Portland Cherry Bombs FC may be new, but they already know exactly who they want to be.

GM Courtney Schmidt and Head Coach Janine Sparra join The PitchGrid to discuss creating a women’s club from scratch, building community support, Portland soccer culture, women’s soccer pathways, and why representation matters both on and off the field.

This episode goes beyond soccer and into what building something meaningful actually looks like.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Cherry Bombs FC

02:06 Season Overview and Initial Impressions

05:04 Community Engagement and Youth Impact

07:24 Unique Game Experiences and Fan Reactions

09:57 Merchandising Success and Brand Identity

12:38 Challenges of a New Team

15:20 Understanding the League Structure

17:47 Recruitment and Player Dynamics

20:30 Community Relationships and Accessibility

23:07 Defining Success in Year One

25:39 Team Philosophy and Coaching Approach

27:29 Building Team Culture and Support

29:35 Embracing Portland's Soccer Heritage

31:23 The Unique Spirit of Portland

32:46 Creating Pathways for Women in Soccer

34:32 The Role of Community in Soccer

35:34 Lessons from Early Matches

38:01 Navigating the Challenges of Running a Club

39:47 Opportunities in Women's Soccer Today

45:56 The Impact of the World Cup on Women's Sports

The Vancouver Whitecaps are one of the best stories in all of sports this season.

Despite success on the pitch, serious concerns remain about the club’s future in Vancouver.

In this episode of The PitchGrid, we’re joined by Ciaran, the president of the Vancouver Southsiders, to discuss:

• ​ the Whitecaps relocation fears
• ​ the Save The Caps movement
• ​ supporter culture in Vancouver
• ​ MLS economics
• ​ football identity and community
• ​ why football clubs mean more than business

This conversation became about much more than just one club.

It became about what football means to communities — and what happens when supporters fear losing part of their identity.

Huge thanks to Ciaran and the Vancouver Southsiders for joining the show.

#SaveTheCaps

Timestamps:

0:00 Vancouver Whitecaps: A Club At Risk

6:01 Understanding Vancouver’s Football Culture

9:14 The Whitecaps’ Unique Identity

11:59 The Emotional Connection to the Club

17:52 Frustrations About Financial Instability While Successful

21:03 Future of MLS: Promotion/Relegation a Possibility?

23:54 Stadium Situation Misinformation

30:17 Misinformation in Sports Economics

34:59 The Perception of Soccer in North America

38:19 Modern Football Ownership Concerns

41:25 Relocation Hurts Trust

45:37 Outro

Switchbacks FC became one of the stories of the US Open Cup — defeating Sporting Kansas City, pushing the Colorado Rapids to penalties, and helping unite a growing football culture in Colorado Springs.

But in this conversation with head coach Alan McCann, we go beyond results.

We discuss:

* the emotional Open Cup run

* supporter culture

* building club identity

* organic football growth in America

* community connection

* and what truly makes a football club matter.

A thoughtful conversation on football culture, supporters, and building something bigger than the game itself.

Aaron Rodgers appears destined to stay in Pittsburgh, the Champions League final is set, MLS clubs continue their woes in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, and the EFL Championship playoffs might have their own Spygate scandal.

On Episode 51 of The PitchGrid, we break down:

• Rodgers fit with the Steelers and what it means for the future.

• the biggest games to watch as the NFL schedule release approaches.

• whether Patrick Mahomes returning early is a risk worth taking

• Arsenal vs PSG set as the Champions League Final

• what recent CONCACAF Champions Cup results say about MLS

• EFL Championship playoff preview

• Southampton’s alleged “Spygate” and what that means in terms of on and off the field ahead of the playoffs.

Football chaos season has officially arrived.

Episode 50 of The PitchGrid — a milestone we didn’t even realize until after recording.

In this episode, we’re joined by Matt Poland, coach and sporting director of FC Naples.

We discuss the realities of building a club from the ground up, including the responsibilities that come with overseeing both the sporting and structural side of an organization. From establishing identity and culture to navigating the challenges behind the scenes, this conversation offers insight into what it really takes to grow the game at both the local and professional level.

Follow FC Naples:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fc.naples?igsh=MXFwYnB3N3NhdWluOA==

X: https://x.com/fcnaples_?s=21

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fc.naples?_r=1&_t=ZT-961KS17qbWA

Follow Coach Poland:

X: https://x.com/polandmatt?s=21

https://www.coachpoland.com/

The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books—but one take is already turning heads.

When asked for his hottest draft opinion, Errol Marks didn’t hesitate:

“Arvell Reese will fail.”

In this episode of The PitchGrid, we break down that bold claim and everything that came out of draft weekend—from the teams that nailed it to the picks that might already be under the microscope.

We get into:

• ​ The Arvell Reese debate: star potential or serious risk
• ​ Draft winners and losers
• ​ Best value picks and biggest reaches
• ​ Quarterback storylines
• ​ Teams that may have gotten it wrong

This isn’t just a recap—it’s a real conversation about what these picks actually mean moving forward.

Check out and follow Errol:

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nysportsloudmouth?si=px6aMLZMz78XHpEx

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/errol_marks344?igsh=dmg4aGNueTZqMnVh

This one got chaotic… fast.

I was joined by Tim Collins (Answer The Coll) to run through a mock draft of the first round of the NFL Draft — and it quickly turns into one of the wildest draft simulations yet.

From a surprise AJ Brown trade scenario to the Browns doubling down on chaos, we break down every pick, debate team decisions, and call out the biggest reaches and steals along the way.

We also flip the script at the end:

* What was the best pick?

* What was the worst move?

* Who actually won the first round?

Plus, we look ahead to the real draft and discuss which players could rise into the top 10 — and who might fall further than expected.

A mix of insight, debate, and pure draft chaos.

DISCLAIMER: This episode was recorded before the Giants trading Dexter Lawrence for the Bengals.

Welcome to The PitchGrid.

What makes a real soccer city?

Ben Wright joins The PitchGrid to break down why Nashville has become one of the most exciting soccer environments in the U.S.— and what actually separates true soccer cities from the rest.

From culture and community to MLS vs the EFL Championship, this episode goes deeper than results and asks a bigger question:

“Can MLS truly build authentic soccer cities?”

In this episode of The PitchGrid, we’re joined by Favian Renkel—writer for The Athletic and head of content at Kickbase, the new home of MLS fantasy!

We break down the biggest storylines across MLS, the USMNT, and the global game, including World Cup predictions, media narratives, and the growth of football in the United States.

From what MLS gets wrong to whether the USMNT is truly ready for the World Cup, this episode covers it all.

Is the NFL on the verge of another officiating controversy?

This episode of The PitchGrid dives into the growing conversation around replacement referees, breaking down what it could mean for the league and why it matters more than ever. We also take a closer look at Ty Simpson’s rising hype, key NFL rule changes, and whether recent moves like the JSN extension signal smart planning — or something else.

On the global side, we cover major storylines across world football, including transfer rumors involving Salah and Griezmann, intense World Cup qualifying action, and big-picture questions surrounding Arsenal’s evolution under Arteta. Plus, we check in on the EFL Championship run-in, MLS form teams, and the latest from the USMNT.

The PitchGrid brings you insight, analysis, and perspective across both sides of the football world, all in one place.