We Are A People, We Are Alive: A Look Into The History of Croatian-American Soccer

One of the great factors in American soccer through its over one hundred years of history is the ever-expanding inspiration of immigrants on the soccer community. These connections can be traced across the world, and while the higher divisions of soccer in the United States do not always acknowledge this connection- modern or historical -the pride and appreciation of these roots is anything but dead in the lower leagues. One pattern visible in the lower leagues of the Midwest is the connection between Croatian-Americans and soccer clubs, as shown by the presence of UPSL clubs like the Croatian Eagles- otherwise known by the Croatian translation of its name, Hrvatski Orlovi -and RWB Adria.

First founded in 1917 under a local rotary club, the Croatian Eagles became independent in 1922 and have been active ever since. The Croatian presence in the Midwest can often be traced to conflicts in Central Europe in relation to the First and Second World Wars. The Eagles are rightfully proud to be the product of those that survived and found a way out of conflict. "Croatians emigrated from the Austro-Hungarian empire due to the unrest which eventually started WWI in 1914. The creation of their soccer club would allow them to foster and preserve their heritage away from home… The club’s home is the Croatian Park which was acquired by the small Croatian community in the late ‘50s.”

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Speaking with the Croatian Eagles, the club made it clear that it has always been a priority to find a happy medium where its roots could be celebrated while still welcoming people of all backgrounds. “Our club is mostly comprised of non-Croatians though our board and their kids who are members of the club have Croatian roots… Our club has a rich history and as such we work hard to continue what was started 96 years ago. We believe that soccer is for everyone and not just the wealthy.” Even with its roots and name being specifically Croatian, there is a sort of diversity throughout the club’s legacy. Looking at a newspaper clipping which features the entire first squad of the Croatian Eagles in 1922, one can find representation from across Europe on the Eagles roster. “You will notice name with German and Hungarian last names not only Croatian. The Croatian community was also involved in the founding of a local German soccer club as well.”

Based in the lower league hotbed of Milwaukee, the Croatian Eagles consider themselves positively inspired by the city and its working class values. “Milwaukee is a smaller and mostly blue collar town whose traits are hard work and enjoying the simple things in life. Our club shares those traits and we are for everyone and we will educate all skill levels equally and hope that our influence will help guide the kids to something bigger and better.”

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The story continues in Chicago where RWB Adria finds itself one of the key clubs in the Midwest’s portion of the UPSL. The club brings modern skill and organization to the league, along with decade upon decade of rich history. RWB Adria also plays in the local Chicago league, titled the National Soccer League, where it has played for nearly one hundred years dating back to before its current iteration.

Originally intended to be named “Croatia Chicago,” the club was forced to avoid what was, at the time, considered an overly ethnic name. Inspired by the globally admired Adriatic shore and sea, the club would instead go by Adria. By 1976 the naming convention of Red White Blue- the three colors of the Croatian and US flags -had become popular and the club finally reached its permanent name of RWB Adria.

The club, rooted in the emigration of Croatians from the then communist nation of Yugoslavia, has always functioned as a proud column of the Croatian community in Chicago. General Manager Ante Loncar explained that in many ways the club represented one of a few ways these Croatian immigrants could show the city and the country that they existed. “Soccer and the club were our way of advertising our homeland that we never actually had… we showed that we are a people. We are alive.”

Both clubs highlighted in this piece had impactful runs in the USPL’s 2018 spring season. The Croatian Eagles finished 4th in the Midwest - North Division with a 4-1-5 record, while RWB Adria placed first in the Midwest - Central Division with a 7-1-2 record. The success, however, did not stop at the local pitch for Croatian and Croatian-American soccer, perhaps coming most notably with the success of the national team in the 2018 World Cup. The national team, clad in its classic red and white checkered kits, went on to make the world cup final for the first time in its nation’s history and, though France came out as champions, would become one of the great stories from the latest iteration of the tournament.

Clubs like Hrvatski Orlovi were plenty aware of the national team’s success and how it invigorated Croatians and lovers of the game around the world. “The World Cup inspired many people even outside the Croatian or soccer world. We have seen Croatian clubs receive additional exposure due to the direct success of the Croatian National team. ‘Neopisivo’ the experience was indescribable.”

2016 RWB Adria Squad

2016 RWB Adria Squad

Loncar added that the World Cup run was a powerful experience for him and soccer lovers around Chicago, “When you see your country playing in a World Cup final… it’s just amazing.. what I loved best was the Americans that came… because of course you want the underdog to win.” Loncar also added that the World Cup run and the growing presence of Croatians on the roster sheets for major European clubs like Juventus, Real Madrid, Inter, Liverpool, and Barcelona has helped “Put less pressure on us,” as Americans often no longer need clubs like Adria or Hrvatski Orlovi to educate them about the basic facts when it comes to Croatia.

You may be asking yourself, “Okay I just learned about a couple interesting clubs with some common threads, but why does that actually matter?”

There is a common narrative in the way some Americans think about the beautiful game, a narrative that suggests that the game is relatively new to the nation and represents a risky and cloudy new path. What the stories of the Croatian Eagles and RWB Adria show us is that this sport is not new to this country. Both clubs included in this piece are older than the Super Bowl, the championship game of what most perceive as an older and more rooted sport in the US, first played in 1967, and two or three times the age of most who claim this idea of newness. They also vastly outdate any professional soccer league currently active in the country right now. The other lesson is that this path is not untouched or unknown. It is a path that has been paved by the ambitions and passions of countless immigrants to this country from Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.

Learning to appreciate and acknowledge the work done by clubs like Adria and Hrvatski Orlovi is not just important for the average person’s perception of the Croatian-American experience, it is key to one’s understanding of the nature of soccer in this country, one that dates back long before the acronyms we now use to section the world’s game.

- Dominic Bisogno

Editor’s Note: This piece was edited to reflect that Yugoslavia was a communist nation, not a Soviet nation.

When the USL Comes Knocking

 

I moved to El Paso 8 years ago. I moved here from the Southern tip of Texas, McAllen. While there may have been some lower tier clubs in the area, the Rio Grande Valley (where McAllen is located) wasn’t a hotbed of soccer action. The soccer fans that I knew in the area were diehard Mexican national team fans and that was about it. Just before my move from McAllen, rumors had popped up about a new USL side that was just about to add a club in Edinburg (the city next to McAllen). But I was gone before the USL side, RGV Toros, came into existence.

Coming to El Paso, there was zero soccer culture here. Again, all the interest was invested in clubs and national teams below the border. But there were always rumors. I can specifically remember 3 years ago when there was a report that the group that owned the local minor league baseball affiliate were working with the USL to bring a team to El Paso. When I say report, I literally mean ONE article that popped up and was never mentioned again. Like most fans of soccer in El Paso, I waited and waited but nothing seemed to come from it.

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When Local Means You

Then a year ago, the UPSL came to the area. First, there was FC Grande in neighboring Las Cruces. Soon after it, Southwest FC announced operations. I can honestly say that without these two clubs I would not be the supporter of lower league soccer that I am today. Before the UPSL expansion, I was heavily invested into MLS and USL, blissfully uninformed of the PDL, NPSL, or UPSL. I was the host of a MLS-focused podcast, Bury My Heart USA, and was a firm supporter of MLS, though unhappy about the flaws in the system (Pro/Rel, salary cap, etc). With the expansion of the UPSL, I found clubs I could embrace at a local level.

FC Grande, though farther from my house (about an hour drive), really connected to me as a soccer fan. I got to know the owner of the club, I showed up at their tryouts, I made friends who were also following the development of the club. I loved their logo, the pluckiness of the team, the feeling of community at the matches. It didn’t matter that I had to drive an hour each way to support the club, I was hooked. So hooked that I helped found a supporter’s group for the club, Notorious FCG. We are a small but enthusiastic bunch of supporters who chant, bang drums, and insist on popping smoke whenever our home side scores. We are a tiny group, but our club is also tiny. Halfway through the season we printed a bunch of stickers and began passing them out during the matches, “Support Local Soccer.”

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USL Comes to Town 

During this same time period, the USL project in El Paso really began to grow. Announcements were made, colors were promoted, the name of the club was teased for months in social media, billboards, and the local news. That wait finally ended yesterday when the USL side announced their name was El Paso Locomotive FC. Already local media are mislabeling the team “the locomotives.” I assume this is a lack of awareness of the history of soccer, but it’s cool. As these announcements emerged, I wondered about how Locomotive would affect the local soccer environment.

 Unlike many other USL branded clubs, El Paso did not have a soccer heritage, at least not a club soccer heritage. With two fledging clubs in the local market, still trying to establish themselves with soccer fans, would the USL just smother those clubs out of existence? And there were signs of it right away. The local AO group immediately began backing the USL group, long before the name was announced. How much stock you put in AO is up to you, but they were the only well-established group of soccer supporters in El Paso, so their support meant something, at least locally. I watched on social media as guy after guy that I’ve met in the local soccer community began buying season tickets for Locomotive. The USL seemed to be gaining a foothold in a way that the UPSL just hadn’t been able to in their first season in the area. 

The Conflict

While I am not the social media warrior others are, I certainly have an opinion about the USL and their ever-expanding reach into lower tier soccer. While the UPSL and NPSL are not perfect organizations, I believe their true desire is to increase the number of soccer clubs and expand the sport’s fandom throughout the country. The focus is more towards independent clubs and the desire to someday get to Pro/Rel. I hear that from club owners, league officials, and fans. In contrast, MLS and USL appear to be tightening the upper divisions of American soccer in a way that benefits those already in power. MLS continues to charge ridiculous expansion fees from prospective owners, even from clubs which clearly should be in the top tier (FC Cincinnati comes to mind). USL is slightly more complicated, but, for most lower league fans, no better than the top tier.

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This year saw a massive expansion by the USL. Having solidified their hold on the second division of soccer (aided by the USSF’s snuffing out of the NASL), USL rolled out a massive expansion of their influence and control of lower tiers. A rebranding brought the three tier system: USL Championship, USL League 1, and USL League 2. The rebranding was an obvious appeal to English soccer fans, as the divisions follow their naming conventions, including the confusing use of the word “Championship” to describe a second-tier league. What isn’t brought over from the English system is Pro/Rel. There were mentions that it might be rolled out in the future, but MLS was preaching the same line 20 years ago. Don’t hold your breath.

“...businesses, no matter what they sell, are always the same: expand, conquer, maintain control. USL is no different.”

As this rebranding was ongoing, USL continues to expand in soccer markets around the US, selling rights to communities all over the country. Markets who had been ignored for years by the 1st and 2nd tier were suddenly being targeted. Included in that plan was Chattanooga, who’s NPSL side is well-established and considered a model lower-tier club. Is it good business to expand into a market already sewn up by a lower-division? Look at other industries, of course it is. Walmart has destroyed hundreds of small business operations by expanding into markets. With a massive infrastructure and control of prices, any large organization can take a loss in a small market for a period of time to eventually run the competition out of business. And I’m not entirely anti-Walmart, I’m just saying that businesses, no matter what they sell, are always the same: expand, conquer, maintain control. USL is no different.

There is a gap currently between UPSL and, to a lesser extent, NPSL and their target markets. Clubs are still struggling to draw fans in most markets. That could mean two things. It could mean that there are not enough soccer fans to support a soccer club. Most of us would hiss and boo this idea. On the other hand, it could mean that local soccer clubs have yet to connect to their local markets. There are exceptions, of course (I see you, Detroit). But if the USL believes the second opinion, that could explain their big push into these markets. Get in, get the billboards up, and gobble up the local soccer fans as quickly as possible.

Where does that leave you and I?

In history, there’s periods of upheaval that shape the future. In those periods, things are shifting rapidly and it’s hard to see what the future holds. Go back to the 20s and 30s, when the Fall River Marksmen and Bethlehem Steele were dominating the American Soccer League. They were outdrawing the Yankees and Red Sox, crowds were massive. If we could go back in time and talk to the fans of those clubs, how would they have predicted the future? Maybe they would have pointed to all the growth and market saturation and predicted a bright future for the league. But we can look back 90 years and know what actually happened. The Great Depression and anti-immigrant hysteria smothered the great soccer leagues of that era and the sports that now dominate soccer rose to power. Soccer, as a national sport, went underground until the late 60s.

So I say all that to say I don’t know what the future will bring. Is the USL going to dominate all these tiny markets across the country, forcing local clubs to get in (to the league) or give up? Will the tiered approach by USL result in a Pro/Rel system that eventually forces MLS to open up? Is USL bad or good?

“All of these arguments have points I can agree with at some level and the people making these arguments aren’t evil or bad. Hell, in some cases, these people are my friends. This article isn’t an attack on them, they seem to have figured out how they believe.”

I have friends in the soccer community that think I am overthinking this subject. My concerns to them are easily dismissed. Some seem to have bought into the USL, arguing that it will result in better player development (as a USMNT fan, I hope so). Others argue that stability will be the result of this expansion and isn’t that a good thing? Still others push the idea that USL will bring more payed positions for soccer players in this country. There’s even a more cynical point of view that higher tier equals better soccer. I think there’s even another opinion that argues that you can support more than one club. I’m not sure I agree with that, but maybe? All of these arguments have points I can agree with at some level and the people making these arguments aren’t evil or bad. Hell, in some cases, these people are my friends. This article isn’t an attack on them, they seem to have figured out how they believe. This is much more the thought process of a conflicted soccer fan, watching his city of choice going over to the USL.

But when I stand on the bleachers in Las Cruces, NM, as the sun begins to dip below the mountains, and I see my guys run out on the field in their blue and gray uniforms, I feel like I know the way I believe. Local soccer means more than the city in the name of the club. If this massive USL expansion eliminates all these lower clubs, there’s little I can do as a fan to change that. If eventually DCFC and Chattanooga finally succumb and join a bigger league, the world will continue to spin. But until that bleak future (from a lower-tier perspective), I will continue to support my local club. A club full of guys who grew up here, who play for pride and passion.

Just because USL comes knocking doesn’t mean you have to open the door.

- Dan Vaughn

edits: Originally this article had included the sentences “Obviously, this plan must have been a recent idea, after their promoted branding of USL D3 was just getting underway. But every recipe requires breaking some eggs, so let’s ignore that.” Those were removed after a reader pointed out the trademarks had been filed over a year ago.

SUBBUTEO: SOCCER FOR THE ARMCHAIR MANAGER

We’ve all been there once or twice before. Ranting and raving on social media about how our favorite club’s manager doesn’t know what they are doing or saying they should have played someone else instead of the starters that day. We’ve even gone on our favorite game consoles and lived out a fantasy through the myriad of video games available globally. But, in this golden age of FIFA, Pro Evolution Soccer, and Football Manager, there exists another version of the beautiful game. No, it’s not foosball, though that can get quite exciting. I’m talking Subbuteo, or tabletop football. For some, this may sound foreign or cause some confusion, but rest assured this game has a long history and has only grown in popularity.

Courtesy of Derby City Subbuteo Club, care of Eric Major

Courtesy of Derby City Subbuteo Club, care of Eric Major

A version of Subbuteo was first invented in 1929 and initially called Newfooty. However, it wasn’t until 1946 that Peter Adolph made significant improvements to the game, filled out a patent application, and gave it a new name. Initially he wanted to name it “Hobby” but couldn’t get the trademark rights to it. Fortunately, Mr. Adolph was headstrong and determined. He eventually came across the name Subbuteo in the Latin name for a Eurasian hobby falcon. While there were orders continuously coming in, it wasn’t until 1947 that the first set was produced and delivered to a customer. The game continued growing in popularity, which in turn led to improvements and new pieces being added to it. 1961 saw the first 3D figure introduced into the line, which eventually evolved in 1967 to what are described as “heavyweight” figures. 1961 also saw the ultimate end of Newfooty, which most people attribute to the success and popularity of Subbuteo at the time.

Courtesy of Derby City Subbuteo Club, care of Eric Major

Courtesy of Derby City Subbuteo Club, care of Eric Major

As you can see in the picture above, Motorik Alexandria FC has managed to not only establish a small footprint in the overall American soccer landscape, but also has made its way into local Subbuteo leagues.

The game continued to grow in popularity through the 70s and 80s, but production was halted out of the blue in the 90s. Also, during 1992, the governing body for Subbuteo- the FISTF -was founded. FISTF stands for the Federation of International Sports Table Football. Yes, it’s okay to laugh at the name and have some sophomoric humor attached to it, but this governing body is taken very serious by players around the world.  

While the game production was halted in the 90s, Hasbro (who had bought the game some time previously) did eventually sell the rights to the game to Total Soccer, who re-launched the game in 2012. Since then, the game has grown again in popularity with new stands created for fans to make stadiums, ballboys, policeman, fans, etc. A Subbuteo World Cup has even spawned from the newfound popularity in the game. The 2018 Subbuteo World Cup was recently held in Gibraltar on September 1st and 2nd, with Spain winning the Open category of the Cup.

While the game of Subbuteo and the beautiful game of soccer share a lot of the same rules, some of these rules have been modified to fit within the confines of this amazing tabletop game. First, a player keeps possession of the ball so long as the figure they are flicking hits the ball and the result of that hit doesn’t hit an opposing figure. In addition to that, the initial figure used can only be used two more consecutive times in that sequence to total three flicks. Second, a player can only take a shot on goal if they have crossed what is known as the shooting line, which is equal distance from the goal and the midway line. During these shots, the opposing player can move their goalie around by using a rod attached to the bottom of the goalie. Lastly, there is an offside rule, but it isn’t like regular soccer’s offside rule.  Subbuteo’s offside consists of attacking players being on the goal side of the opponent’s shooting line, whereas it’s the midfield line in soccer.

Courtesy of Derby City Subbuteo Club, care of Eric Major

Courtesy of Derby City Subbuteo Club, care of Eric Major

As previously mentioned, there is a shooting line in the attacking half of the field, which also functions as an offside marker within each game played. However, in the next two photos you can see that there is no shooting line. The exclusion of the line may be based on the skill of the players, but could also be based on the want for a more authentic look when the matches are played.

In addition to the more traditional outdoor look of the game, there is also an indoor style mat used within some groups. Most purists may squabble about that, but for some people, they enjoy indoor soccer just as much as they enjoy the traditional side. Either way, it seems like they are both pretty popular among fans and players.

In the end, each person has their own personal preference in games to play out their managerial fantasies, but I think most of us would find more enjoyment in Subbuteo, especially those who love strategic board games. I would like to thank Eric Major of Derby City Subbuteo Club for sharing his knowledge of the game and also for the pictures showcased in the article. I would recommend talking with him if you’d like to learn and understand more of the game.

- Shawn Laird

All photos are courtesy Derby City Subbuteo Club, care of Eric Major.







Top 10 Lower Tier Crests

When you slip on that jersey, the crest lays right over your heart; you give everything for that crest. Your passion for the club deserves to be matched by a strong crest design. Crest designs have always been an interest of mine as a soccer fan and artist, so I searched the web to find my top ten crests in lower league soccer. I critiqued each crest on four criteria: community link, color theory, movement and merchandising potential. 
 

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10. Virginia Beach City FC
NPSL/ WPSL

Neptune's own soccer team, branded by his very own trident. Virginia Beach, also known as “ Neptune's City,” uses the trident to link to the community. While most crests look as if the shield shape is the first design element, it is clear that VBCFC crafted this entire piece around the trident. The shape of the crest uses only straight lines that connect into very sharp corners, emulating the style of the trident.

This perfectly symmetric design, has strong imagery mixed with strong color combinations of blue/gold and black/gold that help create an image visible from a distance.

The marketability of this crest is already strong just based of the design itself, but similar to a few different clubs on the list, Virginia Beach City FC hosts two teams. Having both a men's and women's sides stylistically branded  allows cities like Virginia Beach to create a soccer culture, not just a club.

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9. Napa Valley 1839 Football Club
NPSL

Napa Valley is wine country if you couldn't tell. The monochromatic palette allows the crest to breathe, like a fine wine is supposed to. (I think. I'm a beer drinker.) Even the pattern on the soccer ball, everything is just tied together. 1839’s unique shape helps create a depth within the crest allowing the name to be pushed furthest up in the foreground. Its big, it's bold, and it's beautiful.

Similar to Asheville, Napa Valley's color scheme grants an opportunity to adapt the crest for particular merchandise. The light color will always play well against the dark, being legible from a distance.

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8. Bearfight FC of Wilmington
USLPA

A crest and club built by passion and by the community. Bearfight uses the flag of Wilmington to immediately tie the club into the community. The ferocious bear counter-balanced by the sailing ship ( this ship is also located within the city’s flag and seal) keeps this asymmetric piece active.

The blue and yellow tones, taken directly from the city’s flag, offer not only a community link, but a strong color scheme that helps make this design stand out. The two tones of blue seamlessly transition into one another, blending into one image. The bright yellow border helps keep this flowing design from escaping the page.

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7. Himmarshee Soccer Club
Gold Coast SPL

HSC caught my eye while I was researching for my article about community-owned clubs.
(https://riversidecorasblog.wordpress.com/2018/06/06/communityowned) Instantly I fell in love with the minimalist design. It let me know exactly who Himmarshee was, and what it was about.

The crest's most unique characteristic is the Himmarshee river, acting as the seam of the soccer ball. With the use of concentric circles, everything is revolving around soccer and the community while the cardinal and gold color contrast helps the design pop with very few elements. 

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6.  Providence City FC/ Rhode Island Rogues
BSSL/ WPSL

It's easy to say that while there aren't too many elements within this piece, it is by far the most BADASS crest in all of lower league soccer. The Rogues have used a symbol that has struck fear in enemies for centuries. This adapted Jolly Roger, accompanied by a sharp font and the traditional gray-scale, helps strike fear into their opponents. 

The Rogues field both a men's and a women's side. By fielding both sides, Providence has the opportunity to help develop a soccer culture within its community. A culture that waves its Jolly Roger proudly.
 

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5. AFC Ann Arbor
NPSL

Keep it simple, stupid. We are taught to KISS at an early age; it keeps your message clear and concise. For AFC Ann Arbor, there’s nothing more iconic than a tree (arbor in Latin). The strong symmetrical tree planted within the round border creates an impactful image that is noticeable from a distance. The deep blue color helps strengthen the simple yet iconic imagery.

The Arbor's true potential lies in it's marketability. I’m talking graphics, merchandise, flags and tifo; these are the things the team capitalizes on. AFCAA has some of the best soccer merchandise on the market, each unique design still focuses on the Ann Arbor community. It’s one color, one tree, for one club.

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4. Asheville City Soccer Club
NPSL/ WPSL

The focal point, Asheville City Hall, is the perfect contrast, from it's Art Deco-esque design to the movement of the city’s initials. The negative space underneath the focal point offers stability throughout a very active design.

Every element tries to reflect the community that it supports, even down to the color, described by ACSC as “ Blue Haze, named after the haze that early settlers identified with the Blue Ridge mountains.”

Due to the crest's sticker-like qualities, it makes for a  perfect merchandising tool. The color choice of the “Blue Haze” against the white offers many options for adapting the logo to specific merchandise.

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3. Sporting AZ FC
UPSL

The king's crest; and no I'm not crowning Sporting AZ FC as the best crest in the lower leagues, but rather speaking of the design itself. The gold banners and knot work help create a crest fit for soccer royalty. In between the intricate knot work lies the Arizona state flag, that helps cap off the top of the crest. “Veni, Vidi, Vici” translated to “I came, I saw, I conquered;” a perfect descriptor of a club who within two years of joining the UPSL, won the Southwest Conference and made it all the way to the 2018 NPSL Spring Final.

The great mythical gryphon- used throughout lore to depict the king of beasts -is placed as the main image of the crest. The gryphon brings strength to each player and a strong focal point for this design. Complete with the complementary color palette, this crest remains a strong symbolic image for the Arizona soccer fan.

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2. Erie Commodores FC
NPSL

In the center of this gorgeous crest sails the USS Niagara, a ship used to defend the shores of Lake Erie, in the War of 1812. The use of the moniker Commodores, relates to the American style of sports branding, while still incorporating the traditional soccer label FC. 

The crest uses complimentary colors, helping the ship pop off the badge. As your eyes move towards the back of the ship you notice the flag, and then the crest begins to tell it's story.

“Don't give up the ship” is a slogan with passion and fight. Just looking at this crest I can picture the awesome shirts, hats and tifo; just so much potential. Small additions like a slogan help drive a statement with fans; show them who you are and what you're about. 

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1. Athletic Club of Sloan's Lake

When creating a crest, one should take a city’s flag into consideration during the design process. The city flag often ties in history, as well as offers a color palette for your club that already represents your city. For ACSL, it was the small manipulations to the flag of Denver that created a unique piece for Sloan's Lake.

My favorite element within the crest is the waves. Immediately your eyes read the name of the club, then the waves pull you to the bottom of the crest, only to push your eyes back up to witness the Colorado sun peaking over the mountain. One change from the Denver flag is the loss of white, which was replaced by light blue accents. This small adjustment helps keep every element focused on the community.

New clubs and new crests appear every day. As the American soccer culture begins to further develop, we will continue to see strong crest designs that will help financially support lower league clubs.

Did I miss a few clubs, or you want to explain why your club's crest is the best? Find me on Twitter @StevilFC.

- Steven Ramirez