2021 went from the ridiculous to the almost sublime for the Oakland Roots. After 1 win in their first 12 games, after another team's protests about the state of the field at Laney Stadium almost killed their season, after COVID outbreaks and a fixture backlog from hell, after so much, they took eventual USL champions OC all the way to penalties in the playoffs. Not bad for a debut season in the USL Championship. 

If you didn't know it already the Roots are going places. 

We hooked up with Jonathan Comeaux from the Oakland Roots Blog to chat about the players, people and events that made this season.

Stay tuned for part two and check out the Oakland Roots Blog at: https://oaklandrootsblog.blogspot.com/

And Jon at @Jonathan_Como

The mission was simple. For Oakland Roots to reach the playoffs they had to beat Sporting Kansas City II and hope that LA Galaxy II lost or drew against San Diego Loyal. 

At the start of the season the Roots would've been more than happy to reach the playoffs in their debut USL Championship campaign. But after turning their season around after a horrendous start it would have been a proper kick in the teeth to lose it at the last. 

In wasn't in their own hands but they knew what they had to do. All the Roots could do was beat Kansas and hope Los Dos didn't emulate their result. 

Oakland Roots had to beat LA, without facing them. Could they do it? 

We caught up with Roots head coach Jordan Ferrell to hear his thoughts on what was an incredible game and one of the days that will go down in Roots folklore. 

Oakland Roots don't do things the easy way. Up 3-1 with 20 minutes to go in a must win game, everything looked golden. But a goal and then a last minute equalizer followed by a red card left them starting at oblivion. To go out like that, after all they'd been through this season would've been a sickening blow. 

But you count this team out at your peril. 

They fought back and when they earned a penalty in the last seconds of injury time Jeremy Bokila stepped up . . . and earned his place in the team's history. 

The Roots season goes on, they have one more chance to earn a playoff spot. If they beat Sporting Kansas City II and the Los Angeles Galaxy II draw or lose to San Diego Loyal then the Roots will be playoff bound. 

#BeatLA

Oakland Roots had a score to settle with the Sacramento Republic. At stake was the title of the USL's number one Northern California soccer club and a little bit more. This was about more than just bragging rights. The Roots owed Sac, owed them for a cancelled game that represented the biggest hurdle the club had faced in its short history. Local rivalries sometimes need a little extra to galvanize them, and after this game it is clear that there is no love lost between these two clubs. This was played with a degree of derby antagonism that is all too often lacking in American soccer. Long may it continue. 

This week we talk turf and the burgeoning rivalry between these clubs. We hear from Roots' coach Jordon Ferrell and Emrah Klimenta after a historic performance. We then touch on the Roots aspirations and how they compare to clubs like Phoenix Rising. Before round off with a chat about playoff odds. This is Hella Football.

What could go wrong, did go wrong for the Oakland Roots in their 2-2 draw with the Las Vegas Lights. They conceded a goal within 5 minutes, missed a penalty, then went 2-1 up against ten men before conceding an equalizer in the last minute of injury time. Where this leaves their playoff dreams is very much open to question.

We hear from coach Jordan Ferrell who was not exactly pleased with the result or the performance. 

And conclude the show with a discussion of a really important Sports Illustrated report detailing allegations of years of sexual abuse involving the USF men's soccer program. 

Oakland Roots and the San Diego Loyal went head-to-head in a thrillingly entertaining goalless draw. Some 0-0's are boring, this one was anything but. Keeper Paul Blanchette kept the Roots in it with a string of saves including one world class stop. We caught up with him and coach Jordan Ferrell after the game. 

After that we delve into the Roots ongoing playoff push - can they get it over the line? What has been the key to their late season run? And we wrap by trying to do the impossible - name their first choice starting lineup - something Ferrell has not been able to do much this season. 

This is Hella Football. 

In the aftermath of Oakland Roots 3-1 win over Tacoma Defiance we spoke with coach Jordan Ferrell and forward Quincy Amarikwa.

Having experienced players, like Amarikwa, available has coincided with the Roots recent good form. 

The Roots may have lost their unbeaten run to the Tampa Bay Rowdies but fans can feel much more optimistic about things now than at the start of the season. 

Listen in to hear what Ferrell and Amarikwa attribute the Roots' resurgence to.

The Oakland Roots handed the Las Vegas Lights a 3-1 beating in one of their best wins to date. 

They scored three quality goals, changed formation and used the bench effectively. The game also shone a light on the structure of US soccer. 

The Roots and Lights play in the same division but are structured very differently. 

We also look at the start of the men's and women's college seasons and what is going on in the NSL and UPSL. 

Hella Football is a new podcast about soccer in the Bay Area and beyond. 

Focusing on the teams, players, coaches and fans that make the local soccer scene one of the US' most diverse.

Presented by two Bay Area journalists Hella Football is a weekly delve into the stories and news coming from local clubs and leagues. 

Home is where the heart is. But for the Oakland Roots, in 2021, home has seemed far away. To date, the club has played one game in front of spectators at Laney College. A whole bunch of issues with USL regulations, global supply chains, turf installation times and college football schedules are only adding to the headaches the team is facing.

On the field things are looking up, the Roots have had their best run of form and are bedding in some new players.

Here Hella Football breaks down the challenges facing the Roots, their new players and excellent run of form, and what the future might hold. 

We also break down the NPSL final between Academica and El Farolito, one of the most keenly contested games of the year. 

What you listening to? Hella Football!