Is it possible to start a semi-professional soccer club part-time?
In Episode 80 of the Because Football Podcast, we chat with Joey Lipoff and Charles Salazar, co-founders of Sunflower State FC, a USL 2 and WPSL club serving the Kansas City area. After meeting and playing together at Rockhurst University, Joey and Charles saw a need in the soccer community for affordable, high level team to give local standouts a platform to test their talents.
So, with just a small budget but huge desire to change up the local soccer scene, Joey and Charles were part of a small team that brought Sunflower State FC to life. Since starting a few years ago, the club has placed dozens of players into professional contracts and/or trials in the US and internationally.
In this episode, they share the challenges (and rewards) of running a 4th tier soccer club in their spare time - before clocking into work in the morning, during lunch breaks, and after long days at the office. But they also share why it’s worth it, why they continue improving their technical staff, as well as the matchday experience for local fans. Joey and Charles also share how they strive to support similar initiatives in the local area, such as collaborating with Kansas City Astras of MASL 3 women’s indoor soccer.
It’s an insightful and inspiring conversation that proves to anyone in the American soccer community that, with the right mission and dedicated people, it’s possible to turn even a humble Sunday league team into a product with more structure, organization, and professional exposure.
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