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What keeps a player crossing Lake Champlain for late-night training sessions while balancing college classes and an engineering degree?

In this episode of the Pink and Green Podcast, A.J. and Chris sit down with Vermont Clover FC midfielder Henry Gibson. A mechanical engineering student at Clinton Community College, Henry shares the unconventional path that has taken him through soccer programs on both sides of Lake Champlain—and why his love for the game continues to guide his decisions.

Henry traces his journey from childhood pickup games and Plattsburgh Football Club to Synergy, Northwood School, Black Rock FC, Vermont State University Randolph, and Clinton Community College. He explains how the COVID-19 shutdown led him into Vermont soccer and how those experiences eventually connected him with Vermont Clover.

The conversation explores Henry’s decision to attend VTSU Randolph, his subsequent transfer closer to home, and the appeal of joining programs that are still being built. He discusses Clinton’s efforts to compete in one of the country’s strongest junior-college regions and the pride that comes with creating opportunities for local North Country players.

Henry also reflects on his first season with Vermont Clover. He describes racing from class to the ferry, completing schoolwork during the journey, and making the trip across the lake for late-night practices. Despite the travel, Henry says the experience was completely worthwhile—and one he would repeat without hesitation.

The group discusses Henry’s competitive approach, relentless work rate, and ability to contribute throughout the midfield. Henry explains why he tries not to overthink the game, the importance of having an idea before receiving the ball, and why players should be proactive rather than reactive.

Henry also shares his approach to leadership. Whether or not he holds the captain’s title, his goal is to do what is best for the team, support every teammate, and maintain a high standard. He offers advice to younger players navigating college recruitment, including contacting many coaches, trusting their instincts during visits, and giving themselves as much time as possible to develop.

Away from soccer, Henry discusses studying mechanical engineering, his interest in robotics, and his creative hobbies. From photography and drawing to designing LED displays and experimenting with a weed-wacker-powered bicycle, his curiosity extends well beyond the field.

The episode closes with Henry’s hopes of continuing his education and soccer career, his love for Kevin De Bruyne, his pregame routine, and the homemade sandwich that helps fuel his match days.

Henry Gibson is a Vermont Clover FC midfielder and mechanical engineering student at Clinton Community College. He previously played for VTSU Randolph, Northwood School, Black Rock FC, Synergy and Plattsburgh Football Club.

Vermont Clover FC is home to both men’s and women’s semi-professional soccer teams, with sponsorship opportunities ranging from jersey placement to match-day, digital, and community partnerships. Interested in becoming a Vermont Clover FC sponsor? Contact us at [email protected].

Vermont Clover FC
We are focused on creating opportunities for VT's top players.

Capelli Sport
The official uniform sponsor for all Vermont Clover FC teams.

Slide In Pub
The Office Pub of Vermont Clover FC! Located at 3762 Shelburne Rd Ste 6, Shelburne, VT

S1 Goalkeeper Gloves
The Best Goalkeeper Gloves! Pro quality, cost effect. Worn by all Vermont Clover FC Keepers!

Support the show

Follow the Pink and Green Podcast for more conversations about Vermont soccer, community, and culture.

Follow us on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/pinkandgreenpodcast/

Follow Vermont Clover FC
https://www.instagram.com/vermontcloverfc/
https://www.youtube.com/@VermontCloverFC

Get tickets to the next Vermont Clover match!
https://tickets.vermontclover.com

Send us Fan Mail

What does it take for young Vermont players to leave their comfort zones, navigate college recruiting, and prepare for the next level?

In this episode of the Pink and Green Podcast, A.J. and Chris sit down with Vermont Clover FC players and Taft School roommates Mason Barron and Fields Deshaw. The two young midfielders discuss their shared soccer journey, the transition from Vermont high school soccer to prep school, and the lessons they have learned while pursuing opportunities at the college level.

Mason traces his path through Nordic, Far Post, and Champlain Valley Union High School before making the difficult decision to leave Vermont for Taft. He explains how prep school challenged him academically and athletically, increased his exposure to college coaches, and ultimately became one of the best decisions of his soccer career.

He also shares how he discovered Vermont Clover, worked to earn a place in a crowded player pool, and made an immediate impact in his first appearance by scoring a goal and being named Man of the Match. Mason reflects on the persistence required to break into the squad, the experience of competing alongside college players, and the broken nose that brought his first Clover season to an early end.

The conversation offers an honest look at college recruiting. Mason discusses showcases, identification camps, academic pre-reads, highlight videos, unanswered emails, financial considerations, and the need to communicate directly and consistently with coaches. He explains why players must sometimes become their own advocates—and why academics can shape their options long before senior year.

Fields joins the conversation to share his own recruiting experience and commitment to play Division I soccer at Fairfield University. He discusses the value of leaving Vermont, gaining exposure through prep school and club soccer, and discovering that Vermont players can compete successfully beyond the state.

Together, Mason and Fields explain how Vermont Clover helped prepare them for their next steps. Training and playing against older, stronger and more experienced athletes gave them a clearer picture of the college level while providing the high-intensity summer environment they needed.

The teammates also reflect on living together, reviewing performances after matches, giving each other candid feedback, and growing within a team where everyone is obsessed with the game. As they prepare for another season at Taft, they discuss leadership, communication, defending their championship, helping new players feel comfortable, and setting a standard for the group.

In This Episode

Mason and Fields talk about:

• Mason’s path through Nordic, Far Post and CVU
• Leaving Vermont to attend Taft School
• Giving up the traditional senior-year experience
• Adjusting to the academic and athletic demands of prep school
• Winning a championship during their first season at Taft
• Discovering Vermont Clover FC
• Competing for a place in a deep and talented squad
• Mason’s goal and Man of the Match performance in his Clover debut
• Recovering from a broken nose
• Training and competing alongside college players
• How physicality changes at the next level
• The realities of college showcases and identification camps
• Building relationships with college coaches
• Persistently following up without closing doors
• Why grades matter throughout high school
• Academic pre-reads and financial considerations
• Choosing a school for academics as well as soccer
• Fields’s commitment to Fairfield University
• How prep school and club connections create opportunities
• Why Vermont players can compete outside the state
• Living and playing together as roommates
• Giving each other honest feedback after matches
• Their complementary qualities as players
• Becoming more vocal and physically assertive
• Mason stepping into a captaincy role
• Helping new teammates break out of their shells
• Their goal of lifting another trophy
• Why supporters should attend Vermont Clover matches

Mason Barron and Fields Deshaw are Vermont Clover FC players and teammates at the Taft School. Fields has committed to continue his career at Fairfield University, while Mason is navigating the final stages of his college decision.

Vermont Clover FC is home to both men’s and women’s semi-professional soccer teams, with sponsorship opportunities ranging from jersey placement to match-day, digital, and community partnerships. Interested in becoming a Vermont Clover FC sponsor? Contact us at [email protected].

Vermont Clover FC
We are focused on creating opportunities for VT's top players.

Capelli Sport
The official uniform sponsor for all Vermont Clover FC teams.

Slide In Pub
The Office Pub of Vermont Clover FC! Located at 3762 Shelburne Rd Ste 6, Shelburne, VT

S1 Goalkeeper Gloves
The Best Goalkeeper Gloves! Pro quality, cost effect. Worn by all Vermont Clover FC Keepers!

Support the show

Follow the Pink and Green Podcast for more conversations about Vermont soccer, community, and culture.

Follow us on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/pinkandgreenpodcast/

Follow Vermont Clover FC
https://www.instagram.com/vermontcloverfc/
https://www.youtube.com/@VermontCloverFC

Get tickets to the next Vermont Clover match!
https://tickets.vermontclover.com

Send us Fan Mail

What separates a great soccer referee from someone who simply knows the laws of the game?

In this episode of the Pink and Green Podcast, A.J. and Chris sit down with Corey Cenate, a longtime Vermont referee and the director of assignments for youth and adult soccer through the Vermont Soccer Association.

Corey traces his journey from playing youth soccer in Southern Vermont and competing at Plymouth State to coaching at Springfield High School, where he worked with both the boys’ and girls’ programs. After seeing matches played with too few officials—or none at all—he decided to become part of the solution and stepped onto the field as a referee.

The conversation explores how new referees become certified, the mentorship available to them, and the repetitions required to advance from grassroots games to high school, college, and elite amateur soccer. Corey also explains why Vermont referees seeking regional credentials often need to travel outside the state to find enough qualifying matches.

Corey offers an inside look at the craft of officiating, from interpreting the Laws of the Game and managing a match’s temperature to communicating with players, coaches, and the rest of the referee crew. He discusses the value of remaining calm, knowing when to issue a card, admitting when a decision was wrong, and immediately preparing to make the next call.

The group also examines how communication systems have improved accuracy and game management, why referees should approach a match as a team, and what coaches and supporters may not realize about the conversations happening throughout a game.

Corey shares stories from every level of the sport, including youth matches, Vermont Green exhibitions, college soccer, adult leagues, and a particularly eventful UPSL assignment in Florida. He also explains why young players benefit from experienced officials, why refereeing can be an excellent job for teenagers, and how adults can create a better environment for new referees.

The episode closes with a discussion about referee abuse, Vermont Soccer’s “Respect the Call” message, and the continued need for more officials across the state.

In This Episode

Corey talks about:

• Growing up in Southern Vermont soccer
• Playing four years at Plymouth State
• Coaching the boys’ and girls’ programs at Springfield High School
• Winning a state championship as an assistant coach
• Moving from coaching into refereeing
• Becoming part of the solution to the referee shortage
• How new referees become certified in Vermont
• The Laws of the Game and their evolving interpretations
• Why calmness is essential at higher levels
• Managing the temperature of a match
• Communicating with players and identifying trusted leaders
• Deciding between a warning, yellow card, and red card
• How referee communication systems improve decisions
• Preparing for high-level college and amateur assignments
• Checking your ego and relying on the entire referee crew
• Admitting mistakes and rebuilding trust during a match
• Moving past a difficult decision and making the next call
• The pathway from grassroots officiating to a regional badge
• Opportunities created by Vermont Clover and other amateur teams
• Teaching the game while officiating young players
• Referee uniforms and the cost of entering the profession
• Managing coaches, supporters, and referee abuse
• Why Vermont needs more officials
• How prospective referees can get started

Corey Cenate is a former player and coach, an experienced soccer official, and the director of assignments for youth and adult soccer through the Vermont Soccer Association.

Anyone interested in becoming a referee can visit the Vermont Soccer Association website for information about certification courses, upcoming clinics, jamborees, advisors, and mentorship opportunities. 

Vermont Clover FC is home to both men’s and women’s semi-professional soccer teams, with sponsorship opportunities ranging from jersey placement to match-day, digital, and community partnerships. Interested in becoming a Vermont Clover FC sponsor? Contact us at [email protected].

Vermont Clover FC
We are focused on creating opportunities for VT's top players.

Capelli Sport
The official uniform sponsor for all Vermont Clover FC teams.

Slide In Pub
The Office Pub of Vermont Clover FC! Located at 3762 Shelburne Rd Ste 6, Shelburne, VT

S1 Goalkeeper Gloves
The Best Goalkeeper Gloves! Pro quality, cost effect. Worn by all Vermont Clover FC Keepers!

Support the show

Follow the Pink and Green Podcast for more conversations about Vermont soccer, community, and culture.

Follow us on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/pinkandgreenpodcast/

Follow Vermont Clover FC
https://www.instagram.com/vermontcloverfc/
https://www.youtube.com/@VermontCloverFC

Get tickets to the next Vermont Clover match!
https://tickets.vermontclover.com

Send us Fan Mail

What does the voice behind a match bring to the experience—and what can one person’s soccer journey reveal about the history of the game in Vermont?

In this episode of the Pink and Green Podcast, A.J. and Chris sit down with Andrew “Drew” Lafrenz, the public-address voice of Vermont Clover FC, an experienced college soccer coach, educator, musician, and longtime member of Vermont’s soccer community.

Drew explains how his background in music, singing, athletics, and game management prepared him for the microphone. He shares what happens inside the Clover match-day booth, from tracking substitutions and confirming goals to coordinating with referees, broadcasters, and media staff while helping supporters connect with the action.

The conversation then traces Drew’s path through Vermont soccer. After arriving in the state in the 1990s, he played at Johnson State College before moving into coaching. That journey eventually took him to Boston University, Newbury College, and back to Johnson, where he coached both the women’s and men’s programs while teaching sport management.

Drew reflects on the relationships created through Vermont’s small colleges, the importance those institutions hold in their communities, and the rich soccer tradition built at schools such as Johnson, Castleton, Lyndon, and Green Mountain.

The group also discusses Vermont Clover’s role in creating opportunities for homegrown players. Drew explains why Vermont has always felt like a soccer state to him, why giving local talent a sense of relevance matters, and how Clover can help demonstrate the quality of Vermont soccer regionally and nationally.

The episode closes with a look at the infrastructure Vermont still needs, the continued growth of the state’s soccer pathways, and Drew’s belief that Vermont players are ready to prove what they can accomplish.

In This Episode

Drew talks about:

• Becoming the public-address voice of Vermont Clover FC
• How music and singing influenced his work behind the microphone
• Wearing multiple hats in small college athletic departments
• Arriving in Vermont and finding community through soccer
• Playing at Johnson State College
• Beginning his coaching career alongside Brian Boucher
• Earning a master’s degree in coaching at Boston University
• Coaching at Newbury College and Johnson State
• Leading both men’s and women’s college programs
• Protecting players and programs during coaching transitions
• The upheaval surrounding Vermont’s state colleges
• Why small colleges matter to rural Vermont communities
• Vermont’s rich small-school soccer tradition
• What happens inside the match-day booth
• Helping create an engaging experience for Clover supporters
• Why he volunteered to become involved with the club
• The importance of showcasing homegrown Vermont players
• Building pathways for players and future coaches
• Vermont’s need for more soccer infrastructure
• Why he believes Vermont can compete nationally
• His work as a solo musician and with Steep Creek Frenzy

Andrew Lafrenz is a former college soccer player and coach, an educator, musician, and the public-address voice of Vermont Clover FC.

Follow Andrew’s music on Facebook and Instagram by searching Andrew Lafrenz Music.

Vermont Clover FC is home to both men’s and women’s semi-professional soccer teams, with sponsorship opportunities ranging from jersey placement to match-day, digital, and community partnerships. Interested in becoming a Vermont Clover FC sponsor? Contact us at [email protected].

Vermont Clover FC
We are focused on creating opportunities for VT's top players.

Capelli Sport
The official uniform sponsor for all Vermont Clover FC teams.

Slide In Pub
The Office Pub of Vermont Clover FC! Located at 3762 Shelburne Rd Ste 6, Shelburne, VT

Support the show

Follow the Pink and Green Podcast for more conversations about Vermont soccer, community, and culture.

Follow us on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/pinkandgreenpodcast/

Follow Vermont Clover FC
https://www.instagram.com/vermontcloverfc/
https://www.youtube.com/@VermontCloverFC

Get tickets to the next Vermont Clover match!
https://tickets.vermontclover.com

Send us Fan Mail

Soccer journeys rarely follow a perfectly straight line.

In this episode of the Pink and Green Podcast, Vermont Clover FC midfielder Rieanna Murray shares the decisions, relationships and determination that have carried her from youth soccer in Vermont to the college game in Florida.

Rieanna traces her path from Queen City and CVU to UMass Dartmouth, where she began her college career. After realizing it wasn’t the right long-term fit, she entered the transfer portal, reached out to the schools that interested her and ultimately accepted an opportunity to join Division II Barry University.

Moving to Florida—and stepping into a faster, more competitive environment—was intimidating. But Rieanna decided she had to say yes and see where the opportunity might take her.

Throughout the conversation, she reflects on the coaches, teammates and family members who helped shape her as a player. She explains why those personal connections mattered more than the reputation of a particular club, how being left off the varsity team fueled her development and why pressure tends to bring out her best.

Rieanna also discusses the private work behind her progress: taking touches in the backyard, running in the summer heat and continuing to train when nobody is watching. For her, confidence and improvement come from expecting more of herself every day.

The conversation also returns home to Vermont as Rieanna describes joining Vermont Clover FC’s women’s team, reconnecting with former coaches and teammates, and turning old high-school rivals into new teammates.

In this episode:

• The childhood deal with her grandmother that kept Rieanna in soccer
• Growing up with Queen City and the importance of trusted coaches
• Choosing relationships and the right environment over club reputation
• Her experience playing for CVU and responding to early setbacks
• Beginning the college recruiting process later than expected
• Recognizing when UMass Dartmouth was no longer the right fit
• Entering the NCAA transfer portal and choosing Barry University
• Adjusting to Division II soccer in Florida
• Using doubt, pressure and rejection as motivation
• Developing as a midfielder and putting the team first
• Why meaningful improvement happens when nobody is watching
• The support young athletes need from their families
• Joining Vermont Clover FC and returning to play in Vermont
• Her advice for young players who are pursuing ambitious goals

Rieanna’s story is a reminder that changing direction does not mean abandoning the goal. Sometimes progress requires trusting yourself, leaving a comfortable situation and saying yes before you know exactly where the next step will lead.

Vermont Clover FC is home to both men’s and women’s semi-professional soccer teams, with sponsorship opportunities ranging from jersey placement to match-day, digital, and community partnerships. Interested in becoming a Vermont Clover FC sponsor? Contact us at [email protected].

Vermont Clover FC
We are focused on creating opportunities for VT's top players.

Capelli Sport
The official uniform sponsor for all Vermont Clover FC teams.

Slide In Pub
The Office Pub of Vermont Clover FC! Located at 3762 Shelburne Rd Ste 6, Shelburne, VT

S1 Goalkeeper Gloves
The Best Goalkeeper Gloves! Pro quality, cost effect. Worn by all Vermont Clover FC Keepers!

Support the show

Follow the Pink and Green Podcast for more conversations about Vermont soccer, community, and culture.

Follow us on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/pinkandgreenpodcast/

Follow Vermont Clover FC
https://www.instagram.com/vermontcloverfc/
https://www.youtube.com/@VermontCloverFC

Get tickets to the next Vermont Clover match!
https://tickets.vermontclover.com

Send us Fan Mail

What does it take to build a soccer club that serves players, families and an entire region?

In this episode of the Pink and Green Podcast, we sit down with Brandon Smith, President of Vermont Fusion Soccer Club, to explore the growth of soccer in southern Vermont and the work required to create meaningful opportunities for young players.

Brandon walks us through Vermont Fusion’s structure, its relationship with local recreational programs and the challenges of bringing players together from communities spread across a large geographic area. We discuss the importance of cooperation between clubs and towns, creating pathways for players who want a more competitive experience and making soccer accessible to as many families as possible.

The conversation also explores what success should look like for a youth soccer organization. Winning matters—but Brandon explains why a club’s impact must also be measured by the environment it creates, the experiences it provides and the kind of teammates and people its players become.

Brandon also shares the behind-the-scenes realities of leading a soccer organization, from facilities and tournaments to marketing, volunteers and the many different roles required to keep a club moving forward.

In this episode:

• How Vermont Fusion grew and whom the club serves
• The relationship between recreational and competitive soccer
• Creating opportunities for players across southern Vermont
• Why cooperation between communities strengthens the game
• Building memorable tournament and game-day experiences
• Measuring club success beyond wins and losses
• The importance of culture, attitude and being a good teammate
• The volunteer work that happens behind the scenes
• Brandon’s own connection to soccer and what makes the game so compelling
• The future of Vermont Fusion and soccer throughout the state

This episode is a thoughtful look at youth soccer not simply as a competition, but as a community—and at the people working to give more Vermont players a place to experience the game.

Vermont Clover FC is home to both men’s and women’s semi-professional soccer teams, with sponsorship opportunities ranging from jersey placement to match-day, digital, and community partnerships. Interested in becoming a Vermont Clover FC sponsor? Contact us at [email protected].

Vermont Clover FC
We are focused on creating opportunities for VT's top players.

Capelli Sport
The official uniform sponsor for all Vermont Clover FC teams.

Slide In Pub
The Office Pub of Vermont Clover FC! Located at 3762 Shelburne Rd Ste 6, Shelburne, VT

S1 Goalkeeper Gloves
The Best Goalkeeper Gloves! Pro quality, cost effect. Worn by all Vermont Clover FC Keepers!

Support the show

Follow the Pink and Green Podcast for more conversations about Vermont soccer, community, and culture.

Follow us on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/pinkandgreenpodcast/

Follow Vermont Clover FC
https://www.instagram.com/vermontcloverfc/
https://www.youtube.com/@VermontCloverFC

Get tickets to the next Vermont Clover match!
https://tickets.vermontclover.com

Send us Fan Mail

This week, AJ & Chris are joined by John O’Connor, Head Coach of the VSU Castleton Men’s Soccer team & the Vermont Wild. 

OC talks about why he loves coaching (spoiler: it’s about relationships), the differences in coaching a wide variety of teams, what he’s excited about in Vermont soccer, how clubs work together, and being a sports dad.

Vermont Clover FC is home to both men’s and women’s semi-professional soccer teams, with sponsorship opportunities ranging from jersey placement to match-day, digital, and community partnerships. Interested in becoming a Vermont Clover FC sponsor? Contact us at [email protected].

Vermont Clover FC
We are focused on creating opportunities for VT's top players.

Capelli Sport
The official uniform sponsor for all Vermont Clover FC teams.

Slide In Pub
The Office Pub of Vermont Clover FC! Located at 3762 Shelburne Rd Ste 6, Shelburne, VT

S1 Goalkeeper Gloves
The Best Goalkeeper Gloves! Pro quality, cost effect. Worn by all Vermont Clover FC Keepers!

Support the show

Follow the Pink and Green Podcast for more conversations about Vermont soccer, community, and culture.

Follow us on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/pinkandgreenpodcast/

Follow Vermont Clover FC
https://www.instagram.com/vermontcloverfc/
https://www.youtube.com/@VermontCloverFC

Get tickets to the next Vermont Clover match!
https://tickets.vermontclover.com

Send us Fan Mail

How does a young coach turn a love for soccer into an opportunity to shape the next generation of Vermont players?

In this episode of the Pink and Green Podcast, A.J. and Chris sit down with Oscar Loomis, a Vermont Clover Elite 11 coach and the new head coach of the Middlebury Union High School boys’ soccer team.

Oscar shares how growing up in a small Southern Vermont community led him to soccer, from joining the sport at age 12 or 13 to playing varsity at Long Trail School and continuing his career at Burr and Burton Academy. After time away from the game, an unexpected opportunity to coach brought his passion roaring back.

The conversation explores Oscar’s first coaching experience, the simple message that opened the door for him at Vermont Clover, and what he learned from working alongside the club’s coaching staff. He also discusses taking over at Middlebury, creating a fresh and merit-based environment, and establishing a style of play built around pressure, freedom, technical confidence, and relentless effort.

Oscar reflects on the positive and negative coaching experiences that shaped his philosophy. He explains why players need to feel safe making mistakes, how coaches can handle difficult moments without adding to the chaos, and why strong relationships away from the field produce better chemistry on it.

The group also examines Vermont’s homegrown soccer culture, the financial and geographic barriers that keep talented players from accessing opportunities, and the need for more people to become involved in coaching. For Oscar, coaching provides young players with more than instruction—it gives them an outlet to express themselves.

In This Episode

Oscar talks about:

• Discovering soccer as a young teenager in Southern Vermont
• Playing for Long Trail School, Fusion, Summit, ODP, and Burr and Burton
• Falling back in love with the game through coaching
• Reaching out to Vermont Clover and asking to become involved
• Learning from the Vermont Clover coaching staff
• Leading the club’s Elite 11 program
• Becoming Middlebury Union High School’s new head coach
• Giving players freedom within a system that benefits the team
• Building a relentless, aggressive style of play
• Creating trust and psychological safety for young athletes
• Keeping composure during difficult moments
• Developing relationships and chemistry beyond the field
• The coaches and experiences that shaped his philosophy
• Vermont’s close-knit, homegrown soccer community
• Financial and geographic barriers to player development
• Why Vermont needs more youth coaches
• Soccer as a form of creativity and self-expression
• His hopes for the next stage of his coaching career

Oscar Loomis is a Vermont soccer coach who worked with Vermont Clover FC’s Elite 11 program and is beginning his first season as head coach of the Middlebury Union High School boys’ soccer team.

Vermont Clover FC is home to both men’s and women’s semi-professional soccer teams, with sponsorship opportunities ranging from jersey placement to match-day, digital, and community partnerships. Interested in becoming a Vermont Clover FC sponsor? Contact us at [email protected].

Vermont Clover FC
We are focused on creating opportunities for VT's top players.

Capelli Sport
The official uniform sponsor for all Vermont Clover FC teams.

Slide In Pub
The Office Pub of Vermont Clover FC! Located at 3762 Shelburne Rd Ste 6, Shelburne, VT

S1 Goalkeeper Gloves
The Best Goalkeeper Gloves! Pro quality, cost effect. Worn by all Vermont Clover FC Keepers!

Support the show

Follow the Pink and Green Podcast for more conversations about Vermont soccer, community, and culture.

Follow us on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/pinkandgreenpodcast/

Follow Vermont Clover FC
https://www.instagram.com/vermontcloverfc/
https://www.youtube.com/@VermontCloverFC

Get tickets to the next Vermont Clover match!
https://tickets.vermontclover.com

Send us Fan Mail

What does it mean to lead a new team while also helping establish its identity?

In this episode of the Pink and Green Podcast, A.J. and Chris sit down with Vermont Clover FC captain Michael O’Connor. A Vermont State University Castleton alumnus, Michael reflects on his soccer journey, the experiences that shaped him as a player, and what brought him to Vermont Clover.

Michael discusses his approach to leadership, what it means to wear the captain’s armband, and why trust must be earned through consistency, accountability, and the way a player carries himself every day. The conversation also explores the importance of team culture, the different personalities and backgrounds within the Clover locker room, and what it takes to bring a newly assembled group together.

Michael shares his perspective on Vermont’s soccer community, the opportunity Clover is creating for local players, and the pride that comes with representing the state. He also talks about maintaining high standards, learning through challenging moments, and his hopes for what Vermont Clover can become.

In This Episode

Michael talks about:

• His path through Vermont soccer and VTSU Castleton
• Joining Vermont Clover FC
• Being selected as the team’s captain
• The difference between holding a title and being a leader
• Building trust and accountability within a new team
• Creating chemistry among players from different backgrounds
• The responsibility of setting a standard for the group
• Representing Vermont and growing the local game
• What he hopes supporters see when they watch Clover play
• His ambitions for the team and his own future in soccer

Michael O’Connor is a VTSU Castleton alumnus and captain of Vermont Clover FC.

Follow Michael on Instagram: @michaeloc_

Vermont Clover FC is home to both men’s and women’s semi-professional soccer teams, with sponsorship opportunities ranging from jersey placement to match-day, digital, and community partnerships. Interested in becoming a Vermont Clover FC sponsor? Contact us at [email protected].

Vermont Clover FC
We are focused on creating opportunities for VT's top players.

Capelli Sport
The official uniform sponsor for all Vermont Clover FC teams.

Slide In Pub
The Office Pub of Vermont Clover FC! Located at 3762 Shelburne Rd Ste 6, Shelburne, VT

Support the show

Follow the Pink and Green Podcast for more conversations about Vermont soccer, community, and culture.

Follow us on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/pinkandgreenpodcast/

Follow Vermont Clover FC
https://www.instagram.com/vermontcloverfc/
https://www.youtube.com/@VermontCloverFC

Get tickets to the next Vermont Clover match!
https://tickets.vermontclover.com

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode A.J. puts his co-host in the hot seat and we get to learn a little bit more about Chris George! 

We also recap what this first season for Vermont Clover FC has been like and talk a little bit about what next season may bring. 

Vermont Clover FC is home to both men’s and women’s semi-professional soccer teams, with sponsorship opportunities ranging from jersey placement to match-day, digital, and community partnerships. Interested in becoming a Vermont Clover FC sponsor? Contact us at [email protected].

Vermont Clover FC
We are focused on creating opportunities for VT's top players.

Capelli Sport
The official uniform sponsor for all Vermont Clover FC teams.

Slide In Pub
The Office Pub of Vermont Clover FC! Located at 3762 Shelburne Rd Ste 6, Shelburne, VT

S1 Goalkeeper Gloves
The Best Goalkeeper Gloves! Pro quality, cost effect. Worn by all Vermont Clover FC Keepers!

Support the show

Follow the Pink and Green Podcast for more conversations about Vermont soccer, community, and culture.

Follow us on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/pinkandgreenpodcast/

Follow Vermont Clover FC
https://www.instagram.com/vermontcloverfc/
https://www.youtube.com/@VermontCloverFC

Get tickets to the next Vermont Clover match!
https://tickets.vermontclover.com