Build It

Soccer in Minnesota, and the importance of getting your roots in your community.

From tiny acorns come big dreams. Rooted in the heart of their community, LK St Clair come in to 2021 with lofty aspirations. Social media and fan engagement is huge topic of conversation, as is positioning yourself within the community.

This is a chat you won't want to miss.  As part of the Scottish FA's digital team, Michael has a huge potential audience. But he brings that knowledge base and skill set to the  Scottish Football Marketing podcast where he and colleague Chris Samson look at all the different things clubs across the country, of all sizes, are doing to increase their fanbase. Scottish football is more than Rangers and Celtic, and their pod should be required listening for anyone involved in nonleague soccer, in any country. Search for the Scottish Football Marketing pod wherever you get your listens. @michaelbochel @chrissamson18

Hayward, a town of little more than 2000 inhabitants, has big ideas for their soccer club. Here, we talk growth, plans, rebranding and community engagement. It was a great session, and their development should serve as inspiration to all of us.

In this episode, we are joined by one of the leading lights of US non-league soccer, Chris Kessell. As a listener to this podcast, Chris should really need no introduction to you. A staunch advocate for pro/rel, a massive voice in his regional organizations, and a passionate youth coach to boot, there are many strings to Chris' bow. We had hoped to do justice to this renaissance man, but sadly time got the better of us, this time round.  Anyway, we obviously spoke pro/rel for a bit. But don't let that put you off. There are also some male grooming tips and a book recommendation in here too. Something for everyone, as they say.

We spent 90 minutes or so with Trent Siedenburg of Kirkland Goats from the Pacific NorthWest. Of course we talked coffee, but also sponsorship, job roles, game day experience and a whole bunch of other stuff.  Enjoy! 

The MWPL has spent this prolonged off-season working hard. Clubs both new and historic have been eager to sign up, and whether it has been the reduced price of entry, the reduced travel or the talk of inter-club cooperation in running the league, Andy Hayes has been behind the scenes making the fledgling league a viable concern. We learn how he got involved, what running a league actually involves, and what the what future holds.

Coach Gecan has been with Dekalb County United since the start, and as such is ideally placed to see how far we have come, and to steer us toward his vision of the future. Mike speaks passionately and honestly about his time before taking the reigns, as well as his hopes for the future of club and country.

A conversation with Adam Thelwell, who has set up Small Goal Soccer and seeks to provide a professional experience for rec players across the country. Adam also runs A Healthy Obsession blog. We talk about both in this wide-ranging, and hugely informative chat.

Mental health is a subject of which so many of us are aware. Today, more than ever, it is a subject that we need to be talking about. And that is exactly what Adam Reakes is trying to get us to do. His fledgling project is called Speak Up FC, and he spent an hour with John and Nik talking about it, his hopes for the future, and how it draws all his plans together.