Episode 56: Taking Sheffield City FC Global

Welcome to the 56th episode of the In The 11 Podcast! Today, Brendan Griffiths is joined by guests from the Sheffield City Football Club! Ash Greenwood, Daniel Simpson, and Ryan Hartle. They share their plans on expanding over to the US and why the next move is to grow bigger outside the UK. Building the club from the grassroots level, Ryan, Daniel, and Ash share that the goal is to promote the advocacy that football is for everyone. Preparing for the differences in the cultures of the game between England and the US is one thing, but getting to fit into the existing structure of the game in another country is different altogether. Nonetheless, they think that community involvement in the football club is just as crucial as it is anywhere. The culture of communicating and getting volunteers for the football club is just one of the many practices they would like to bring over, if not empower, in the US. More on the migration between systems in this episode so be sure to stay tuned! 

Taking SCFC global:

Ash, Daniel, and Ryan share that they have already studied the differences between football and American soccer which is not only about the playstyles but also the structure of the system, the ladder that players can get to climb. Collectively agreeing that the American system is a little confusing unlike in England, they prepared by studying the hierarchy of different leagues and how to grow promotion-wise. Setting up structures that will fit into the American culture of soccer.

Having said that regardless of age, gender, playing ability, etc., everyone should have the opportunity to play football, Ash recognizes the fact that it’s all in the mindset of a person. They agree that the proper motivation to keep playing is important and knew that they had to be the ones creating this culture of willpower and drive in order to create an energetic environment for the players. 

About the Sheffield City FC:

They are about to start competing in their inaugural season, as a Football Club. Chairman Ashley Greenwood set up the club in 2020 through the lockdown with managers Ryan Hartle and Daniel Simpson, from starting with just 2 U8's teams over the last year the club has grown so much to it has junior teams to the ladies team U23's, Reserves and in their men’s 1st Team who will start their first-ever season in the Men's County Senior division 2.

With big aspirations and plans in place to shape the club for a push towards the football league, the club is now looking towards finding investment to secure capital to help them achieve their goals of getting up towards the football league.

Outline of the Episode: 

• [02:08] Introduction of Ryan, Daniel, and Ash
• [06:58] The motto is “football is for everyone”
• [13:37] Differences in managing different teams
• [21:23] Starting up in America
• [27:25] The difference in the systems 
• [34:30] Importance of community involvement in a football club
• [39:17] How it's different from the rest of the world
• [43:42] The mentality is what matters 

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