Category: Sidewinder Insider

By Scott Adamson
Adamsonmedia.com

The inaugural season of the Asheville City Soccer Club was solid on and off the pitch.

Averaging nearly 2,000 fans at Memorial Stadium – led by the South Slope Blues supporters group – ACSC finished 3-6-3 and reached the National Premier Soccer League playoffs.

Not bad for a first-year club.

It was community soccer done well, and ultimately a NPSL success story.

Now under the guidance of Coach Mick Giordano, Asheville City looks for even better results as the 2018 campaign draws near.

“I think most people would say I’m a players’ coach,” said Giordano, a UNC Asheville alum who is also assistant men’s soccer coach at Wofford College. “I care about the guys on the team and want them to be successful. While I’m easy to talk to, I’m also intense during training and show my emotions. I hold our group to an extremely high standard and won’t settle for anything less. I want things done a certain way and I care about winning more than breathing. I know what the guys can achieve and want to be instrumental in helping them reach their goals as well as our standards.”

Back in the fold are last year’s leading goal scorer, Elma N’For, and assists leader Tom Deely. Once the full roster is set ahead of a May start, Giordano will decide what style best fits his team’s personality. He isn’t going into the season with a preconceived notion.

“In terms of a formation, I think it is completely based on personnel,” he said. “Too many people want to force a 4-3-3/3-5-2/4-4-2 down a team’s throat when they aren’t built for it. It’s mine and my staff’s job to make sure we put the boys in a formation they can find the most success. At the end of the day, it’s a players’ game and the players are the ones that count. It’s my responsibility to help them find ways to be successful. When we win games it will be because the players did the work and played for the badge.

“If we lose, it’s because I’ve made a mistake in our preparation and didn’t do what I needed to for the group to find success.”

ACSC learned Memorial Stadium provided a decided home field advantage a year ago, and Giordano says the bond between the city and its fans is a strong one.

“I’d say our supporters represent the city of Asheville,” he said. “The South Slopes Blues, our supporter group, is wonderful. They truly represent what we stand for as a club. That being said, we have numerous fans from out of town and watch our live stream every chance they can.”

And while Major League Soccer and the United Soccer League have established themselves as the darlings of the country’s soccer establishment, NPSL teams – like the one nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains – are carving out their own niche.

The mission statement of the league (which unofficially functions as a fourth division circuit) is, “to grow the sport of soccer in the United States of America by providing our members with a sustainable business model and professionally managed soccer platform, and by serving as an inspiration to players and soccer fans in our members’ communities.”

That philosophy is ideal for ACSC and keeps it a community-driven club.

“The NPSL is the perfect fit because it allows our club to grow, learn how to compete at a high level, build our brand, and bring in homegrown (youth players) from our local community along with some of the most talented players in the college game that come from all over the world,” Giordano explains. “The NPSL gives us a platform to understand how we need to operate, from ticket sales to recruiting and scouting without jumping straight into, say, a Division III or Division II level within U.S. Soccer and having to take our lumps.

“I think it’s a massive risk to jump straight to that level as a new club. You have no basis and no foundation. The NPSL allows us to build a foundation for our club in a regionalized league. I’d say our conference is one of the toughest in the entire league. So we’re battle tested every time we put on the City badge. We need to find success here and focus on the present before thinking of playing at a different level.”

On Friday, May 4, Asheville City hosts the Myrtle Beach Mutiny of the Premier Development League and begins NPSL regular season competition on May 8 when the Georgia Revolution comes to Memorial Stadium.

Both matches will give Giordano’s club a chance to build some early momentum in front of a partisan crowd. And it’ll establish even deeper ties between ACSC and its supporters.

“I think having a close bond with the team gives our community another opportunity to believe in something,” he said. “It gives them another reason to celebrate, hopefully. Or when we stumble, it ruins their day just as it does for the staff and players. I think it also brings the knowledge and love of the game to more people. Our country is behind the world in a lot of ways when thinking about football. Some of this has been seen with our failure to qualify for the World Cup. I think having a community club helps grow the game and will continue to inspire players to achieve more. It will raise the overall knowledge of the game.

“While there are more issues to fix in this country, improving the overall passion and interest in our game are two things that will help push us forward.”

For ticket information, go to ashevillecitysc.com.

Last week’s announcement that Greenville is a founding member in the United Soccer League’s new Division III circuit was met with plenty of excitement.

Gathering at Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research,  city officials, dignitaries and the Greenville chapter of American Outlaws listened to owner Joe Erwin talk about a “multimillion-dollar commitment” to the franchise, which begins play in 2019.

For a town that has already embraced its South Atlantic League baseball team, the Drive, there’s every reason to believe this new association football team in an American football hotbed will be an unqualified success.

The USL has legs, and they’re strong ones.

But while the Greenville TBAs won’t begin play for another year, Greenville FC – under the direction of Lander University coach Lee Squires – hits the pitch this May, representing the city’s entry in the National Premier Soccer League.

And if you truly care about soccer, you need to care about this team. Although the NPSL is more a blend of amateur and semi-pro teams scattered across North America, it also represents the sport in its most organic form.

Grassroots soccer in this country needs stronger roots, and I’m hoping those of us who live here in Greenville can do our part to help it grow locally.

I’ve already talked to several fellow soccer peeps who are experiencing a bit of angst when it comes to the NPSL club – part of the United States Soccer Federation’s unofficial fourth division – and the USL Division III entry.

Will those who fly the flag for Greenville FC this summer abandon them when D3 begins play next March?

Sure, some will.

But many won’t … and they shouldn’t.

A new supporters group, the Mill Town Operatives, is already behind Greenville FC and will be out in full force for home matches at Eugene Stone Stadium this season.

I also have a suspicion the local A.O. Chapter will be cheering and chanting for both teams starting in 2019 because these are the supporters who are passionate about U.S. soccer in whatever form it takes.

They’ll be able to share their loyalties – not split them.

And let’s not forget the “bang-for-your-buck” factor going forward.

Finances will be an attendance factor once Greenville’s soccer footprint doubles in size, and a family outing at an NPSL match will certainly be less expensive than spending an evening with the USL team.

For those who can afford both, great. You’ll see a lot of really good soccer

But for those who have to pick and choose, some will choose the more economical option.

That won’t mean they’ll be selling themselves short.

Greenville FC President, Marco Carrizales, played at Furman University and put an NPSL club in his adopted city to give community players a chance to be part of a community-driven team.

When Greenville FC faces Anderson University Saturday night in a “trialist exhibition” at the Kroc Center, many players who went through the high school and club ranks in Greenville will be battling for roster spots.

Those who earn them will be able to take their game to the next level without ever leaving the Upstate.

That’s what NPSL brings to the table, and that’s pretty cool. Ultimately, that’s the kind of soccer that makes soccer strong.

A couple of weeks ago in a column I wrote about how the sport is fragmented in the United States, I quoted a line from the soccer-themed movie “The Game of their Lives.”

It bears repeating here:

“You want to know why soccer is the world’s greatest sport? I’ll tell you why. Because all you need is the ball and an open space. You don’t need fancy equipment or special fields. You don’t have to be big or strong or tall. It’s the most democratic of all the sports. The people’s game. Your people’s game. And America’s game in the future.”

Greenville FC is our team in our town.

When they open the home portion of their regular season on May 12 against Inter Nashville FC, there will be players on the field you once saw play in high school and college.

Some will go on to bigger things, but all will be doing their part to make Greenville FC the biggest soccer thing going this summer.

It may lack the glitz and glamour of the franchise that arrives in 2019, but this is the team that’s right here, right now.

And I hope they’re here to stay.

For ticket information, go to gvlfc.com.

By Scott Adamson
adamsonmedia.com

Asheville, North Carolina, is known for spectacular fall colors, a year-round Bohemian vibe, and a community that embraces diversity.

Yet while it’s one of the nation’s top tourist destinations, this beautiful mountain region also has a rich history when it comes to The Beautiful Game.

This summer, the Asheville City Soccer Club women’s team hopes to add to that history.

Asheville City SC debuted in 2017 with a men’s entry in the National Professional Soccer League. This season its brand extends to the Women’s Premier Soccer League, with Stacey Enos guiding the fortunes of the fledgling squad.

“Asheville has UNC-Asheville, Mars Hill, Warren Wilson College and Montreat College, and not too far away is Brevard College and Western Carolina University,” Enos said. “I have found more alumni are staying locally after they graduate from college. The active outdoor lifestyle, mountains and eclectic views of our town is appealing to anyone interested in recreation and play.”

Enos is well aware of the soccer tradition in the area – especially since she is a part of it.

Enos was a member of North Carolina’s three NCAA championship teams during her days as a Tar Heel from 1982-86, and went on to play for the first United States Women’s National Team.

Her coaching career started at the University of Seattle in 1994 as an assistant, and she became head coach of Utah State in 1996.

Enos made her way to western North Carolina in 2001 when she took the reins of Warren Wilson College – coaching the Owls for 17 seasons.

It was during her playing career, however, when she learned just how important soccer was to Asheville.

“Personally and historically speaking, back in the 1980s when I was playing for UNC, we played in a match against Warren Wilson College,” Enos recalls. “While the women’s team was relatively new, their men’s team was impressive and well-known throughout the state. Additionally, Asheville hosted an indoor tournament called the Tournament of Friends, which started in the 1970s. It became one of the longest standing indoor tournaments in the country (35 years). It brought players and teams in from all over the country and put Asheville on the map for soccer.

“Now Asheville has a strong youth organization, and a great adult league. Both organizations host tournaments that bring in thousands of participants every year and notable tourism revenue to our city.”

Last season the Asheville City SC men developed a strong following, averaging 2,000 fans for home matches at Memorial Stadium with the South Slope Blues supporters group leading the cheers and the chants. Enos hopes her club will be able to inspire the same kind of enthusiasm.

“The men’s team had a good variety of supporters last year,” she said. “Fans can get a ticket to a game and have a beer and food for $15. The same holds true for a family and their budget. The atmosphere was alive and festive, and everyone feels welcome.”

The WPSL is considered the top developmental league for women’s soccer in the United States and Canada, and with more than 100 clubs across North America, it stands as the largest women’s league in the world.

At its core is a grassroots approach to the game, which helps develop strong ties between communities and their teams.

“Fans want something they can get behind, and every player wants an audience,” Enos said. “When our fans get rolling they are the 12th man on the field. Their enthusiasm elevates the level of play and gives players the extra leg they need to turn themselves inside out for the victory. In this sense, we’re all part of the team that contributes to the good of our community. Seeing a fan wearing his or her ACSC hat, scarf or shirt around town brings a sense of pride and ownership.

“For our region, the WPSL has a strong conference in the Carolinas, and it was a natural fit for us.”

The club has already made two high profile signings ahead of the 2018 campaign.

Midfielder Lydia Vandenbergh, who played professionally for the Chicago Red Stars and collegiately at Clemson, will be a key member of the inaugural squad.

Also on board is former Florida and USWNT U-23 and U-20 midfielder Parker Roberts.

The final roster will include a mix of talented veterans and younger players.

“Over the years, I’ve found that my underlying role and goal as a coach is to empower these young women to be the best they can be,” Enos said. “I do like possession soccer, and as a forward converted into a defender, I’m a fan of the 4-3-3 system. Having said that, your squad personnel often dictates your strengths and weaknesses. A coach needs to have the tactical awareness that plays into their strength.  I also enjoy creating space for players to have the freedom to be creative when they play soccer.

“I want my players to be able to solve tough decisions with the ball at their feet.”

The season begins on May 5 at 7 p.m. when ACSC hosts Chattanooga FC at Memorial Stadium. For season and single-game ticket information, go to ashevillecitysc.com.

Next week: The ACSC men’s team gears up for its second NPSL season.