So tell us who you are (the person answering the questions) and how you got involved with NOUFC?
This is Marshall Roy, the President and head of finance for New Orleans United FC. I have a background in finance and have been playing soccer competitively for 12 years.

Initially, Nick Armitage (the vice president) and I started the club under the name 14th Ward United, as an outlet for Tulane students to play in the GCPL tournament showcase. After the conclusion of the GCPL tournament showcase, we had to reevaluate the club’s standing in the New Orleans soccer community. In the end, we decided that the club needed to move forward under the name New Orleans United FC as a team that represents everyone in the Greater New Orleans Area.

What has been the biggest challenge of setting up a club so far?
The biggest challenge so far has been how to set ourselves apart from the rest of the clubs in the GCPL/New Orleans area. Over time, we realized that as a club our goal is to provide access and opportunities for talented players that otherwise would have been left behind due to the costs of playing for a higher-level team. We are committed to changing the pay-to-play system in New Orleans and across the U.S., and over time hope we can pay our players wages that encourage participation in lower-league soccer. Likewise, we are committed to staying true to New Orleans, developing local talent rather than importing players from other areas.

Spotted the announcement of Ibrahim Belkhouche as the club's first coach, can you talk about his background and what he brings to the club?
Ibrahim (Ibra) is a former professional and semi-professional player who has experience playing in Europe and for the New Orleans Jesters locally. Ibra coached the Men's and Women's club soccer programs at Tulane University, in addition to the Jester's academy. Ibra brings forth a wealth of knowledge of the game from his experience playing abroad, and completely revolutionized the standing of the club on Tulane's campus to become one of the most respected clubs in the South on both the Men's and Women's side. Ibra has phenomenal experience building a club from the ground up, and we know that he will do a phenomenal job developing talent in our Inaugural Season.

What is the planned approach to building a roster?
I asked head coach Ibrahim Belkhouche this question and this was his response:

“By using the network that I have built up over the years while playing high-level soccer in New Orleans, scouting local talent, and drawing interest with our inclusive approach, I am confident in the development of our player pool. With these methods, we can find players who match our vision and our values which represent the New Orleans we know and love.”

I have personally played under Ibra when he was the head coach of the Tulane Men’s Club Soccer team. Both his technical expertise and professional communication skills allowed the Tulane club team to perform at a level that was far above the rest of our competition. I have the utmost faith in Ibra’s ability to build a solid roster and I can’t wait to see them perform this summer.

Why the GCPL over other leagues?
I was asked this same question in an article with the GCPL:

“The Gulf Coast Premier League checked every box we sought in a league, with a strong reputation and foundation in the Gulf Coast region”

To elaborate a bit more, the GCPL is home to 17 teams spanning the entire gulf south. The GCPL is getting everything right when it comes to growing its reputation, competitive level, and club support. The soccer infrastructure in the gulf south region is growing (albeit slowly) and we see the GCPL as the vehicle for accelerating this growth. Lower-level leagues are the most important building block to any region’s soccer development, and the GCPL provides their teams with the platform to organically grow their fanbases and player pools.

Does the club have a plan for where it will play matches this year?
In our first season, we will be playing our Home matches at Pan American Stadium which is located in the historic City Park. Pan-American stadium provides us with an intimate environment for our supporters, and the ground’s location is easily accessible due to its centrality to the neighboring communities of New Orleans. We hope that our matches foster a community-based feel, becoming an event that New Orleanians will adopt as tradition. Altogether, Pan-American fits all of our needs as a newborn club, with bleachers on both sides, a press box, the ability to sell food and drink, and a turf surface.

Has COVID been a damper on the club's progress?
Fortunately, the club has not started physical operations yet so COVID has not been a huge obstacle. COVID has been and continues to be a huge problem for local businesses in New Orleans, so finding sponsors for the 2021 GCPL season is a bit trickier than we expected.

Hopefully, COVID infection rates continue to decline during this upcoming summer. Otherwise, it could significantly impact our on-field operations. We remain dedicated to following all federal, state, and league COVID protocols.

Is the club still raising funds for the seasons and if so, how can people help?
We are still raising funds for the upcoming season. To operate this summer, we need about $18,000 of capital. Currently, we have about $4,000 in the bank.

There are a couple of things people can do to help:

1) Contribute whatever you can to our GoFundMe (LINK)

2) Visit our merch store. I think our first line of merch is pretty stylish, especially with our updated branding. (LINK)

3) If you are a New Orleans business owner and interested in sponsoring the team, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. (neworleansunitedfc@gmail.com)

Any support is extremely appreciated and will allow us to translate our mission into reality. No one on the board of this club receives any type of wage or compensation for their work. Every dollar we receive goes straight into first-team operations or youth programming that we will be running in the Greater New Orleans Area.

What should we expect from New Orleans United FC in 2021?
With our recent acceptance into the GCPL, we expect to not only compete but win many games. In all honesty, we have high expectations for our standing in the league and believe that we can push for top of the table. Regardless of results, New Orleans United is committed to establishing a unique bond with the New Orleans community in which we foster a true home for the diverse, blossoming soccer culture in the area.

Anything else we should know?
We're hoping that Protagonist's incredible platform will help to provide our club with much-welcomed support whether from the New Orleans area or elsewhere. Make sure to follow us through our Inaugural season on all social media platforms @NolaUnitedFC

Follow NOUFC on Twitter HERE