Andy Hayes - MWPL Commissioner
Andy Hayes talks. A lot. The sound quality on this episode is pretty poor, sadly. This is mainly due to Nik forgetting to plug his microphone in. So apologies for that.
Sep 01, 2022•52 min
Build It
Talking non-league US soccer with non-league US soccer people. Part of the Alliance podcast network.
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Episodes
Andy Hayes debriefs the MWPL AGM
All good things must come to an end. So, too, must poorly produced podcasts. Back for an unprecedented third appearance on the pod, John & Nik begrudgingly welcomed Andy Hayes back to Build It Towers. There's a lot of talk about administration. And dick bags. If you're Andy's mother, might want to give this one a miss. We'll be back in the Fall. Maybe the Winter. First, we have soccerballs to play!
Mar 09, 2022•50 min
Name, Image, Likeness with Zach Fisher
From July last year, new NCAA legislation cleared student-athletes to pursue name, image & likeness deals. As a result, every college athlete in the United States – across all divisions and sports - is now able to make money from endorsements and through a variety of other ventures, over-and-above the scholarship they receive from the college. According to ESPN, it is estimated that a typical NCAA athlete could be able to earn anywhere from $75,000 to $100,000 annually from their NIL; whilst...
Mar 04, 2022•53 min
In Conversation with ... Dennis Crowley, Kingston Stockade
Dennis is a guest we have wanted to have for a long time. His "Open Source Soccer" concept was a catalyst for so many in US lower league soccer today, including ourselves. In this conversation, we talk set up nightmares, on-field success, off-field trials, and there is an unseemly amount of talk about folding t-shirts.
Feb 24, 2022•54 min
#hergametoo - FIGHTING AGAINST SEXISM IN FOOTBALL
#HerGameToo is a campaign started in 2021 in the UK. It is run by a group of female football fans aiming to raise awareness of sexism in the game. In this episode we speak with Jenn Ramczyk as she works to launch the campaign in the US. Find out more #hergametoo Jenn : @jenns_design https://www.facebook.com/hergametoo/ https://www.hergametoo.co.uk
Feb 15, 2022•18 min
Building with Palm Beach Breakers
We spent an hour in the company of Christian Franek, who heads up Palm Beach Breakers. We speak about their super-distinctive lines of merch, what it takes to progress from local rec leagues to a national system like NISA, and what exactly day to day management of an amateur club looks like. Strap in!
Feb 08, 2022•53 min
Ivaldo Basso
Listen in as John and Nik talk with Ivaldo Basso of @SteelCityFC1 Ivaldo is a straight talker who pulls no punches about what growth the club looks like for his club.
Jan 31, 2022•1 hr 4 min
Jesse Cole - "Play A Game That You Can Win"
Our guest this week is Jesse Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment and owner of the Savannah Bananas, an independent baseball team playing in the Coastal Plain League. The Bananas have been awarded Organization of the Year, Business of the Year and won the CPL Championship in their first year. Fans First Entertainment has been featured on the INC 5000 lists as one of the fastest growing companies in America. His teams have welcomed more than one million fans to their ballparks and have been ...
Jan 25, 2022•49 min
Arik Housley - Napa Valley 1839
Our guest this week is Arik Housley of Napa Valley 1839. Having robbed DKCU of a place in the next round of the Copa Insignia, we connected to discuss the club, the community, and how to grow a club in the current environment. Full disclaimer here, technical issues which may or may not be related to my idiocy, meant that we are missing the first couple of minutes of the conversation. Apologies for that. All you need to know is that Arik and his colleagues elected to join the NPSL from the origin...
Jan 12, 2022•51 min
Dorian Lair - General Manager - Snohomish County Football Club
Our guest today is Dorian Lair, General Manager of Snohomish County Football Club, situated to the North West of Seattle, Washington. Fun fact, the movie War Games, which listeners of a certain age will be very familiar with, was filmed in art in Snohomish High School.
Dec 20, 2021•1 hr 9 min
The Volunteer Episode
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 th...
Nov 12, 2021•1 hr 12 min
League Admin with Brandon Ponchak of the Ohio Valley Premier League
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 ...
Nov 04, 2021•47 min
Building It with Jon Bisswurm - Minneapolis City SC
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.
Sep 30, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Building an Amateur Soccer Nation - Bill Marth
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
Apr 12, 2021•1 hr 1 min
Building with The Online rule
The Online Rule covers the best practices in digital marketing in sport.
Apr 05, 2021•1 hr 10 min
Build It with Offside Marketing
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 dev...
Mar 15, 2021•58 min
Building It with Stuart Fuller - Lewes FC
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!
Mar 08, 2021•1 hr 13 min
Zac Hines, First Flight League
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 ...
Mar 01, 2021•1 hr 16 min
Building It with Steve Bayley, Non League America
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.
Feb 22, 2021•1 hr 7 min
Building It with Evan Ramist, Maryland Bobcats
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.
Feb 16, 2021•1 hr 10 min
Building It with Jeremy Rushing - 10K Pitches
Soccer in Minnesota, and the importance of getting your roots in your community.
Feb 08, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Building It with LK St Clair
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.
Feb 01, 2021•1 hr 4 min
Building It with Michael Bochel - Scottish Football Marketing podcast
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 ...
Jan 25, 2021•1 hr 1 min
Build It - with Hayward United
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.
Jan 20, 2021•1 hr 14 min
Building It with Chris Kessell - Bearded
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...
Jan 15, 2021•35 min
Building It with Trent Siedenburg - Kirkland Goats
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!
Jan 07, 2021•1 hr 27 min
Midwest Premier League Commissioner Andy Hayes
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.
Dec 11, 2020•1 hr 5 min
Coach Mike Gecan talks squads, community and growing the game.
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.
Dec 01, 2020•1 hr 8 min
Adam Thelwell - Small Goal Soccer
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.
Nov 30, 2020•1 hr 9 min
Chatting with ... Adam Reakes, Speak Up FC
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.
Nov 23, 2020•59 min
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