Build It

We spend a lot of time in US non-league soccer thinking about the playing side. If you club is going to be sustainable long term, and if it is going to be something your community gets behind, then you need an army of volunteers. There is only so much you and your founder group can do. If you have fans, you have volunteers. And if you have volunteers, you have fans. But where do you find them, how do you create buy-in to the club ethos, and how do you ensure they stay around and help you grow the club? Tobi Johnson is an internationally sought after expert and master trainer in volunteer engagement. She is known for her modern thought leadership, highly practical evidence-based strategies, and innovative, “big hat” thinking around engaging, supporting, and acknowledging the work of volunteers. Her website volpro.net offers free resources to help nonprofit organizations improve performance and increase impact through the power of people. This may not be the episode you were expecting from a non-league soccer podcast. But it is perhaps the one it is most important that you will listen to today. Twitter Facebook Website

After untold technological issues, we're back. For how long, lord knows. So get us while we're good* The OVPL is the premier Adult Amateur soccer league in the IN, KY, OH, PA, WV region. Player development is a central focus of the League, as the league strives to promote the region at a national level. Along the way, we learn about what it takes to actually run a league, what clubs are looking for from leagues, and the remarkable lack of historied clubs in the Cincinnati area. *bang average at best.

Minneapolis have become the poster child for a lot of non league clubs in the US. From starting out as a tribute to an old high school teacher, to their recent announcement of fielding a team in USL2, they have worked hard to engage their local community and to give players a year-round program. Jon Bisswurm has been there since Day One, and we are grateful to him for taking time to chat about all of it with us.

How do we ingrain amateur soccer into the community as it is in the  other established soccer nations? Bill Marth has literally written the book. We talk the evolution of amateur soccer, and how the way amateur soccer can be reformed to grow the game, and foster sustainability and merit-based league play. Buy the book here

The Online Rule covers the best practices in digital marketing in sport.

Offside Marketing offer sports marketing services for teams looking to increase their awareness, marketing infrastructure and ticket sales.  Jason worked with Cleveland Soccer Club of the NPSL to assist with early marketing efforts and to help build team awareness for their first season. Offside Marketing was also the presenting sponsor for the 2021 Lower League eCup.   Jason offers expertise in numerous sports marketing services including sports marketing consulting, management & promotion development, and in this interview talks about about the creation of unique and efficient sports marketing programs for clubs interested in speaking to their audiences through sporting events. 

Lewes FC have led the way in community ownership for over a decade now. In this episode we hear about the trials and the tribulations of such an operation. How do you engage an ambivalent community? How do you prioritize between winning on the pitch, and succeeding off it? Stuart doesn't have all the answers, but it was great to hear things aren't any easier over there!

This week we are joined by Zac Hines, commissioner of the First Flight Football League. The First Flight League is a full season men's adult development league in North Carolina. Founded in 2020, the league gives a competitive home for numerous  clubs, players, and coaches looking to continue developing their skills  with a desire to continue playing after youth, high school, college or professional soccer.  We talk league admin, because why wouldn't you? And then run down our hopes and dreams for US soccer.

Anyone who is anyone in non league soccer knows about Steve's work. For nearly a decade Steve has been an informed voice in the community, telling untold stories and amplifying unheard voices. Today we get a little deeper into the man himself as we talk merch, politics, unity and business plans. It's a long and wide-ranging chat which we hope you enjoy.

In this chat with Evan, we cover the growth from Sunday League to full-time NISA, creating a youth program to create opportunities to play not just for the sake of a pipeline, and how hard you have to work to get a club established in your community.