Under the Lights: Gaffa FC (GCPL)

Gaffa FC play in the Gulf Coast Premier League - when were you founded and when did you join the GCPL?

Gaffa Football Club started in 2007. Originally, we were known as MS Legends, Last Call Legends, Wing Nuts, then Ceta Fuego and finally settling for Gaffa FC. We started off competing in 7v7 or small-sided tournaments and we would switch our name around, but the group of guys remained the same. Ceta Fuego was our 11-sided squad that competed in the Hispanic League, La Liga, in Jackson. We were the only non-Hispanic team in the league and we definitely ruffled feathers when we took home the cup. We made our debut in the Gulf Coast Premier League in 2017 after Jonathan Rednour pretty much dragged us into it. I am kidding. He sold us on his vision of expanding an adult football league across the southern states that border the Gulf Coast. We also won the entire league in our debut season and we somehow lost The Cup that same night...? hmm

How did you come up with the name of your club? What does it mean and what do the colors and other elements of your badge represent?

Well, one of our owners, Brian Strong, was always organizing pick up matches and indoor tournaments. He was responsible for getting the kits, water, gear, anything and everything that a squad needed to compete and win. So, the British guys nicknamed Brian, gaffa or The gaffa, which means the boss. It started off as a joke and with time it stuck around. Eventually Gaffa became our permanent club name. During the initial process of joining the GCPL it is required of the applicant to submit a club badge. Well, we never had a legitimate one so we had trouble coming up with one. Luckily, Jonathan Rednour helped us with the design. In its simplest form our badge is the City of Jackson flag. The gold star in the middle signifies Jackson as the state capital; the center filled with blue because Jackson’s location along the Pearl River; the white cross is the city’s designation as “Crossroads of the South; and the green field represents growth, prosperity, hope & the football pitch. The year 2013 was added by accident – it was the year we won our first 11-a-side trophy lol it should say 2007 for our founding year, but it makes us younger than we really are.

From their time in the local Hispanic league, La Liga

Some clubs rely on college athletes, some draw from local talent, and some bring players up through a youth program - do you have a youth program and where do you get your players from?

The youth program that we are a part of is Mississippi Rush. Although they just completed a merger with a couple youth programs to form Mississippi Rush United. We are technically the senior team. The college players vary from Mississippi College, Belhaven University, Millsaps College, and the regionally known William Carey University. For the 2020 season we actually had an influx of JUCO, specifically Jones CC, players try out and on the verge of making the squad. The talent is in Mississippi – just need to be patient and find the right system to develop youth.

In lower league soccer we have all kinds of teams, some have loads of fans and a large social media presence, while others are brand new or otherwise unknown. in your few years of existence, have you developed a following? Do you sell merchandise? If not, is that something on your radar?

We have primarily focused on developing a top-quality squad with the players that stick around MS. Our following is produced by MS Rush United since the majority of our players are coaches within the Academy. So, when coach plays Saturday evening a lot of the young players will show up with the family witnessing a high level of football. We are actually in the middle of finalizing our new website – we had lost our domain, but luckily recovered it. Our revised website will have merchandise on it – specifically training tops, stickers, scarves, and we may throw some other surprises in there. We understand how valuable marketing and merchandising is.

It's a strange year, normally you compete in the GCPL's Central Division, how have you typically done and what's it like to have a match or two in the NISA Independent Cup? Do you have plans for more matches after the Cup?

Well, in our debut season, 2017, we were crowned champions of the GCPL. The 2018 season, the competition got better. We qualified for playoffs, but lost in the first round to the eventual Runner-Ups, Cajun Soccer Club – whom we actually beat in the 2017 final. 2019 was weird because we had 10 matches, but the initial 5 were all away. We lost to Northshore United the second match 1 -2, where we should have come out with 1 point had it not been for a Keeper – Defender blunder. Then fast forward to Week 6, we were up 2-0 against eventual champions FC New Orleans, and they came back and tied up the match 2-2 in the last 10 mins. I remember those two matches defining our season and keeping us out of playoffs for the first time in the three seasons we played in the GCPL. Fortunately, we were in the Central Conference which had the champion, FC New Orleans, and runner-up, Northshore United, along with powerhouse Motagua New Orleans, whom we cannot defeat when we play them away. It has been incredible! Especially competing against another GCPL squad in LA Krewe.

In their short existence they have qualified for the US Open, which we attempted, but fell short against Motagua New Orleans in 2017. NISA has professional standards, obviously, that clubs need to adhere to. We were excited to gage where we need to be and where we need to improve – on and off the pitch. We have learnt a lot and it has been tremendous in developing the appropriate football culture in Jackson. We plan on qualifying for the US Open Cup or competing to qualify. Any other NISA open tournaments or even the Independent Cup if it returns next year? But for the fall schedule we will hibernate and wait until winter of the new year to begin our hunt for a trophy or cup so enjoy Gaffa FC while we are still out and about.

Recently NY's Cosmopolitan League and the Maryland Majors announced they would be promoting teams to a Eastern Premier Soccer League - that league has stated an ambition to add more leagues to its promotion / relegation system. If GCPL joined that, would you be able to participate in a larger league with travel up and down the East Coast? What are your thoughts on a larger, more connected league system?

THE EPSL sounds great, but logistically speaking I do not see the GCPL traveling up and down the east coast. I would be interested in having the GCPL venture into Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, and maybe Nebraska? Oh what’s up Bugeaters! I believe that is what the Great Plains Premier League is striving to be although COVID has pressed the brakes on that train. I believe there are a lot of gems, clubs and players, waiting for an opportunity to demonstrate what they can achieve. It is important, if we as the football community want the sport to grow, that we continue to include bluecollar Americans and internationals in the process. Not a knock on the big cities, but they have an available market. Now, if you truly want to put your system through a test, try replicating what the Bugeaters have done in Nebraska. That is impressive.

What will success look like in 2021? What are you already looking forward to?

Success? We want everything – grow a supporters’ club, expand and solidify market reach, broadcasting / production team, community outreach, cultivate the culture that our manager Humberto has planted – to sum it up, operate as close as possible to a professional standard developed for a football club in Mississippi. We are looking forward to regaining glory in the GCPL – top of the league and in contention for the cup. Qualify for the US Open Cup and advance from the first round. Compete in any open tournaments held by NISA and display quality football. A lot on our plate, but we are ready, or will be after our hibernation haha!