When did you know you wanted to play professional soccer?
I knew as soon as I started playing for a traveling club soccer team in elementary school. I fell in love with the sport and knew I never wanted to stop.
What was your most memorable moment from your previous seasons?
That has to be last year. First winning the NASL Championship with the New York Cosmos, and then a month later the MLS Cup Championship with Seattle. Experiencing both was pretty crazy.
What is the biggest challenge for a defender?
It’s tough being the last line of defense because there’s no room for error. You have to be big at all times and read the game well.
What qualities will you bring to the team?
I hold a big presence in the air and I’m a well-rounded defender. I can also capitalize on free kicks and corners for some goals.
Who is your favorite player of all time?
Definitely Ronaldinho, that man was unreal. He is my biggest idol.
What do you look forward to most at Reno 1868 FC?
I’m excited to fight for a starting spot and make an impact on the team, while working to win the title.
Was there a deciding factor when choosing to play for 1868?
I knew it was a new team coming in and thought it would be awesome to be a part of something fresh and grow with the club. I’ve heard great things about the city of Reno and Coach Russell. I believe Reno 1868 FC will be an excellent organization to work with alongside the MLS affiliate, San Jose Earthquakes. I see big things coming for both teams.
Currently, Reno 1868 FC has signed seven players. With the first friendly against the San Jose Earthquakes x days away, many slots still need to be filled. As the wait continues, here is an update of all seven players we have signed thus far.
Dane Kelly
Position:Forward Hometown: Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica
Previous teams
Red Stripe Premier League Tivoli Gardens: 2010-2011
USL Charleston Battery: 2011-2015 Swope Park Rangers: 2016
Brenton Griffiths
Position:Defender Hometown:Spanish Town, Jamaica
College Tyler Junior College University of South Florida
Previous teams
MLS Colorado Rapids: 2013-2014
USL Orange County Blues: 2014-2016
Matt LaGrassa
Position: Midfielder Hometown:Elk Grove, CA
College California Polytechnic University
Previous teams
PDL Des Moines Menace: 2011-2012 Ventura County Fusion: 2013-2014
USL Sacramento Republic FC 2016 Tulsa roughnecks 2016 (loan)
Jordan Murrell
Position:Defender Hometown:London, England
College Syracuse
Previous teams
PDL Ocean City Nor’easters: 2013 K-W United FC: 2014
USL Real Monarchs: 2015 Pittsburgh Riverhounds: 2016
A hat trick. One of the most glorious accolades during a match. To pull off a hat trick one player must score three goals in a single match; not an easy feat. We know the term well, but where did it come from?
A hat trick originates from Cricket, whereby a player would take three wickets on three consecutive deliveries (scoring three times in a row). In 1909 a cricket player allegedly received a hat from his club commemorating the achievement.
An even earlier recollection of the term came from a drinking trick played in London.
A person would place a glass of liquor on a table, then cover it with a hat. This person then announces their intention to drink all the alcohol, but never touch the hat. The same person would get under the table, knock three times and make a gulping sound. After getting up from underneath the table, the individual would then challenge one of the witnesses to lift the hat. Someone would lift the hat, eager to see the task complete. As soon as this happens, the person previously under the table quickly takes the glass, swallows the contents and then exclaims “gentlemen I have fulfilled my promise: you are all witnesses that I did not touch the hat”.
Some may say that “soccer isn’t a real sport” or “soccer isn’t popular in the United States”, but we have some facts to prove otherwise.
Soccer ranks as the highest sport for social media engagement
Courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel
The NFL is the most popular sports league in the U.S., but in terms of social media, it doesn’t come close to top tier soccer teams. To give perspective, the entirety of the NFL (32 teams) has a combined social media following of 141 million followers between Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Barcelona-on its own-commands a following of 148 million. Who’s socially awkward now?
Among all youth sports, soccer has the highest enrollment
One would think the most popular sport in the U.S. would carry equal weight in youth enrollment, but as of right now, it doesn’t.
3,055,148 was the number ofyouth players officially registered with U.S. Soccer programs in 2014, an 89 percent increase since 1990. Enrollment of youth football had 2,169,000 participants recorded in 2015, close to a million less than youth soccer.
Also, the number of people who play soccer at some level in the U.S. is 24,472,778,placing the U.S. second behind only China in the world.
FIFA is the best selling, most played, sports video game in the U.S.
Do video games matter? Yes! Considering society’s electronic revolution, video games carry a heavy influence; so of course video games make a difference. Consider these facts.
960 million gamers play on a smartphone or mobile device
59 percent of parents play video games with their children weekly
On top of people that simply play video games, FIFA has changed the way professional athletes play the sport. Alex Iwobi, a teenage striker for the Premier League’s Arsenal, used the game as preparation against players he had never faced.
People not only play video games, they are willing to watch other people play them! In 2015, 27 million people watched the League of Legends Season 3 World Championship. This was more than the 2015 NBA finals’ viewership of 18 million.
Let’s not forget the most popular channels on YouTube are video game based, “let’s play” series, whereby a host will stream themselves playing a video game while others watch.
For a third year in a row, MLS broke its attendance record, averaging 21,692 in attendance across the league. In terms of average attendance, the MLS beat the NBA and NHL, ranking it as the third-most attended sport in the U.S.
The Seattle Sounders also ranked within the top 30 soccer teams in the world in average attendance, at 43,547, beating many international giants, including Chelsea.
Premier League clubs to top NFL TV earnings by 2017
A few years ago it would have have been hard to watch a Premier League match on TV, but now EPL currently holds a massive TV deal in the U.S., broadcasting matches on networks such as NBC and FOX.
In 2015, it was reported that European football revenues added up to 80 percent of the four major U.S. sports (football, baseball, basketball and soccer). If one factors several U.S. national players involvement in soccer abroad and the international market of soccer, the EPL’s revenue totals are sure to pass.
Greater Nevada Field will serve as the host for a United Soccer League regular-season match between Sacramento Republic FC (5-3-3) and Real Monarchs SLC (4-5-4) this Saturday, June 11. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Tickets are still available online.
Adam Jahn scored for Republic FC on Wednesday. (Photo: Sacramento Republic FC)
This is the second-ever soccer match at Greater Nevada Field, and the first to showcase the future closest geographic rivals of Reno 1868 FC. This match gives fans a chance to experience another professional soccer match in the Biggest Little City before Reno 1868 begins play in March of 2017. Halftime will feature the unveiling of Reno 1868’s home kit, with kits and other merchandise going on sale at the team shop following the presentation.
The match will mark the second meeting between Republic FC and the Monarchs this season. The first came on Wednesday at Bonney Field in Sacramento, where Republic FC took a 1-0 win. Just two minutes into the second half, Adam Jahn slid in front of a defender and sent the ball into the back of the net for the only goal of the night. The Monarchs’ Cameron Iwasa nearly scored in the 60th minute but was denied by the crossbar, leading to Republic FC’s victory.
Our second installment of “Fùtbol Faces” for Reno 1868 FC features our newest Account Executive, Robert Ritchie.
Hailing from Falkirk, Scotland, Ritchie came to Reno 1868 FC on April 4, 2016. When he’s not busy dressed in his kilt playing the bagpipes or participating in the Highland Games, he’s focused on building Reno’s soccer franchise from the ground up (and taking home free grass from the field when he can: shout-out to Grounds Crew #Clutch). It comes as a complete shock to everyone that his favorite movie is, in fact, NOT Braveheart, but is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
So let’s get in the Celtic spirit and learn more about Ritchie.
Previous Jobs?
Coca Cola – Account Manager
Favorite Sports Team?
Falkirk FC
Favorite Soccer Player? Kevin McAllister & Kenny Dalglish
Favorite place in Reno/Tahoe area besides Greater Nevada Field, Why? Pyramid Lake because it is a great camping spot
Celebrity Crush?
Ronda Rousey
College Attended/Degree Earned:
Dundee University – Criminal Justice
Go-to Restaurant?
Pegs
You won’t know it from the picture, but Robert’s strong accent would bring a Holly Holm-like head-kick knockout to Ronda Rousey. (David Calvert/Reno 1868 FC)
Greatest Accomplishment to Date? Once drove 1,200 miles from Falkirk, Scotland to Mongolia
Three words to describe yourself? Ambitious, determined, immigrant
Best sporting event ever been to? 1997 Scottish Cup Final
Mentor/Look up to? Why? Dad – he’s everything a dad should be
Superpower? What would it be? Shockingly, Ritchie doesn’t watch superhero movies but if selling large quantities of soccer season tickets was a super power, that would be his
Favorite thing about your job? Being a part of building a franchise from the ground up
Hobbies? Trips in his motor home
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Reno 1868 FC in some capacity
Our first-ever “Fùtbol Faces” post for Reno 1868 FC comes courtesy of our first-ever Reno 1868 FC Account Executive, John Wermeling.
Wermeling, from Fort Collins, CO and a proud Metropolitan State University of Denver alum, joined the Reno 1868 FC staff January 6, 2016. Prior to his move to Reno, Wermeling worked in the athletic department at MSU Denver as a ticket manager. There are many that describe him as ambitious, loyal, and funny, but everyone in the front office knows where those attributes reach their greatest potential: the Top Deck Restaurant at the Cal-Neva (his favorite spot in Reno besides Greater Nevada Field) for their delicious menu, convenient 24 hours a day operating hours and good times with good buddies.
Let’s find out more about John Wermeling.
Favorite Sports Team? Arsenal FC
Favorite Soccer Player? Cesc Fabregas (before he played at Chelsea)
Celebrity Crush? Adele & Aaron Rodgers
College Attended/Degrees Earned? MSU Denver – BA, Sports Industry Operations; Sports Journalism Minor
Go-to Restaurant? Obviously Top Deck at the Cal-Neva (He’s trying to venture out…recommendations are encouraged)
Favorite Movie? Superbad
John resembles a character straight out of Superbad, yeah? (David Calvert/Reno 1868 FC)
Greatest Accomplishment to date? 5A Colorado State Soccer Championship
Best Sporting Event Ever Been To? Snow Clasico – U.S. vs. Costa Rica world cup qualifier in Denver at the Colorado Rapids’ Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
Mentor? My former MSU Denver professor Miss Nicole Furuiye
Superpower? Laser Eyes like Cyclops from X-Men
Favorite thing about your job? Being a part of building a franchise and everything that it entails
Hobbies? Being outdoors, watching sports, hanging out with friends, and reading
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Working in the sports industry and advancing my career
Words to live by? The 5 F’s: Family Friends Fun Fùtbol Football
