My Best Ten and Me: The All Time Greatest From Cleveland SC

Our ongoing series of Best Ten’s + 1 takes us to Cleveland SC this week and President Samuel Seibert decided the following rules weren’t for him either…

1. You are the Player/Manager and you have to plug yourself in.

2. Any player selected must have been active in your lifetime.

He was sure to insert current head coach Tom Beck and told me the first player off the bench was going to be Bobi Cancar - Bobi had the task of filling in for Declan after his departure. Bobi is the one guy we want on the pitch when we are caught out. He’ll take on everyone and end up with the ball more times than not. 2016 Champion. Mr. Samuel Seibert went on to explain that the players are sent to me in a 4-3-3 and might look that way on the pitch initially, but Just because its these specific guys, many times we are going 3-1-2-1-3 to rock a diamond because Mikey and Admir run the show in the middle - The forewards take care of everything once we pass midfield. Here’s the Best ELEVEN from Cleveland SC.

(GK) Marijo Musa
(Cleveland, OH)- Marijo is currently a goalkeeper trainer with Cleveland Force SC. Marijo has had caps with the USSDA when younger and shows that composure in the net for the majority of our matches. Marijo has the most clean sheets in our history.

(RB) Chris Cvecko
(Cleveland, OH/CWRU Alumni)- Current Orange High School Head Coach. He is an Ironman that plays every minute of every match that wins out with stamina. His ability to contribute offensively from the back line generally has him scoring more goals in a season than he allows from his side. 2016 National Champ

(CB) Coletun Long
(University of Dayton/ Cleveland, OH) - Coletun is the Captain of the Club with shear grit and intensity that intimidates Strikers more than anything. Coletun helped spur a comeback against Rochester FC in the 2019 Regional playoff with the first goal of a 4-1 run to win 6-4. We were down 3-1 in the 83rd minute. Coletun is a 2016 Champ as well.

(CB) Declan McGivern
(Huddersfield England/ Notre Dame College Alumnus) Currently with Runcorn FC across the pond, is extremely difficult to win a header against at his 6’5” stature. In that fashion Declan scored the very first league goal for Cleveland SC in 2018. 2016 National Champ

(LB) Corban McAvinew
(Cleveland, OH) Middle name Blade and it’s extremely fitting. His cuts and slicing of opposing players dribble ability makes him a dual threat. Corban is currently on SIUE’s college squad.

(RCM) Admir Suljevic
(Wickliffe, OH) - Admir is a field general, a played out term but it suits him to a tee. When it comes to crunch time there is no one better to rely upon to find the net. Penalty and free kicks are his strength as he can bend with the best. 2016 National Champ.

(LCM) Kareem Banton
(Jamaica- Cleveland State University)(2018 squad)Kareem thrives on his speed. There is not much quicker in semi-pro leagues and is a professional prospect.

(CAM) Mikey Derezic
(Lakewood, OH) - Mikey’s midfield play has him as the director on the pitch. He fools everyone with his ball skills then shoots to score. Mikey scores Cleveland SC’s only goal against a strong Paul Danglish led Miami FC squad in the 2019 Regional match. 2016 NPSL champion.

(RW) Antonio Manfut
Antonio represents his own skills clinic AM Skill Training as he is well known for his professional indoor talent. Antonio’s aggressive nature and footwork has defenders in circles at times. Antonio scores the game winner in 2016 for AFC Cleveland’s NPSL Championship. Antonio’s goal in 2019 from mid pitch has gone viral. Antonio currently plays for the Florida Tropics indoor squad of MPSL. 

(CF) Vinny Bell
(CWRU Alumni/Cleveland, OH)- current board member of America Scores Non-Profit agency is a serious force that does well in traffic. Vinny can be left up too by himself and still find ways to score. Vinny was most recently voted 3rd best NPSL player of all-time. 2016 NPSL Champion. 

(LW) Tom Beck
(Poland, OH) - Current Head Coach and Alumni of Cardinal Mooney High School Soccer presents an intimidating dilemma on the pitch. His ability to create on his own has him score almost every time he is on the pitch, one of his best goals came against Monarcas Morelia Reserves Spring 2019. 2016 NPSL Champion.

Platform Beer Co. and Cleveland SC Order Another Round

Times are tough right now for so many cities across the country. Even worse for the small businesses that line the streets, currently shuttered and without customers. It’s easy to understand if those businesses begin backing out of sponsorships and partnerships with the grassroots clubs that count on their money to finance operations. In all parts of the country, we’re seeing this happen. Money is tight, so sponsorships are axed. But, thankfully, there are some exceptions.

The NPSL’s Cleveland SC has had a partnership with Platform Brewing for over two years and that partnership began before the club even took the field. Sam Seibert, Cleveland SC president, talked about that early connection. “Our partnership with Platform has been in the works well before our first match when I launched the club in early 2018. Platform Beer Co has been very engaged with us from the beginning. The partnership started as a referral from Jason Lansdale of Offside Marketing, a local sports marketing firm, whom is also a partner of Cleveland SC, and we came together to see how we could support each other’s businesses. This culture made a great fit for us to work together and has been well received by our fans.” And, as in any great partnership, the feeling is mutual from Platform.

For Platform Beer Co. president, Justin Carson, now is the time to highlight the things that bring people together - soccer and beer. “We were a sponsor from the very beginning and we think it’s great to bring a product where we can envision getting back onto the pitch. Our local soccer community is very passionate here in Cleveland we we feel this will be something they can rally around. Without soccer, and sports in general, it’s been a difficult time for teams and clubs of all sizes, especially lower level teams. This is something we believe in and are happy to bring to market.”

Promo video Platform and Cleveland SC’s first collaboration, Orangeaid

That “this” that Justin referred to is the newest collaboration beer between Platform and Cleveland SC. Gym Day Goals is actually the second beer the two organizations have partnered on. While the first beer, Orangeaid, was “an electrolyte sour,” Gym Day Goals is a low calorie IPA with notes of tangerine. As Justin put it, “All the flavors of an IPA without the guilt.” Seibert highlights the direct connection between athletics and the beer. “Platform is one of the most creative beer company’s I have come across…This new beer will be appealing to those that are active and diet conscious.”

That connection was at the forefront for the team at Platform throughout the process, as Justin describes it, “we went with a classic design embodying the Cleveland Soccer Club logo on the front, along with Platform’s classic design, which is represented in all our canned releases. Additionally in keeping in line with this being the athletes beer, we took a different concept with the packaging. This beer will be in a 12 oz sleek type can, think like an energy drink.”

For the man who helped bring these two companies together, Jason Lansdale (Offside Marketing), the challenges of coordinating a beer release during a pandemic are daunting, but not insurmountable. “Historically with past releases we have hosted release events on the day of release, which are also branded as Cleveland Soccer Club fan fests, and have been well attended. In today’s COVID-19 environment, we are shifting many of the marketing tactics to strong digital and social media.” Those tactics will include an inside look at the brewing and canning processes, video and photo selfies with Cleveland SC players from their homes, and a virtual release event. “This will give our fans time to either purchase at local retailers, or have it delivered to their homes by Platform, which is something they are doing for all their beers during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Pre-orders for Gym Day Goals begin April 27. The beer will release at the main Platform Beer Co. brewery on May 1, where fans can come and purchase it or have it delivered. Keep an eye out for it in local retail outlets the week of May 4.

For more information on Platform Brewing Co. or Cleveland SC, click the links.

- Dan Vaughn

Ohio Heart Cup Competition Announced

Today, the Ohio Heart Cup was announced. The yearly competition of amateur clubs from Ohio will bring together some of the best known teams in the state, while allowing some brand new clubs the opportunity to compete. The Director of the competition, Samuel Seibert, highlighted the competition as a chance “for Ohio soccer fans to get competitive soccer closer to home.” Seibert, aside from his role with the Ohio Heart Cup, is also the president of participating club Cleveland SC.

The full list of clubs in the competition includes Cleveland SC, FC Columbus, Toledo Villa FC, Cincinnati Dutch Lions, Dayton Dutch Lions, Amish Country United, Forest City FC, Club Toledo, and Youngstown Nighthawks. Those clubs are drawn from three amateur leagues currently operating in the state: USL League Two, NPSL, and NOSL. But that list of clubs and leagues may grow in the future. According to Seibert, the tournament is open to expansion if more clubs show interest; and with the rapid expansion of the UPSL and the brand new OVPL, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more amatuer sides pop up in Ohio, ready to participate.

The structure of the tournament is in two parts, with a round robin style first round. The second round will take the top six clubs and seed them into a knockout style tournament. The final two clubs standing will play for the Cup in a championship match. The excitement for the competition is already building. “We are extremely excited for the cup to kick off,” said Braden Mast, Director of Operations for Amish Country United. “After a long time talking about the prospect of an amateur Ohio cup, it’s cool that these teams just went ahead with it and are starting it. We’re pumped to play the best teams in the area and it should be a real competitive tournament with great exposure for all teams included.” Club Toledo owner, Jake Mercer, spoke in equally glowing terms, saying the tournament had the potential to be “essentially the Ohio equivalent of the Michigan Milk Cup.”

It’s exciting to see clubs from multiple leagues, often competing for the same fans across the state, working together to grow the game in their home state. The Ohio Heart Cup will be a great opportunity for these amatuer sides to face competition and sharpen their talent. And while the announcement caught many by surprise, the ball has been rolling for some time. The competition has been in the works since spring of last year, according to Seibert, and after the 2019 season, they decided to finalize plans for this year. Once the schedule is announced, we’ll make sure to share that with our readers. 

Cleveland SC Midfielder Tom Beck Named NPSL National Player of the Week

From the Official NPSL Press Release

The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is proud to announce Cleveland SC midfielder Tom Beck as the third NPSL National Player of the Week for the 2019 season.

"Thank you to the NPSL for this award,” Beck said. “It's a great honor and I'm grateful to receive it.  I'm a true believer that winning this individual award is a result of great team performances, which is what were able to do Sunday.  Without my coach and teammates this wouldn't be possible so a massive thanks to them as well.”

Beck scored a hat trick in a 5-1 win over Syracuse FC.

“Tom is a difference maker out there,” Cleveland SC President Samuel T. Seibert commented.  “It’s not only his skill but his presence of mind to always be in the right place at the right time. That screamer he hit on Sunday had me screaming.  He’s fun to watch.”

The Poland, Ohio native is a true NPSL veteran, having played in the league since 2014.  Perhaps his biggest accomplishment at this level was winning a NPSL national championship in 2016 before joining Cleveland SC for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Beck was an accomplished collegiate player, starring for both the University of Mount Union and Cleveland State University.  He was a prolific goal scorer for the Purple Raiders, finishing with a career total of 31 goals and 13 assists.

Beck was also a standout high school athlete, earning all-state, all-region, all-district, all-county, and all-conference honors during his time at Cardinal Mooney HS.

The winner of this national honor is determined by a vote of media members from across the country.

Photo Credit: Tall Tower Marketing and Ric Kruszynski/ISNSoccer.com

Cleveland SC Announces Friendly with Liga MX Monarcas Morelia

In exciting news that is a good indicator that the rest of the world is discovering our amateur soccer clubs, Cleveland Soccer Club has announced its first international friendly in club history. The opponent for this historic match is Mexico’s Liga MX club Monarcas Morelia Reserves. Fittingly enough, the match is scheduled for Cinco de Mayo (a popular holiday in Mexico and immigrant communities in the United States) - May 5, 2019 at Baldwin Wallace University’s George Finnie Stadium.

“When we started looking at the possibility of working with a Liga MX team, Morelia’s excitement for the idea made it an excellent partnership and helped the planning come together quickly,” said Cleveland SC president Samuel Seibert. “We’re excited to provide our fans a new kind of competitive option this preseason on Cinco de Mayo.”

Club Atlético Monarcas Morelia is a professional football club based in Morelia, Michoacán, playing in Liga MX. Like the vast majority of the professional clubs in the league, Monarcas’ reserves and academy squad include under-20, under-17, and under-15 clubs.

“We are happy that Monarcas Morelia of Liga MX accepted the invitation to play a series of three friendly matches against American clubs Cleveland SC, Buffalo FC and Kalamazoo FC,” said Global FC President Victor Delarosa. “With our main objective to connect the world of soccer, we're very grateful that our friends in the U.S. opened their communities by hosting Morelia.”

It’s a sure sign of success that the NPSL is beginning to catch the eyes of foreign clubs looking for exposure in the United States. The match will be a boost to the Liga MX club, though the league is already followed by many fans in the United States. Of course, Liga MX is the most watched league in the country (foreign or domestic) and it would be easy to infer that television ratings equal popularity. The American soccer television market, for a host of reasons, is incredibly splintered.

For Cleveland SC and the NPSL, this is a big get. It allows the players to go against great talent on the field, pressing them to grow and providing a measure of their ability. Playing Monarcas also sparks interest in the Cleveland area, particularly among the Latinx segment of the population (which makes up over 33% of the area). The match is a win-win for both clubs and the leagues involved.

Regardless of the result, having a NPSL side going up against a group of players from a top flight league in Mexico is a great indicator of the league’s growth and standing in the world’s eyes.

- Dan Vaughn

Being as Cleveland as Possible

This is a story of what it’s like to create a soccer team out of thin air and get it ready to play competitively in 90 days. It involves Chipotle, four 43-foot high double-sided pylons carved out of sandstone, a popular new electrolyte-filled beer and a love for and devotion to the city of Cleveland that allowed this new club to be successful right from the start.

“We don’t do things easy here in Cleveland,” Cleveland SC defender Coletun Long said. “For us, it is always about doing it the hard way.”

Cleveland has a rich history when it comes to soccer. The Cleveland Stokers started it all with a single year in the North American Soccer League in the late 1960s before the Cleveland Stars/Cobras spent nine years in the American Soccer League, encompassing most of the 1970s. The Cleveland Force made its debut with the advent of the Major Indoor Soccer League in 1978. When the league changed to the National Professional Soccer League in 1989, Cleveland was right there with the Crunch. In fact, it was the Crunch that ended the city’s long championship drought, not LeBron’s Cavaliers. The Crunch won the NPSL in 1993-94 and added two more titles.

Other Cleveland soccer teams brought the city more titles. The Cleveland City Stars won the United Soccer League’s second division in 2008 and, as recently as 2016, AFC Cleveland won the National Professional Soccer League crown with a 4-2 victory over Sonoma County Sol.

Unfortunately, soccer success in Cleveland has eventually been accompanied by teams folding for one reason or another. It could involve the end of a whole league or, in AFC Cleveland’s case, having its “membership terminated because it was not in good financial standing with the league.” That quote came from a tweet by the NPSL’s official handle on December 12, 2017. Less than 18 months after hoisting the league’s trophy, AFC Cleveland would be no more.

That left the city without a team to root for.

“I love soccer and I did not want it to die here,” Long said. “I knew I would regret it if I did not at least try. I had to exhaust every resource. My teammate Chris Cvecko and I started having a conversation in the car and talked further in a Chipotle parking lot outside the city. We wrote down ideas and called teammates and others previously associated with AFC Cleveland.” One of those “others” ended up being Sam Seibert, who worked on AFC Cleveland’s media relations staff. A long-time resident of northeast Ohio and a Kent State grad, Seibert also could not abide by the loss of soccer at any level in Cleveland. “I was only about two or three days from contacting Coletun myself,” Seibert said. “I wanted to gauge his interest level in a new club and plans for the players. He contacted me on a Wednesday night and I was going to call him that weekend. Those two were so passionate about sticking together.”

Seibert worked with AFC Cleveland its final season in 2017 and got a good sense of the overall atmosphere and how the club itself worked. Combined with his professional business acumen outside the soccer arena, Seibert felt ready to take on the challenge of owning a new NPSL club in Cleveland. “When you play and work together, you cannot let a championship team die in Cleveland,” Seibert said. “These are talented guys and I am tired of seeing them leave. They need to be in Cleveland with their families. They need to have a business model for this success.” That confidence, combined with the determination of several AFC Cleveland veterans, led to the NPSL’s official announcement of the Cleveland SC club in February.

That was the easy part.

“I want to be as Cleveland as possible.”

— Sam Seibert

Seibert still had to secure professional partnerships, hire a coach, get a roster together, find a place to play, gain a social media footing, work with the local supporters and much, much more. “We first had to make sure that we were properly structured from a legal standpoint and we had many meetings in the first 30 days so that we knew what we were going to have,” Seibert said. “We had some great minds involved, including players and former players. The soccer community in Cleveland was fractured and we needed some unity to take place. Everything went lightning fast. It was a blur.”

SHULA

Two weeks after the official team introductory announcement, the first domino fell. Cleveland SC announced that it would play its home games for the 2018 season on the campus of John Carroll University at Don Shula stadium. It is a great venue, located less than 10 miles from downtown, that holds more than 5,000. “We had to find a place to practice and a place to play pretty fast,” Seibert said. “I spoke with John Carroll coach Hector Marinaro, the former Crunch/Force standout, and Assistant AD Russell Houser. We came to terms in regard to the cost and availability.”

Vinny Bell, an All American at nearby Case Western University and the first player ever signed by AFC Cleveland, felt all this was business as usual. “At the level we play and the type of team we are, this whirlwind approach was nothing new to us,” said Bell, who scored twice in AFC Cleveland’s title victory over Sonoma. “We played in five stadiums in six years with AFC. This is a hectic league and it was hectic getting this together on such short notice, but that was just how we had to do it.” Bell was part of the initial group chat established by former AFC Cleveland players. Now that they had a stadium, who was going to be their coach?

“OZZY”

When you’re a native of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England and you play as a youth for Barnsley FC, you grow up either a fan of the Tykes, or the more illustrious club 20 minutes north, Leeds United. But Ryan Osborne always fancied himself a member of the Toon Army. “I am Newcastle all the way.” That seems appropriate, as Newcastle is that large English Premier League side in northeast England that fancies itself more of an intimate club, even though St. James’ Park holds more than 50,000. In that respect, Newcastle is a lot like Cleveland. Big, but accessible.

“Cleveland is a market that supports soccer, no matter the level,” Osborne said. “The big city helps attract players. It is a brilliant place to be.” Osborne helped the University of Charleston to four consecutive West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles, splitting his time between forward and attacking midfielder. He followed that up by playing one season with the West Virginia Chaos in the Premier Development League, helping lead the club to the final eight in 2014. During this time, Osborne was already whetting his coaching whistle. He started the first men’s program at University of Charleston-Beckley in 2014 and then served as an assistant at Marietta College for two years before joining the men’s soccer staff as both an assistant and recruiter at Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio in 2016.

“I was in Cincinnati at a showcase and bumped into Declan McGivern, who had played with AFC Cleveland,” Osborne said. “He was looking to play with the new Cleveland club and I was told they thought I might be a good fit. To be honest, I was a bit apprehensive. I had seen how the owners were in the PDL and I also wanted to put my own stamp on the club. I wanted to make sure there were opportunities for new players as well. I called Sam up to see what he had to say.” Seibert met Osborne at a pub in East Cleveland and the two believed in each other right away. Osborne was officially announced on March 13th and he, Seibert and Seibert’s staff set out on putting together a roster. There was a one-day tryout, which took place over two two-hour sessions at Charles F. Brush High School in Lyndhurst. Close to 60 tried out for the 21 roster spots. “My first impression of Ozzy? Why is he making me run so damned much,” said Bell with a laugh. “It was the longest preseason that I have had in my seven years. He got this team serious quickly and that was a big reason for our success.”

Seibert agreed.

“Ryan and I met at the pub for about an hour and really hit it off,” Seibert said. “He is passionate and he knew how to connect with the players. That was big for us.”

PARTNERS

“I always want to be directly tied to the city; this needs to be known as a city club,” Seibert said. “I want to be as Cleveland as possible.” That philosophy led to the development of several strong local relationships from the start. Seibert and his staff secured NovaCare Rehabilitation, Admiral Products (OTF manufacturer), the Old Angle Tavern and others as local, Cleveland-based partners for different club needs. They got Planet Fitness to sponsor the jerseys and they worked with two newer Cleveland staples to get heightened exposure. Cleveland Clothing Company, which prides itself on “spreading Cleveland pride, one t-shirt at a time,” according to its website, was founded in 2008 and now features five locations and a bustling online presence. Seibert worked with the company to get Cleveland SC merchandise out there, inspiring supporters and potential supporters to get excited about the club’s brand. “This merchandise platform really helped get brand out there in terms of exposure,” Osborne said. “You need to thank those companies for helping our club, which had less than three months of existence. It was huge.”

And then there was the beer.

ORANGEAID

Justin Carson, one of Platform Beer’s founders, has played soccer his entire life and grew up and avid fan of the Crunch and Force. He still competes at the Michael Zone Recreation Center on Lorain Avenue and tries to play three times a week between indoor and outdoor. Platform Beer has a location on Lorain Avenue as well. “I know how much soccer means to me and the impact it has had on my life, so when I read about this new club in The Plain Dealer, I was curious,” Carson said.

Cleveland SC signed a partnership deal with Platform Beer in May, and in late August, Carson and his colleagues released a beer devoted to the club. It’s called Orangeaid and Carson said it was a limited 30-barrel (300 cases) release. The beer, which sold out within the first week, was described by the Akron Beacon Journal as a “sour session brewed with fresh orange and electrolyte salts.”

That’s right… electrolytes.

“We were a bit apprehensive at first with the beer idea being a low-calorie electrolyte sour beer,” Carson said. “But it made sense developing something that goes hand-in-hand with soccer. You want something light. I did not know what to expect, but people loved it. We have a lemon lime version coming soon.” The can even has a Gatorade-look to it, but more importantly, it has Cleveland SC’s crest on it.

That crest features the “Guardians of Transportation,” four 43-foot tall pylons watching over both ends of the Hope Memorial Bridge, a 5,865-foot long viaduct over the Cuyahoga River that connects Lorain and Carnegie Avenues and serves as a major entrance into the heart of Cleveland. “The bridge is kind of an iconic thing. It is the passage into downtown. You can’t miss it,” Bell said. “It leads you right into the heart of Jacobs and the Q and West Side Market. I love the crest. It invokes nostalgia and the importance of connecting with each other.”

One of the Guardians of Transportation

6TH CITY SYNDICATE

Osborne hit the nail on the head when he spoke of the importance of supporters.

“From England, you appreciate this at a younger age as a player. Fans are the lifeblood of a club,” Osborne said. “Those guys gave us energy when we needed it, and they are definitely a loud bunch.” Seibert was even more effusive in praise: “They (6th City Syndicate) was here from the beginning. They provided support through email and texts and they got the word out through social media,” Seibert said. “These are supporters who will live and die with you, and that helped a lot.”

The supporters’ group has been around for several years and was looking for someone to cheer on once AFC Cleveland folded. “There are a core group of us and we never got an official response as to why AFC Cleveland stopped being a club,” said RJ Pooch, one of the leaders of 6th City Syndicate. “As we were coming to grips with that, we knew the guys who played for AFC Cleveland would not quit. And then Sam got involved. In 90 days, they went from inception to kickoff. How do you not support that?” Pooch and his fellow supporters brought the drums and smoke and painted banners and made Shula Stadium their own.

“All of us are really different, but it does not matter. If you support Cleveland soccer, we are happy to have you. For me, it’s the only team I support. You don’t find your club; your club finds you. I’m here for anything NPSL. It is much more intimate here.”

Fellow supporter Jonathan Dale, who also serves as a capo (vocal leaders for songs and chants) for the Columbus Crew, agrees. “I have played and supported Cleveland soccer since I was 6-or-7. I love it,” Dale said. “I went to Force and Crunch games, but AFC Cleveland never really fit my schedule. Now, we have to keep doing what we are doing. RJ made tons of banners when the season first started. We know we have something special, so let’s make it as Cleveland as possible.”

Pooch, Dale and fellow supporter Ed Zelaski have been impressed with Seibert’s transparency and communication. “It is really helpful for us that we have an owner who wants this and is willing to work with us,” Zelaski said. “He knows the things that we like. Sam stepped up. It was really important and it just shows how big of a difference it can be when an owner who understands the market is there.”

Seibert had his team and a stadium to put them in, and supporters to rally behind them. He had his partnerships in place and a strong social media presence to get the word out about all of it.

Now, it was time to play. Cleveland SC was placed in the seven-team East Conference Division of the Midwest Region Conference. Fellow NPSL debutante FC Columbus was placed in the Great Lakes Conference Division. The two sides played friendlies in mid-April with both teams winning at home. They jokingly referred to it as the Grandpa’s Cheesebarn Derby, named after the cheese, smoked meats and candies business located almost perfectly between the two cities in Ashland, Ohio.

The regular season began on May 19th, 90 days since the club was officially announced as the last of 98 NPSL clubs to receive membership for the 2018 season. Cleveland SC blanked the Rochester Lancers, 2-0, and posted four straight clean sheets to open the season.

Everyone played a role in the team team’s early success.

“We had six interns this year and they did a hell of a job,” Seibert said. “Being exposed to minor league baseball, as I have, allows you to do it something like this. We need to fill spots, no matter what your job title is. My fiancé was doing the announcements at the first game. We had guys acting as a ball boy, taking stats, getting rain gear out. We all had to do a little bit of everything.”

After a three-game winless streak, Cleveland SC caught fire, winning four in a row, including a 3-2 affair over Erie Commodores FC, their rivals. AFC Cleveland had Detroit FC early in the club’s career, but Erie, located just more than 90 minutes and 100 miles away, has become the club’s biggest rival. Over the last few years, AFC Cleveland, and now Cleveland SC, players have developed a healthy hatred for the Commodores.

“Their owner, John Melody, actually helped us when we were first starting to think about forming a new club,” Long said. “He was great. But, it’s also great in any sport when you have a rivalry. Since I started six years ago, sentiment has grown to the point that I hate Erie. The games have gotten bigger and bigger. There have been red cards and fights. It is great for us and the NPSL that there are two teams that care that much about beating one another.”

Osborne, who knows a good rivalry in Newcastle-Sunderland, concurred. “Those are the games you want to play in,” Osborne said. “Fans are getting into it. The drums are playing. Everything is loud.”

Erie got the better of Cleveland SC in the regular season finale to win the division, but Vinny Bell and his teammates got revenge in the round of 32 playoffs. Bell scored twice and provoked an own goal in the 79th minute as Erie advanced with a 4-0 victory.

Cleveland SC traveled to Ann Arbor the next round and lost, 1-0, ending a successful inaugural season at 8-3-3 overall. The club was comprised primarily of AFC Cleveland guys (about 16 of the 21 players on the roster), but a newcomer with a familiar name had his first experience representing the city.

“Cleveland soccer is one of the biggest aspects of my life. Being from Cleveland gave us that fire and passion and that love of representing the city,” Jesse Marinaro said.

Marinaro is the son of Cleveland legend Hector Marinaro, who scored more than 1,000 combined goals for the Crunch and Force over 16 seasons. Jesse Marinaro played for his father at John Carroll and now, a year after graduation, is part of the fledging group charged with reigniting the soccer flame in Cleveland. “All my friends have asked about it. It is high quality soccer and will not disappoint,” Jesse Marinaro said. “We have all spread the word around. It is awesome to watch this thing grow. It is a humbling feeling to put that jersey on and represent this city.”

Seibert’s first nine plus months, including his first competitive season, have been a success. Those around him credit his professionalism, passion and personality. Crowds at Shula were modest, 200 to 300 a game, but Cleveland weather and possible skepticism regarding the club’s long-term viability may have played a role.

“The NPSL has a low floor and a high ceiling,” Seibert said. “On the field, we can match up with everybody we play. We found our identity and relied on our chemistry. It is going to continue to be tough, but Ohio would not have it any other way. We are not going to do something unless we do it the right way. We did not invite anyone out who did not come back again.”

Osborne provided an honest evaluation of the first year.

“Playing at Shula was great and the playoff game at Erie was magic,” Seibert said. “A lot of clubs have come and gone and, when you are a new team, there is always a level of skepticism. People want to know that the team is going to stay. It can be hard to adjust on the fly. Volunteers handled some thankless tasks that they will never get proper recognition for. We did a pretty good job, considering. For me, it is nice knowing that the players coming back understand the culture we have, and the fact that we went all the way to the final 16 in our first go of it.”

Seibert gave his administrative staff, including Gary Wiggins (Head of Marketing) an extended break after the season concluded. “A lot of guys were committing a lot of time away from families, studies and jobs,” Seibert said. “After about 30 days, everyone got back in it. We want to capitalize on this opportunity out here.”

Seibert is currently out in Minnesota attending the NPSL’s ownership meeting [at the time of writing]. He never stops working for a club he wishes to see rise as high as possible. “It has been a dream of mine to be a part of this in Cleveland,” Seibert said. “I accomplished more the last eight months than the rest of my entire life. Cleveland SC is a diamond in the rough buoyed by our previous entities. We have this great passion for sports here. We need to continue on with it.”

- Brian Burden