” of the summer schedule and watch the rollout of players via Twitter.

However, my biggest fan-boost came just a couple of days ago when the NPSL Founders Cup released its fall schedule.

That made it finally seem “real.”

Actually, it’s been real for a while now; the NPSL officially announced its professional venture on Nov. 15, 2018. Still, for me, sporting endeavors don’t reach the “Hey, it’s happening!” stage until a schedule is put together, and a schedule is now what we have.

The Founders Cup begins with East Region play beginning on August 10, West Region action starting on August 24, and the tournament finale taking place on November 9.

That’ll set the table for a full season starting in the spring of 2020.

So ladies and gentlemen, let’s have a warm round of applause for Chattanooga FC, Detroit City FC, Miami FC, Miami United FC, Milwaukee Torrent and New York Cosmos in the East and ASC San Diego, Cal FC, FC Arizona, Napa Valley 1839 FC and Oakland Roots in the West.

Eleven clubs – not franchises or satellites from a single entity business model, but clubs – will chart a new course in American soccer. And the cool thing is, no one really knows where that path will lead.

That’s scary, I suppose, but it also opens the door for so much opportunity.

You can pick any club out of the 11 and find a lot to like.

Chattanooga FC, of course, started offering equity shares in the club earlier this year, and is more than halfway to its goal of $1,070,000 raised through fan ownership.

Yep, I bought in because I want to say I was part of American soccer’s new beginning. I have no illusions that I’ll be given a suite at Finley Stadium, but how sweet is it to think you got a chance to move some earth and alter the landscape?

And while it’s tempting to call CFC “America’s Team” because it now has owners across the country, international supporters have also staked their claim.

The footprint is big and getting bigger; from a soccer standpoint, the Scenic City is, indeed, making quite a scene.

And from a personal standpoint, I was thrilled the Cosmos jumped into the Founders Cup.

This is a “brand” I’ve followed since its original North American Soccer League days, and one I’ll continue to support.

While not an official member of the 5 Points, I’m still #ForeverGreen and forever grateful the Cosmos are reborn.

Chattanooga FC hosts the Cosmos on August 10, so my conscience will have to balance ownership and a newfound love for a club founded in 2009 against a passionate rooting interest that is well into its fifth decade.

I guess that’ll be existential angst I can work through on my 250-mile drive to the stadium.

And if you want to apply a really, really broad definition to promotion/relegation, you can say that Napa Valley 1839 FC is the first team in the NPSL to “move up.”

When California United Strikers FC withdrew from the Founders Cup and NPSL, Napa Valley made the jump from amateur to pro.

After spending this summer in the NPSL West Region Golden Gate Conference, its players will play for pay starting in the fall.

I know, I know … it’s really not a pro/rel situation, but there’s nothing wrong with projecting, especially when you’re talking about a league that gets to write its own history.

My hope for the immediate future is that the Founders Cup proves to be a successful launch of what we’re currently calling “NPSL Pro.” Beyond that, I envision passionate supporters transforming a league into a revolution.

While I have no clue how it will ultimately be structured, I’d love to see a day when clubs like Asheville City SC, Atlanta SC and Greenville FC can play their way up – and into – this league.

Ideally, I want fan ownership to be the rule, not the exception, and hope a time comes when the Beautiful Game can be as attractive as any town chooses to make it.

For now, though, I’m just happy the Founders Cup is taking shape.

Its schedule is official, so I’m officially on board.