Where did Bay Cities FC get started; who’s idea was this and what inspired it?
We started about 1 month into the pandemic. I was approached by a league official who had noticed some of the work I had done with the local youth club I direct. He asked if we were interested in beginning a soccer team in our area… and so it began! Personally, I’ve always been motivated in providing the youth players in my club with a realistic opportunity of pursing a professional career. Now with this venture, we can make this happen. And it doesn’t just have to be for my youth club, but for all the ones in the our area.

There are already some great teams in the Bay Area and there have been some one-and-done teams too; how are you different? Why will you last?
You always look to learn from other’s experiences both good and bad. For the bad ones, you have to thank them for attempting to trailblaze regardless if they were successful. For us, we’ve studied the models of the teams that have lasted and haven’t and we’ve drawn from those lessons. The main differentiator in my opinion is defining what your football club will be about and how that relates to your community. If you’re looking to be disingenuous, your community will quickly realize it and they won’t support. Your club has to stand for more than 11 players on the pitch with a ball. For us, our club is about inspiring the next generation of youth in our community (soccer players or not). It is about bringing together and bridging the diverse communities that we have in the Bay Area. It is a club started by individuals within that very community, as opposed to an outside group looking to plant a team there.

Ultimately we will last because of our connection to our community. We have that at the center of our priority. That, and we are in a very hungry and fervent soccer market which we are completely in love with.

Again, with so many teams, from the North Bay to the South Bay, where are you drawing your players from? How do you scout talent from outside the area?
There are many teams, but only 2 professional clubs unfortunately. That is the key. 22 spots for over 8,000 registered competitive youth players just isnt sufficient. Especially given that we plan on playing in Division 3. This is the model in Europe and other countries. Not everyone can immediately be a Division 1 player directly from the youth academy. You have to earn your experience in the lower division leagues. We know what we will be and where we are, and that will help us keep that focus on providing those players with that opportunity. We saw it over the summer. 9 of the players came directly from the youth clubs in Redwood City. And all at a sufficient level to compete and show well.

Are you working on inroads to invite players who typically couldn't afford club fees to trials? Mini tournaments for amateur teams?
Absolutely. Our opportunity is to not isolate ourselves to one club by beginning our own youth academy. We want to enhance and highlight the phenomenal work that the youth clubs in our area are doing to develop players. We see ourselves as that end path for that phenomenal work. And our aim is to reward these clubs for that work via monetary compensation and other means. The Bay Area has non professional youth clubs that rival the best in the US. This includes academies connected to professional teams. That goes to show you the amount of time and resources that is invested in our area in terms of youth development. The missing piece is more pro opportunities.

Do you have your own youth organization to develop players into the first team or have you partnered with local youth clubs who already do that essential work? If partnered, are you allowed to give them a shout out and explain how that works?
Similar to the above that I just mentioned. We are not at the stage yet where we can announce anything officially, but we have already had discussions with many clubs. The key here is proving to these clubs that we really are what we say what we are about. Some these clubs have had negative experiences with professional teams in the past. We are here to break that pattern and we are optimistic.

NISA has teams from all sorts of different financial models, what is your strategy to keep the lights on? Will you be selling custom kits and scarves or putting that kind of thing on hold for now and focus on sponsorships and seed money?
I think the best way to approach is is to have a diversified revenue model. You can’t rely on just one thing. For us, we will be focused on providing the best fan experience and entertainment for our supporters. We want them to fall in love watching our team play their football. But we’ll also look to make a dent in the merchandise area. We think we have a strong brand and purpose that people will be proud to wear.

Lastly, you looked sharp after just a few exhibitions this summer, what do you have planned for the squad while building up towards next spring in NISA?
Local, Local, Local. We’re blessed to be In such a strong and rich area in terms of talent. We look forward to competing with Bay Area players. Heck maybe we will adopt an Athletic Bilbao or Chivas de Guadalajara model (only players from a certain geographic location)! Ha! But we are confident in terms of the talent pool. Our plan is to have a balanced roster that will be able to compete with the teams in NISA. But the roster will look different than what it did for the summer. We have the interest of many good players. Lastly bringing in someone like Eric Bucchere as our Sporting Director also makes us bullish.

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