July 10, 2025 • 30 mins
A soccer revolution is brewing on Long Island, and the American Soccer Club New York is at its center. In this revealing conversation, host Jim Kilmeade welcomes Sporting Director Brian Neumeier to reflect on the club's inaugural season and share their bold vision for rekindling Long Island's soccer heritage.
Neumeier, a Suffolk County native who witnessed firsthand the region's golden era of soccer talent, brings decades of coaching experience from his successful career in Connecticut. From building championship high school programs to managing national title-winning clubs, his journey embodies the grassroots passion that ASC hopes to cultivate.
The discussion ventures beyond typical season recaps to explore something more profound: how soccer's commercialization has created barriers to participation and development. While modern "academies" chase the elite 5% of players, smaller community clubs maintain the pure joy of the game. ASC positions itself as the bridge between these worlds, aiming to create accessible pathways without excessive cost barriers.
What truly sets this conversation apart is its authenticity. When Neumeier shares, "We stayed true to the vision and didn't chase wins... that is not going to be how this club is ever defined," it reveals an organization measuring success differently. Through community appearances, youth engagement, and genuinely accessible players, ASC is building meaningful relationships one interaction at a time.
For anyone who believes soccer should be more than just business, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on what's possible when community takes center stage. As Neumeier poignantly reflects: "One goal makes that much of a difference to what we accomplished... we look at wins and losses and we're much deeper than that."
Discover how American Soccer Club is working to reclaim Long Island's soccer identity and create something that transcends the scoreboard. Follow their journey as they aim to conduct 100 community appearances this offseason and develop the next generation of local talent through authentic connection.
Thank you for listening! Visit us at ASCNewYork.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Good morning everyone and welcome to the American
Soccer Club Zone on 98.3 KJOYradio.
98.3 in Farmedale, new York,great radio station, iconic
station here in Long Island.
We're excited for this showtoday.
We've had an incredibleAmerican Soccer Club season and
that's what this show is basedon, but it's also based on
(00:29):
everything American soccer andeverything soccer in general.
First thing we'd like to do isthank our sponsors that made
this all possible, starting withLifeVac, our Jersey Front
partners.
Lifevac have saved over 4,000lives to date.
Another Massapequa Long Islandfounder and CEO, artie Lee, and
his LifeVacers around thecountry are on a mission to save
(00:51):
lives.
The American Stock Club areproud partners in that noble
endeavor.
Our other incredible partner,which is on the back of our
jerseys Orland Cohen OrthopedicGroup.
We've kept them busy this yearwith a bunch of injuries nothing
too serious, thank God butthey're a division of Northwell
Health and a phenomenal,phenomenal group.
Our Jersey-backed partnersthey're incredible.
(01:12):
Erland Cohen, and also LongIsland-based, came out of here.
All of our doctors arefantastic, state-of-the-art
facilities.
They help our athletes get backin the game.
Our uniform and apparel partnerin our first partnership that
we really forged in this journeywith launching the American
Soccer Club in 2025 is Macron.
(01:33):
The Bologna Italy-based Macronis also based in Bridgeport,
connecticut, just a ferry ridefrom our headquarters here in
Long Island, and they have beenjust a fantastic partner and
these are all long-term partnersthat we started out with.
We also have some other greatpartners and there's a theme to
all of our partners they're verymuch local, because that's what
(01:54):
we're all about.
The Bongiorno Law Firm inGarden City is also Long
Island's best personal injurylaw firm and A-Turf America's
top synthetic turf manufacturer.
A-turf fields last in industry,leading 14.5 years.
They're a Buffalo Bills stadiumto the Sousa FC Orlin Cohen
sports complex.
A-turf provides a playingsurface most like natural grass
(02:15):
in pristine condition.
Pqe Soccer Partners are thearchitects of the American
Soccer Club New York.
Kevin Reardon and Jim Kilmeadefounded that organization 10
years ago and have helped launchthe American Soccer Club New
York this year.
And, of course, todd Shapiroand Associates the top PR agency
, probably in the country butdefinitely in the New York
metropolitan East Coast area.
Incredible people and greatpartnership that has helped us
(02:40):
really have unprecedentedcoverage for a first-year lower
division men's premier soccerteam in the United States.
Thank you, todd Shapiro andAssociates.
Our producer is Marcus Ferreiraand he's our guy today.
But our special guest today isBrian Neumeier.
Brian Neumeier is not only afriend of mine, but he's an
incredibly accomplished soccerperson and he's got Long Island
(03:03):
roots and he's going to tell youall about them.
Incredibly accomplished soccerperson and he's got Long Island
roots and he's going to tell youall about them.
They started in Suffolk County,was part of a generation of
probably some of the mosttalented players that have ever
come out of Long Island.
Brian Neumeyer will tell youabout that.
But Brian also is the directorof operations of the men's
soccer team at Sacred HeartUniversity in Bridgeport,
connecticut.
Beautiful school, fantasticschool.
(03:23):
He's also our sporting directorand consultant with the
American Soccer Club.
He's been invaluable inlaunching the club.
Hey, brian, welcome to the show.
Thanks, jim for having me.
Feel free to use your LongIsland accent if you haven't
lost it in Connecticut, livingthere all these years now.
Feel free to just let it be alittle bit and relax.
Carry those arms whateveryou've got to do.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
It's been so comfortable to be back on the
island more than I have been inthe past, you know, just
shooting back and connectingwith old friends and colleagues
and teammates, all because ofthis project so excited to be
part of, you know, the growth orthe rebirth of Long Island
(04:03):
soccer which is, and New Yorksoccer in general, with American
Soccer Club.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Yeah, brian, I think you can see, and you have been
spending a lot of time on theferry and then driving around,
which is no fun, but it'susually been a great destination
.
But the good news is a lot ofthe teams that we played this
year have been Connecticut.
We have two of the better teamsthat are actually now in the
conference finals Hartford andNew Haven.
New Haven, we had beaten andtied and lost, and Hartford, who
(04:30):
we lost 2-4-3 and tied 1-1.
So you know our club is veryclose to being at the top of the
heap.
But this year was a greatlearning experience and before
we get into that, I'd just likeyou to share a little bit about
your history.
You grew up to soccer clubs.
You played for a couple of keycoaches that influenced you big.
I do know you played in theLong Island Select Program when
it was the marquee program,maybe in lower New York.
(04:51):
State.
I know Doc Lawson was a coach,but why don't you take it back
to how old were you when youfirst started to play?
Speaker 2 (04:58):
You know what I think , like everyone, you have that
older brother or that oldercousin that you know kind of
drags you into it.
And especially back when westarted to play there were some
ethnic groups that you know theyjumped into it immediately.
But me, being an American onLong Island, that opportunity
(05:19):
didn't really come from thecommunity.
It came from my older cousinwho in his own right was a
pretty good soccer player at StAnthony's and then went on to
play at Dowling College, mikeGibbons.
But you know I saw him playingand I jumped into it and from
the go, you know, just fell inlove with the sport, like we all
(05:42):
do and why we're all still partof it.
But you know those earlyexperiences with Long Island
Junior, it's really what shapedmy competitive foundation.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
What was your local club that you started with?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Local.
I started with Sachem.
Sachem, sachem Warriors, yeah,tomahawks.
The team above us was a girlsteam that had national exposure.
Some really good players onthat team.
Joe Scali's mom was on thatteam, margaret.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Margaret, yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Margaret Perrine.
She was on that Tomahawks teamthat had national exposure back
in the day 1971 girls team.
I played on the 72 boys teamthat.
We went to regionalchampionships, won eight
championships and then fromthere, with Long Island Select
(06:38):
still being what it was, it'snot even I don't know if it even
exists anymore.
I don't know if it even existsanymore.
But it was really at the time away to collect the best players
and put them in one arena andone team.
And I think that the vision ofAmerican Soccer Club because
back then one-iron select didn'treally cost any money and there
(07:02):
weren't a lot of paid coacheswhen they played the last didn't
really cost any money and thereweren't a lot of paid coaches
when they played.
So everything these were allfree or very, very minimally,
minimum charges to the clubs andopportunities.
So from there we we made anall-star team called the
Bayshore Express and that's theone that kind of took off at U16
(07:26):
through U19.
And you know, I think weprobably had 16, 17 college
players from, you know, nationalchampionship players at the D2
level Myself, richie, wisdom,court Weinstein, george Kiefer,
reynolds, martin, and the NorthCarolina Santa Clara University
(07:47):
of Virginia, rutgers, you know,st John's.
We covered it all.
It was a great club and a greattime to be around, the golden
era of Long Island youth soccer,like you said.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
It really was.
And the age group before youwas so strong and the couple
years after you was so strongand a couple of years after you
was so strong, and in that mixwere the Travis Rinkers and the
Kevin Andersons.
Oh, absolutely yeah and I cango on and on and slightly
different age groups.
You had the Mark Semiolis up inHoppog and Tommy Lips, mike
Masters out of Wheatley, it wasreally an incredible era and
(08:24):
you've heard me say this a lot,but in some ways we have more
good players now, but I don'tthink we have more really
high-level players, as you cameup with.
And, as I said, I'm a few yearsahead of you older than you is
probably a better way to say itbut I remember that and I
remember coaching in Long IslandSelect as an assistant coach
and you had the top coaches inthe country in our area, from
(08:46):
Bob Montgomery, tommy Lang, youknow.
We had Frank Schnoor fromFordham.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
You had all these great coaches coaching in.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Select and man.
It was unbelievable.
And then what's happened iswe've kind of bit of a now that
the game is so advanced.
It has advanced in so many ways, but in some ways I felt Long
Island has kind of lost its way.
We don't have the identity thatwe had when you grew up or even
the generations after you, andthat's one of the reasons we
feel there's such a great placefor the American Soccer Club New
(09:16):
York to become that championthe flag the banner for the
players around here.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Well, I think what we're trying to create and the
vision that we have is, in someways, to bring that Long Island
select back.
How do we create a central poolof talent which we have?
None of us played On otherclubs or in different leagues.
(09:44):
We were all part of Long IslandJunior, we were all part of
Long Island Select the bestplayers.
None of that pool of playerswent anywhere else.
And you know, I think from acompetitive standpoint, a
community standpoint, we allreally love to play with each
(10:04):
other and against each other andwe need to kind of bring that
back.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Right, and it was one of the reasons that we were
able to back in the 90s andagain in the mid-2000s to put a
franchise together, which I washappy to have named and created
with a couple of attorneyscalled the Rough Riders, which
was essentially a lot of theguys you grew up with and you
played with.
We just brought them back homeand in some cases we the chris
(10:31):
armistice was coming right outof college at the time that we
were starting and then and therest is history.
it's a different time now, butthe formula, I think, is similar
, very similar, I agree, I agree.
Hey, before we get into moreamerican soccer club stuff,
which which is this show is allabout, I would like to say that
the, the college game, is such adifferent game.
Now too, I'm a Hofstra guy.
I played when they were calledthe Flying Dutchman, when people
didn't think that was anoffensive name, and now it's
(10:52):
called something else called thePride.
But you played at SouthernConnecticut, which is a national
powerhouse forever, and nowyou've been coaching in high
school.
Can you take us through brieflyall the coaching that you've
done in Connecticut, if you can?
Speaker 2 (11:07):
I only have a half-hour show but I'm sure you
can get it in so briefly, mycoaching career.
I got married and moved fromLong Island up here, began
coaching at the high schoollevel in 1997.
And I worked in a town, very,very community-orientated called
Newtown, Worked there for 20years.
(11:29):
I built a program that wasnamed one of the top ten
programs of the decade byDanbury News-Times.
At one point we had 200 winsand five losses Incredible, yeah
, in a five-year run.
But again, all down to theplayers and the grassroots.
(11:49):
We had one player actually goon to Wake Forest and win a
national championship at WakeForest and he was also named the
Herman Trophy winner at Wake.
His name is Marcus Tracy.
Probably the best player everto come out of Connecticut came
out of our program.
What's his name?
Marcus Tracy.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Oh yeah, I remember that name.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Yeah, Just a tremendous player, you know.
And he went on.
He would have been the numberone pick in the MLS and he chose
to go play overseas.
And he was in our national teampool for a little bit and
unfortunately, due to injuries,he just could never really get
it going.
So at 27, he retired early,prematurely.
(12:32):
He now works for the MLS in somekey roles, but from there,
within that time, I founded oneof the most successful premier
programs in Connecticut calledSamba TTP.
Premier program in Connecticutcalled Samba TTP.
We later merged withConnecticut Football Club which
(12:55):
I was a partner, an owner, acoach with over 90 teams
throughout the state ofConnecticut.
Recently I moved out of thatposition.
During that time I was alsohelping out as an assistant
coach at Post University, anational powerhouse at the
Division II level.
A great friend of mine, TeddyHaley, is the head coach there.
And I also worked as a headcoach at a prep school local
(13:16):
called Fairfield Prep for threeyears and I've since then taken
on the role of director ofsoccer operations at Sacred
Heart D1 program where my sonalso played there for four years
.
My other son, Andrew, played atGettysburg for three years.
So I have I wear a lot ofdifferent hats in terms of being
(13:38):
part of all levels of soccer,from youth soccer to high school
soccer to college soccer, tobeing a parent of two collegiate
soccer athletes, and then alsoI had experience previously as a
national championship generalmanager, as you did with the
Rough Riders.
I held that position for theElm City Express in 2017, when
(14:02):
we won it, and now my role withSacred Heart is, you know,
fundraising, volunteering withthe community, overseeing
logistics, recruitment, support,anything that I can do off the
field for our coaching staff,and then on game days, I'm part
of game analysis and I'm on thesideline with the guys.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Yeah, it's quite an extensive career formed by just
passion too, and obviouslyyou're a teacher as well, been
for a long time an educator.
This is perfect.
It just shows what you can doin education.
When you have passion for otherthings, they work out perfectly
well with your educationalcareer.
Is it fair of me to ask youwhat your most memorable role is
(14:46):
, or roles in all of this, fromthe youth to the college, to the
high school, to the city andthe MPSL?
Speaker 2 (14:56):
That's a fair question, but I think, with our
experiences and you couldprobably reflect back and look
at all these too all of themhave something that has really
deep meaning.
You know, a state championshipwith the Newtown High School
team and going undefeated anddoing all those things was
(15:18):
amazing.
It was amazing.
Youth championships going outand playing in Colorado
representing Connecticut with mytwo boys as part of the club
and being amazing.
You know, post-universitywinning back-to-back-to-back
conference championships,fairfield prep, state semifinals
(15:39):
, losing in penalties likeeverything about soccer, I don't
think there's a bad day whenyou're part of it, even if
you're on the losing side.
It's all just part of yourfabric and your being and your
story of who you are, and that'swhy we keep coming back to it
and I love doing it.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Yeah, it's great.
Well, obviously, you have to doit for love.
This is not a money grab, thisis not anything.
You put a lot into it, you helpa lot into it, you help a lot
of kids and you mentor a lot ofkids and you build a reputation
in the sport which you have.
And, yeah, and I think that'spart of what we're trying to put
together with the AmericanSoccer Club of New York this
year is that we've, you know, asporting committee coach as an
(16:17):
advisor, mark Lugers, 16-17-year professional playing
career, fordham grad and a UEFAcoaching license.
Yeah, so we have these guys inPru Karishi and Perry Vanderbeek
(16:44):
and Jim Rooney to advise us.
And then, internally, we haveobviously Kevin, my managing
partner, with a great soccerbackground of his own, but also
a really great real estatefinancial background, to support
the club's infrastructure ofwhere we're going to be going
and needing sometimes, sometimesin the very near future and
yourself and others is one ofthe reasons we're so encouraged.
Although we didn't achieve oneof our goals, which is to get to
(17:06):
the playoffs this year, weultimately had a successful
season as far as accomplishingthe fact that we have done
something that hasn't been donein a while.
This is a different kind of anorganization.
What do you think the strengthsof from your position as a kind
of a sporting director and aconsultant here?
I'm really happy to help withanything, brian.
I know you're always willing tohelp in any area we're working
(17:28):
with, whether it be with playersor commercial partners, and
that probably is going to evolveover time.
You know, as we are technicallyour first offseason, what do
you think some of the mostmemorable things that will be
foundational for us goingforward from your perspective?
You know, looking, although youengage with the team and all
the administration for the team,you're also involved in some
off-the-field projects as well.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Yeah, I think the vision of ASC, where we're
trying to really connect withall youth systems we don't care
what the acronyms are, we don'tcare where they are, what
they've done we want to be thereto offer a competitive,
(18:13):
community-driven platform forall of the people that want to
be involved with us.
And I think you know we didthat right off the cuff, right
in year one, with bringing in alocal 16-year-old right, dylan
Lopez, where he came in to thefold.
No, he's not giving, ourplayers are not giving those
(18:38):
opportunities if we're notoffering them.
And that's what we're going tobe able to do for Long Island
and, you know, the greater metro, hopefully, as they start to
come out, and we can providethose opportunities for them.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Good to hear more and if you're just tuning in,
you're listening to the AmericanSoccer Club Zone here in New
York, farming Dale, here atWKJOY 98.3 on your FM dial.
Your host is Jim Kilmeade.
That's me listening to andspeaking with our great guest,
brian Neumeyer, long Islandnative and prodigious
(19:15):
Connecticut soccer coach andeducator, and now all together
with our team here at LongIsland American Soccer Club, new
York.
So, brian, we looked at yeah,we felt just short, literally
just short, a goal or two shortin our final game to get into
the playoffs.
I look forward to next year.
I wish it was starting in amonth because I think that's.
I know Coach John Fitzgeraldfeels that way, our players feel
(19:37):
that way, so we're going tolook to bolster the team, make
it better.
But I will tell you that we'vedone over 30 appearances in
season because we really haven'thad an all season.
We've been involved with thebiggest clubs in LGN, atlantic
FC, sousa Massapequa Soccer Club.
We've also been involved withvery small clubs like West
(19:59):
Hempstead and Limbrook, eastRockaway, showtime Training
Academy, wonderful people and,flashing back from my own career
, the difference now, with allthe soccer we have and all the
money and all the careers andall the other stuff that we can
lament and or celebrate or alittle bit of both is that I'm
(20:20):
finding that the enthusiasm gapis huge and some of these little
community clubs that are notfighting for that top 5% players
, they've really got it right.
They're just selling the sportand the experience of playing
the sport and having friends.
They're not worried about someof the things that we've been
talking about by winning a statechampionship or even being a
(20:42):
player who's going to play incollege or high school, and I
find that that always existed.
But I found now, because of theway things have happened in this
country, the way soccer has nowquote-unquote academies, which
is a name that probably needs tobe retitled because it doesn't
mean what it used to mean.
You can just say you're anacademy and you're an academy
now, but it used to be.
An academy was a higher levelof an organization and in many
(21:05):
cases, fully funded, which iswhat we will have at the
American Soccer Club sooner thanlater Fully funded academy.
If we can find that next, joeScali and maybe Dylan Lopez will
be one of our first playersthat we are able to launch and
help his dream come true inSpain.
But I found the enthusiasm inWest Hempstead and in East
Rockaway.
These are the clubs that cameto us.
(21:26):
They came to us on their ownand then we actually gave back
to their community and I findthis amazing that that is.
The biggest difference I'venoticed this year is that those
groups don't even know about MLSNext 1 or 2 or 3.
So what's your thoughts onwhere things are at?
And, as I said, we only haveone show to do this in.
What's your thoughts on wherethings are at?
(21:47):
And, as I said, we only haveone show to do this in?
When you see MLS 1, mls 2, mls,there's going to be a 3 and a 4
.
And I know it's in.
Connecticut too.
In fact you have thatBridgeport team, See Connecticut
Football Club, I believe it'scalled.
Is that right?
Speaker 2 (22:00):
No, that's correct.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Yeah, where they're going to be launching an MLS
quote-unquote next pro teamwhich will be a Division III
team.
They have a youth academy outthere.
Now how do you see this allaffecting not only what we're
doing here with the AmericanSoccer Club but the American
soccer in general?
And I guess we just focus onConnecticut and Long Island
right now?
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Yeah Well, just real quick, I'm going to just back up
.
You know, I'm sure people thatare listening are soccer people,
so they're watching thistournament that they thought was
going to flop this summercalled the Club World Cup.
Yesterday Real Madrid playedPSG and the day before it was
(22:42):
Chelsea-Germany.
So if you look in the standsand the passion of 70,000 people
watching this game, these arethe Rockaway youth players.
These are the, you know, WestHempstead youth players that are
becoming.
They're not going to benecessarily professionals, but
(23:04):
they're going to build the sportbecause they're going to be
fans of the sport.
They're going to buy the sportand that's what grows the sport
too.
So we can't always just look at,you know, training and trying
to find the.
We need people to watch, weneed people to be passionate
about it, and it comes fromplayers that you know, people
that have played a little bit.
(23:25):
Their kids have played.
These volunteers, these greatvolunteers that you've mentioned
, all these clubs that have cometo our games, and that also
grows the sport and we can'tlose sight of that.
But going back to your question, with all of these leagues and
(23:46):
the last one and two, it's theWild West.
Right now we don't know wherethis is going to go.
What we do know is, globally,clubs that have real development
don't have excessive costbarriers.
So meaning, in Germany, inHolland, in France, these
(24:08):
players, at whatever level, getto enjoy the sport for free.
And here we understand thatit's business as usual and all
these decisions are reallydriven not necessarily always
for the good of the sport, butreally just for the check at the
(24:29):
end.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
I agree, and that's where we come in, and I think
some of the successes that we'llbe putting down in writing and
analyzing in a more detailed way, going forward for the American
Soccer Club in its first yearin the National Premier Soccer
League, the NPSL, is we'veliterally we have made some.
we've given some young players,coaches, moms and dads some
(24:53):
great experiences, primarily ongame days, whether it be at
Allegheny Elementary School inLindenhurst where I saw a
connection made between one ortwo of our players and a handful
of kids that resulted in themcoming to a game against
Hartford and autographs beinggiven.
I know that is something thatgoes home and that poster goes
on the wall.
(25:13):
So there is no fast way ofdoing this, but I did see quite
a bit of traction inrelationships building because
our players are accessible, andthey're going to be even more
accessible next year because nowwe have an off-season to go out
and work in the community andmake more relationships.
It still comes down to personalcontact, in my opinion,
personally, and now we're goingto go out there and our goal is
(25:33):
to do 100 appearances, which wewill not charge for, and run two
or three programs.
That will be part of thefoundational success which you
know.
You'll be part of thosemeetings, brian, as you know,
and we're going to all come upwith the best ideas.
No one has the only thing butmeetings, brian, as you know,
and we're going to all come upwith the best ideas.
No one has the only thing, buttogether I think we'll come up
with some good ideas to help getthis club to the next level.
So I don't know what yourthoughts are how would you sum
(25:54):
up the season as we come to theend of our show here today?
Speaker 2 (25:57):
How do we sum up the season?
I think we've accomplished muchmore than I thought we would in
the time frame and the runwaywe gave ourselves.
You know, you and Kevin havedone a phenomenal job dreaming
this up and making it a reality,but when you wake up and it is
(26:22):
a reality, it's a lot differentthan the dream.
We run into a ton of issuesthat you know not disclosing
what those are that we ran intothis year, but we overcame them
all.
No one really could see it,even if it was on a game day
blip, and we put out the bestproduct that we can and we
(26:45):
stayed true to the vision ofwhat this club is going to be
and we didn't chase wins.
We want to win, of course, butthat is not going to be how this
club is ever defined.
It has to be about all theother stuff.
It has to be about thecommunity bringing the right
(27:07):
people into the group, whichyou've done a phenomenal job,
and the only reason that I loveto be a part of it is because
there's such great people, thepeople that I've known in the
past, like Coach Montgomery,that I had when I was 12 years
old or 14 years old and playedfor him on Long Island Select.
Years old and played for him onLong Island Select.
(27:31):
You know, to reignite thoserelationships or to find new
ones within the group has justbeen tremendous.
And as that continues, deepercommunity ties, making sure the
players feel seen, supported,mentorship, outreach, club
development.
We've done all of that, thebest that we can and I'm proud
(27:56):
of everything that went on inthose areas.
On the field, yeah, bumps andbounces, a goal here, a goal
there, and it looks different.
But I was at a.
This is a great story.
I was at a retirement for CoachDekranian and Bob Dekranian is
(28:17):
the godfather of Connecticutsoccer.
People don't know Connecticutsoccer and Ray Reed stood up and
told a story.
Bob Dekranian didn't like todrive, he didn't like to fly, so
he always flew down.
I mean, drove down to thenational championship in Florida
.
He drove down, they lost.
(28:37):
He drives home Two years later,drives down, they win, and he's
driving home and he saidsomething to when he got back.
He's like you know, the wholetime I'm thinking a goal makes
that much of a difference.
(28:58):
One goal makes that much of adifference to what we
accomplished.
He's like he didn't.
He appreciated the nationalchampionship, but he was just as
proud of the team that made itto the final.
He appreciated the nationalchampionship, but he was just as
proud of the team that made itto the final, and I think
sometimes we lose sight of that.
Such a good point, brian.
We look at wins and losses andwe're much deeper than that.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
That is such a good point, because that is exactly
the difference.
And listen, brian, youmentioned that we have put a lot
of great people in and aroundthe organization and you're one
of those people and you're oneof the reasons we've established
ourselves.
I will tell all of our fans forthe American Soft Club New York
on the American Soft Club NewYork Zone today that there's an
upcoming piece on Dylan and theclub.
(29:39):
Dylan Lopez and the club on CBSSports is coming out in the
coming days and also on Monday.
Tomorrow will be my brother,brian, and I, as he's an
investor with our club, will begiving an interview on Fox 5 New
York at 6 o'clock.
So we've gotten quite a bit ofattention.
New York Post has beenphenomenal.
Alex Mitchell, and maybe we'llget one of those guys on here.
(30:00):
But, brian, listen, it's been apleasure.
Thank you for coming on todayand making some time.
The best is yet to come for theAmerican Soccer Club.
Thanks for having me.
I'd like to thank once again mygreat producer here, marcus
Faria, and our sponsor isLifeVac.
Orlin Korn Orthopedic Group, adivision of Northwell Health,
macron, the incredible MacronCompany, frangiano Law Firm,
(30:20):
a-turf, bqe Soccer Partners and,of course, last but not least,
todd Shapiro Associates and 98.3KJOY Radio here in Farmedale,
new York.
We'll see you next week.
This is Jim Kilmeade signingoff from the American Soccer
Club Zone.
See you next week.
Good morning everyone and welcome to the American
Soccer Club Zone on 98.3 KJOYradio.
98.3 in Farmedale, new York,great radio station, iconic
station here in Long Island.
We're excited for this showtoday.
We've had an incredibleAmerican Soccer Club season and
that's what this show is basedon, but it's also based on
(00:29):
everything American soccer andeverything soccer in general.
First thing we'd like to do isthank our sponsors that made
this all possible, starting withLifeVac, our Jersey Front
partners.
Lifevac have saved over 4,000lives to date.
Another Massapequa Long Islandfounder and CEO, artie Lee, and
his LifeVacers around thecountry are on a mission to save
(00:51):
lives.
The American Stock Club areproud partners in that noble
endeavor.
Our other incredible partner,which is on the back of our
jerseys Orland Cohen OrthopedicGroup.
We've kept them busy this yearwith a bunch of injuries nothing
too serious, thank God butthey're a division of Northwell
Health and a phenomenal,phenomenal group.
Our Jersey-backed partnersthey're incredible.
(01:12):
Erland Cohen, and also LongIsland-based, came out of here.
All of our doctors arefantastic, state-of-the-art
facilities.
They help our athletes get backin the game.
Our uniform and apparel partnerin our first partnership that
we really forged in this journeywith launching the American
Soccer Club in 2025 is Macron.
(01:33):
The Bologna Italy-based Macronis also based in Bridgeport,
connecticut, just a ferry ridefrom our headquarters here in
Long Island, and they have beenjust a fantastic partner and
these are all long-term partnersthat we started out with.
We also have some other greatpartners and there's a theme to
all of our partners they're verymuch local, because that's what
(01:54):
we're all about.
The Bongiorno Law Firm inGarden City is also Long
Island's best personal injurylaw firm and A-Turf America's
top synthetic turf manufacturer.
A-turf fields last in industry,leading 14.5 years.
They're a Buffalo Bills stadiumto the Sousa FC Orlin Cohen
sports complex.
A-turf provides a playingsurface most like natural grass
(02:15):
in pristine condition.
Pqe Soccer Partners are thearchitects of the American
Soccer Club New York.
Kevin Reardon and Jim Kilmeadefounded that organization 10
years ago and have helped launchthe American Soccer Club New
York this year.
And, of course, todd Shapiroand Associates the top PR agency
, probably in the country butdefinitely in the New York
metropolitan East Coast area.
Incredible people and greatpartnership that has helped us
(02:40):
really have unprecedentedcoverage for a first-year lower
division men's premier soccerteam in the United States.
Thank you, todd Shapiro andAssociates.
Our producer is Marcus Ferreiraand he's our guy today.
But our special guest today isBrian Neumeier.
Brian Neumeier is not only afriend of mine, but he's an
incredibly accomplished soccerperson and he's got Long Island
(03:03):
roots and he's going to tell youall about them.
Incredibly accomplished soccerperson and he's got Long Island
roots and he's going to tell youall about them.
They started in Suffolk County,was part of a generation of
probably some of the mosttalented players that have ever
come out of Long Island.
Brian Neumeyer will tell youabout that.
But Brian also is the directorof operations of the men's
soccer team at Sacred HeartUniversity in Bridgeport,
connecticut.
Beautiful school, fantasticschool.
(03:23):
He's also our sporting directorand consultant with the
American Soccer Club.
He's been invaluable inlaunching the club.
Hey, brian, welcome to the show.
Thanks, jim for having me.
Feel free to use your LongIsland accent if you haven't
lost it in Connecticut, livingthere all these years now.
Feel free to just let it be alittle bit and relax.
Carry those arms whateveryou've got to do.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
It's been so comfortable to be back on the
island more than I have been inthe past, you know, just
shooting back and connectingwith old friends and colleagues
and teammates, all because ofthis project so excited to be
part of, you know, the growth orthe rebirth of Long Island
(04:03):
soccer which is, and New Yorksoccer in general, with American
Soccer Club.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Yeah, brian, I think you can see, and you have been
spending a lot of time on theferry and then driving around,
which is no fun, but it'susually been a great destination
.
But the good news is a lot ofthe teams that we played this
year have been Connecticut.
We have two of the better teamsthat are actually now in the
conference finals Hartford andNew Haven.
New Haven, we had beaten andtied and lost, and Hartford, who
(04:30):
we lost 2-4-3 and tied 1-1.
So you know our club is veryclose to being at the top of the
heap.
But this year was a greatlearning experience and before
we get into that, I'd just likeyou to share a little bit about
your history.
You grew up to soccer clubs.
You played for a couple of keycoaches that influenced you big.
I do know you played in theLong Island Select Program when
it was the marquee program,maybe in lower New York.
(04:51):
State.
I know Doc Lawson was a coach,but why don't you take it back
to how old were you when youfirst started to play?
Speaker 2 (04:58):
You know what I think , like everyone, you have that
older brother or that oldercousin that you know kind of
drags you into it.
And especially back when westarted to play there were some
ethnic groups that you know theyjumped into it immediately.
But me, being an American onLong Island, that opportunity
(05:19):
didn't really come from thecommunity.
It came from my older cousinwho in his own right was a
pretty good soccer player at StAnthony's and then went on to
play at Dowling College, mikeGibbons.
But you know I saw him playingand I jumped into it and from
the go, you know, just fell inlove with the sport, like we all
(05:42):
do and why we're all still partof it.
But you know those earlyexperiences with Long Island
Junior, it's really what shapedmy competitive foundation.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
What was your local club that you started with?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Local.
I started with Sachem.
Sachem, sachem Warriors, yeah,tomahawks.
The team above us was a girlsteam that had national exposure.
Some really good players onthat team.
Joe Scali's mom was on thatteam, margaret.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Margaret, yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Margaret Perrine.
She was on that Tomahawks teamthat had national exposure back
in the day 1971 girls team.
I played on the 72 boys teamthat.
We went to regionalchampionships, won eight
championships and then fromthere, with Long Island Select
(06:38):
still being what it was, it'snot even I don't know if it even
exists anymore.
I don't know if it even existsanymore.
But it was really at the time away to collect the best players
and put them in one arena andone team.
And I think that the vision ofAmerican Soccer Club because
back then one-iron select didn'treally cost any money and there
(07:02):
weren't a lot of paid coacheswhen they played the last didn't
really cost any money and thereweren't a lot of paid coaches
when they played.
So everything these were allfree or very, very minimally,
minimum charges to the clubs andopportunities.
So from there we we made anall-star team called the
Bayshore Express and that's theone that kind of took off at U16
(07:26):
through U19.
And you know, I think weprobably had 16, 17 college
players from, you know, nationalchampionship players at the D2
level Myself, richie, wisdom,court Weinstein, george Kiefer,
reynolds, martin, and the NorthCarolina Santa Clara University
(07:47):
of Virginia, rutgers, you know,st John's.
We covered it all.
It was a great club and a greattime to be around, the golden
era of Long Island youth soccer,like you said.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
It really was.
And the age group before youwas so strong and the couple
years after you was so strongand a couple of years after you
was so strong, and in that mixwere the Travis Rinkers and the
Kevin Andersons.
Oh, absolutely yeah and I cango on and on and slightly
different age groups.
You had the Mark Semiolis up inHoppog and Tommy Lips, mike
Masters out of Wheatley, it wasreally an incredible era and
(08:24):
you've heard me say this a lot,but in some ways we have more
good players now, but I don'tthink we have more really
high-level players, as you cameup with.
And, as I said, I'm a few yearsahead of you older than you is
probably a better way to say itbut I remember that and I
remember coaching in Long IslandSelect as an assistant coach
and you had the top coaches inthe country in our area, from
(08:46):
Bob Montgomery, tommy Lang, youknow.
We had Frank Schnoor fromFordham.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
You had all these great coaches coaching in.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Select and man.
It was unbelievable.
And then what's happened iswe've kind of bit of a now that
the game is so advanced.
It has advanced in so many ways, but in some ways I felt Long
Island has kind of lost its way.
We don't have the identity thatwe had when you grew up or even
the generations after you, andthat's one of the reasons we
feel there's such a great placefor the American Soccer Club New
(09:16):
York to become that championthe flag the banner for the
players around here.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Well, I think what we're trying to create and the
vision that we have is, in someways, to bring that Long Island
select back.
How do we create a central poolof talent which we have?
None of us played On otherclubs or in different leagues.
(09:44):
We were all part of Long IslandJunior, we were all part of
Long Island Select the bestplayers.
None of that pool of playerswent anywhere else.
And you know, I think from acompetitive standpoint, a
community standpoint, we allreally love to play with each
(10:04):
other and against each other andwe need to kind of bring that
back.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Right, and it was one of the reasons that we were
able to back in the 90s andagain in the mid-2000s to put a
franchise together, which I washappy to have named and created
with a couple of attorneyscalled the Rough Riders, which
was essentially a lot of theguys you grew up with and you
played with.
We just brought them back homeand in some cases we the chris
(10:31):
armistice was coming right outof college at the time that we
were starting and then and therest is history.
it's a different time now, butthe formula, I think, is similar
, very similar, I agree, I agree.
Hey, before we get into moreamerican soccer club stuff,
which which is this show is allabout, I would like to say that
the, the college game, is such adifferent game.
Now too, I'm a Hofstra guy.
I played when they were calledthe Flying Dutchman, when people
didn't think that was anoffensive name, and now it's
(10:52):
called something else called thePride.
But you played at SouthernConnecticut, which is a national
powerhouse forever, and nowyou've been coaching in high
school.
Can you take us through brieflyall the coaching that you've
done in Connecticut, if you can?
Speaker 2 (11:07):
I only have a half-hour show but I'm sure you
can get it in so briefly, mycoaching career.
I got married and moved fromLong Island up here, began
coaching at the high schoollevel in 1997.
And I worked in a town, very,very community-orientated called
Newtown, Worked there for 20years.
(11:29):
I built a program that wasnamed one of the top ten
programs of the decade byDanbury News-Times.
At one point we had 200 winsand five losses Incredible, yeah
, in a five-year run.
But again, all down to theplayers and the grassroots.
(11:49):
We had one player actually goon to Wake Forest and win a
national championship at WakeForest and he was also named the
Herman Trophy winner at Wake.
His name is Marcus Tracy.
Probably the best player everto come out of Connecticut came
out of our program.
What's his name?
Marcus Tracy.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Oh yeah, I remember that name.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Yeah, Just a tremendous player, you know.
And he went on.
He would have been the numberone pick in the MLS and he chose
to go play overseas.
And he was in our national teampool for a little bit and
unfortunately, due to injuries,he just could never really get
it going.
So at 27, he retired early,prematurely.
(12:32):
He now works for the MLS in somekey roles, but from there,
within that time, I founded oneof the most successful premier
programs in Connecticut calledSamba TTP.
Premier program in Connecticutcalled Samba TTP.
We later merged withConnecticut Football Club which
(12:55):
I was a partner, an owner, acoach with over 90 teams
throughout the state ofConnecticut.
Recently I moved out of thatposition.
During that time I was alsohelping out as an assistant
coach at Post University, anational powerhouse at the
Division II level.
A great friend of mine, TeddyHaley, is the head coach there.
And I also worked as a headcoach at a prep school local
(13:16):
called Fairfield Prep for threeyears and I've since then taken
on the role of director ofsoccer operations at Sacred
Heart D1 program where my sonalso played there for four years
.
My other son, Andrew, played atGettysburg for three years.
So I have I wear a lot ofdifferent hats in terms of being
(13:38):
part of all levels of soccer,from youth soccer to high school
soccer to college soccer, tobeing a parent of two collegiate
soccer athletes, and then alsoI had experience previously as a
national championship generalmanager, as you did with the
Rough Riders.
I held that position for theElm City Express in 2017, when
(14:02):
we won it, and now my role withSacred Heart is, you know,
fundraising, volunteering withthe community, overseeing
logistics, recruitment, support,anything that I can do off the
field for our coaching staff,and then on game days, I'm part
of game analysis and I'm on thesideline with the guys.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Yeah, it's quite an extensive career formed by just
passion too, and obviouslyyou're a teacher as well, been
for a long time an educator.
This is perfect.
It just shows what you can doin education.
When you have passion for otherthings, they work out perfectly
well with your educationalcareer.
Is it fair of me to ask youwhat your most memorable role is
(14:46):
, or roles in all of this, fromthe youth to the college, to the
high school, to the city andthe MPSL?
Speaker 2 (14:56):
That's a fair question, but I think, with our
experiences and you couldprobably reflect back and look
at all these too all of themhave something that has really
deep meaning.
You know, a state championshipwith the Newtown High School
team and going undefeated anddoing all those things was
(15:18):
amazing.
It was amazing.
Youth championships going outand playing in Colorado
representing Connecticut with mytwo boys as part of the club
and being amazing.
You know, post-universitywinning back-to-back-to-back
conference championships,fairfield prep, state semifinals
(15:39):
, losing in penalties likeeverything about soccer, I don't
think there's a bad day whenyou're part of it, even if
you're on the losing side.
It's all just part of yourfabric and your being and your
story of who you are, and that'swhy we keep coming back to it
and I love doing it.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Yeah, it's great.
Well, obviously, you have to doit for love.
This is not a money grab, thisis not anything.
You put a lot into it, you helpa lot into it, you help a lot
of kids and you mentor a lot ofkids and you build a reputation
in the sport which you have.
And, yeah, and I think that'spart of what we're trying to put
together with the AmericanSoccer Club of New York this
year is that we've, you know, asporting committee coach as an
(16:17):
advisor, mark Lugers, 16-17-year professional playing
career, fordham grad and a UEFAcoaching license.
Yeah, so we have these guys inPru Karishi and Perry Vanderbeek
(16:44):
and Jim Rooney to advise us.
And then, internally, we haveobviously Kevin, my managing
partner, with a great soccerbackground of his own, but also
a really great real estatefinancial background, to support
the club's infrastructure ofwhere we're going to be going
and needing sometimes, sometimesin the very near future and
yourself and others is one ofthe reasons we're so encouraged.
Although we didn't achieve oneof our goals, which is to get to
(17:06):
the playoffs this year, weultimately had a successful
season as far as accomplishingthe fact that we have done
something that hasn't been donein a while.
This is a different kind of anorganization.
What do you think the strengthsof from your position as a kind
of a sporting director and aconsultant here?
I'm really happy to help withanything, brian.
I know you're always willing tohelp in any area we're working
(17:28):
with, whether it be with playersor commercial partners, and
that probably is going to evolveover time.
You know, as we are technicallyour first offseason, what do
you think some of the mostmemorable things that will be
foundational for us goingforward from your perspective?
You know, looking, although youengage with the team and all
the administration for the team,you're also involved in some
off-the-field projects as well.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Yeah, I think the vision of ASC, where we're
trying to really connect withall youth systems we don't care
what the acronyms are, we don'tcare where they are, what
they've done we want to be thereto offer a competitive,
(18:13):
community-driven platform forall of the people that want to
be involved with us.
And I think you know we didthat right off the cuff, right
in year one, with bringing in alocal 16-year-old right, dylan
Lopez, where he came in to thefold.
No, he's not giving, ourplayers are not giving those
(18:38):
opportunities if we're notoffering them.
And that's what we're going tobe able to do for Long Island
and, you know, the greater metro, hopefully, as they start to
come out, and we can providethose opportunities for them.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Good to hear more and if you're just tuning in,
you're listening to the AmericanSoccer Club Zone here in New
York, farming Dale, here atWKJOY 98.3 on your FM dial.
Your host is Jim Kilmeade.
That's me listening to andspeaking with our great guest,
brian Neumeyer, long Islandnative and prodigious
(19:15):
Connecticut soccer coach andeducator, and now all together
with our team here at LongIsland American Soccer Club, new
York.
So, brian, we looked at yeah,we felt just short, literally
just short, a goal or two shortin our final game to get into
the playoffs.
I look forward to next year.
I wish it was starting in amonth because I think that's.
I know Coach John Fitzgeraldfeels that way, our players feel
(19:37):
that way, so we're going tolook to bolster the team, make
it better.
But I will tell you that we'vedone over 30 appearances in
season because we really haven'thad an all season.
We've been involved with thebiggest clubs in LGN, atlantic
FC, sousa Massapequa Soccer Club.
We've also been involved withvery small clubs like West
(19:59):
Hempstead and Limbrook, eastRockaway, showtime Training
Academy, wonderful people and,flashing back from my own career
, the difference now, with allthe soccer we have and all the
money and all the careers andall the other stuff that we can
lament and or celebrate or alittle bit of both is that I'm
(20:20):
finding that the enthusiasm gapis huge and some of these little
community clubs that are notfighting for that top 5% players
, they've really got it right.
They're just selling the sportand the experience of playing
the sport and having friends.
They're not worried about someof the things that we've been
talking about by winning a statechampionship or even being a
(20:42):
player who's going to play incollege or high school, and I
find that that always existed.
But I found now, because of theway things have happened in this
country, the way soccer has nowquote-unquote academies, which
is a name that probably needs tobe retitled because it doesn't
mean what it used to mean.
You can just say you're anacademy and you're an academy
now, but it used to be.
An academy was a higher levelof an organization and in many
(21:05):
cases, fully funded, which iswhat we will have at the
American Soccer Club sooner thanlater Fully funded academy.
If we can find that next, joeScali and maybe Dylan Lopez will
be one of our first playersthat we are able to launch and
help his dream come true inSpain.
But I found the enthusiasm inWest Hempstead and in East
Rockaway.
These are the clubs that cameto us.
(21:26):
They came to us on their ownand then we actually gave back
to their community and I findthis amazing that that is.
The biggest difference I'venoticed this year is that those
groups don't even know about MLSNext 1 or 2 or 3.
So what's your thoughts onwhere things are at?
And, as I said, we only haveone show to do this in.
What's your thoughts on wherethings are at?
(21:47):
And, as I said, we only haveone show to do this in?
When you see MLS 1, mls 2, mls,there's going to be a 3 and a 4
.
And I know it's in.
Connecticut too.
In fact you have thatBridgeport team, See Connecticut
Football Club, I believe it'scalled.
Is that right?
Speaker 2 (22:00):
No, that's correct.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Yeah, where they're going to be launching an MLS
quote-unquote next pro teamwhich will be a Division III
team.
They have a youth academy outthere.
Now how do you see this allaffecting not only what we're
doing here with the AmericanSoccer Club but the American
soccer in general?
And I guess we just focus onConnecticut and Long Island
right now?
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Yeah Well, just real quick, I'm going to just back up
.
You know, I'm sure people thatare listening are soccer people,
so they're watching thistournament that they thought was
going to flop this summercalled the Club World Cup.
Yesterday Real Madrid playedPSG and the day before it was
(22:42):
Chelsea-Germany.
So if you look in the standsand the passion of 70,000 people
watching this game, these arethe Rockaway youth players.
These are the, you know, WestHempstead youth players that are
becoming.
They're not going to benecessarily professionals, but
(23:04):
they're going to build the sportbecause they're going to be
fans of the sport.
They're going to buy the sportand that's what grows the sport
too.
So we can't always just look at,you know, training and trying
to find the.
We need people to watch, weneed people to be passionate
about it, and it comes fromplayers that you know, people
that have played a little bit.
(23:25):
Their kids have played.
These volunteers, these greatvolunteers that you've mentioned
, all these clubs that have cometo our games, and that also
grows the sport and we can'tlose sight of that.
But going back to your question, with all of these leagues and
(23:46):
the last one and two, it's theWild West.
Right now we don't know wherethis is going to go.
What we do know is, globally,clubs that have real development
don't have excessive costbarriers.
So meaning, in Germany, inHolland, in France, these
(24:08):
players, at whatever level, getto enjoy the sport for free.
And here we understand thatit's business as usual and all
these decisions are reallydriven not necessarily always
for the good of the sport, butreally just for the check at the
(24:29):
end.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
I agree, and that's where we come in, and I think
some of the successes that we'llbe putting down in writing and
analyzing in a more detailed way, going forward for the American
Soccer Club in its first yearin the National Premier Soccer
League, the NPSL, is we'veliterally we have made some.
we've given some young players,coaches, moms and dads some
(24:53):
great experiences, primarily ongame days, whether it be at
Allegheny Elementary School inLindenhurst where I saw a
connection made between one ortwo of our players and a handful
of kids that resulted in themcoming to a game against
Hartford and autographs beinggiven.
I know that is something thatgoes home and that poster goes
on the wall.
(25:13):
So there is no fast way ofdoing this, but I did see quite
a bit of traction inrelationships building because
our players are accessible, andthey're going to be even more
accessible next year because nowwe have an off-season to go out
and work in the community andmake more relationships.
It still comes down to personalcontact, in my opinion,
personally, and now we're goingto go out there and our goal is
(25:33):
to do 100 appearances, which wewill not charge for, and run two
or three programs.
That will be part of thefoundational success which you
know.
You'll be part of thosemeetings, brian, as you know,
and we're going to all come upwith the best ideas.
No one has the only thing butmeetings, brian, as you know,
and we're going to all come upwith the best ideas.
No one has the only thing, buttogether I think we'll come up
with some good ideas to help getthis club to the next level.
So I don't know what yourthoughts are how would you sum
(25:54):
up the season as we come to theend of our show here today?
Speaker 2 (25:57):
How do we sum up the season?
I think we've accomplished muchmore than I thought we would in
the time frame and the runwaywe gave ourselves.
You know, you and Kevin havedone a phenomenal job dreaming
this up and making it a reality,but when you wake up and it is
(26:22):
a reality, it's a lot differentthan the dream.
We run into a ton of issuesthat you know not disclosing
what those are that we ran intothis year, but we overcame them
all.
No one really could see it,even if it was on a game day
blip, and we put out the bestproduct that we can and we
(26:45):
stayed true to the vision ofwhat this club is going to be
and we didn't chase wins.
We want to win, of course, butthat is not going to be how this
club is ever defined.
It has to be about all theother stuff.
It has to be about thecommunity bringing the right
(27:07):
people into the group, whichyou've done a phenomenal job,
and the only reason that I loveto be a part of it is because
there's such great people, thepeople that I've known in the
past, like Coach Montgomery,that I had when I was 12 years
old or 14 years old and playedfor him on Long Island Select.
Years old and played for him onLong Island Select.
(27:31):
You know, to reignite thoserelationships or to find new
ones within the group has justbeen tremendous.
And as that continues, deepercommunity ties, making sure the
players feel seen, supported,mentorship, outreach, club
development.
We've done all of that, thebest that we can and I'm proud
(27:56):
of everything that went on inthose areas.
On the field, yeah, bumps andbounces, a goal here, a goal
there, and it looks different.
But I was at a.
This is a great story.
I was at a retirement for CoachDekranian and Bob Dekranian is
(28:17):
the godfather of Connecticutsoccer.
People don't know Connecticutsoccer and Ray Reed stood up and
told a story.
Bob Dekranian didn't like todrive, he didn't like to fly, so
he always flew down.
I mean, drove down to thenational championship in Florida
.
He drove down, they lost.
(28:37):
He drives home Two years later,drives down, they win, and he's
driving home and he saidsomething to when he got back.
He's like you know, the wholetime I'm thinking a goal makes
that much of a difference.
(28:58):
One goal makes that much of adifference to what we
accomplished.
He's like he didn't.
He appreciated the nationalchampionship, but he was just as
proud of the team that made itto the final.
He appreciated the nationalchampionship, but he was just as
proud of the team that made itto the final, and I think
sometimes we lose sight of that.
Such a good point, brian.
We look at wins and losses andwe're much deeper than that.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
That is such a good point, because that is exactly
the difference.
And listen, brian, youmentioned that we have put a lot
of great people in and aroundthe organization and you're one
of those people and you're oneof the reasons we've established
ourselves.
I will tell all of our fans forthe American Soft Club New York
on the American Soft Club NewYork Zone today that there's an
upcoming piece on Dylan and theclub.
(29:39):
Dylan Lopez and the club on CBSSports is coming out in the
coming days and also on Monday.
Tomorrow will be my brother,brian, and I, as he's an
investor with our club, will begiving an interview on Fox 5 New
York at 6 o'clock.
So we've gotten quite a bit ofattention.
New York Post has beenphenomenal.
Alex Mitchell, and maybe we'llget one of those guys on here.
(30:00):
But, brian, listen, it's been apleasure.
Thank you for coming on todayand making some time.
The best is yet to come for theAmerican Soccer Club.
Thanks for having me.
I'd like to thank once again mygreat producer here, marcus
Faria, and our sponsor isLifeVac.
Orlin Korn Orthopedic Group, adivision of Northwell Health,
macron, the incredible MacronCompany, frangiano Law Firm,
(30:20):
a-turf, bqe Soccer Partners and,of course, last but not least,
todd Shapiro Associates and 98.3KJOY Radio here in Farmedale,
new York.
We'll see you next week.
This is Jim Kilmeade signingoff from the American Soccer
Club Zone.
See you next week.
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