USL Feature
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
F.C. NEW YORK
Coach: Matt Weston
2010 Season: N/A
The Lowdown – An expansion franchise, F.C. New York will almost certainly face a stern test in its first season in USL PRO. However, Weston is optimistic that the groundwork he has put in during the past nine months will pay off in results on the field.
“The past nine months have been a fantastic journey,” Weston told USLSoccer.com recently. “The challenge of putting together a roster from scratch is something which we as a club have relished as you are trying to find the pieces of a puzzle, ensuring you bring in the right quality and characters who are going to mesh quickly from individuals into a team.”
Weston said the club has scouted more than 250 players, leaning heavily on a network of college coaches that Weston has developed since being named F.C. New York’s Technical Director. Coaches from outside the U.S. have also assisted Weston, allowing him to add players such as Owen Morrison and Colin Roche from Ireland.
Key Additions – The club’s first captain will be Paul Shaw, and his experience and leadership will be crucial to a side that contains a lot of young talent. A graduate of the Arsenal Academy, Shaw went on to have a long and productive career in the English Championship, most prominently for Millwall where he scored 25 goals in a little more than 100 games.
Weston is also hopeful that his club will have some young leadership, pointing to the trio of Karsten Smith, Troy Cole and Josiah Snelgrove. Cole, who played in 29 games for AC St. Louis a season ago and before that played in the USL Premier Development League for the Atlanta Blackhawks, will likely be an important figure for his new club this season.
The Coach’s Opinion – “Doug Petersen, Jo-Ellen Treiber and I want this club to be a success long term and we are putting together the building blocks to help cement a bright future for FC New York. When I took the job my first thought was how quickly can we compete and do well in this highly competitive league. We have brought in players who we believe have the attitude, hunger and temperament to do well, and I have told them from day one, fight for each other and fight to earn the right to get a result on that field.” – Weston
If it all goes to plan – Life is always tough for expansion franchises, and with a strong group facing them in the National Division, F.C. New York will do well to buck that trend. However, Weston brings a great enthusiasm to the squad that could become contagious. If it does, some of their opponents might be in for some tougher nights than they’d think.