A New Look Rooster

As the years come and go, a team will begin to notice when it is time for a change. Having finished one position from a playoff spot for three straight seasons, the past two being only three points away, the Rhode Island Reds have reached that time for change. They began play in the 2012 NPSL season and, after 7 seasons, the Reds are looking for their first playoff opportunity again this year. With that optimism, Kabba Joof, the founder and chairman of the club, along with club President Rubin Paz and head of Community Outreach Mike Simeone, have decided to go with a fresh start for a new chapter in the team's story.

The original logo.

The team is named after the Rhode Island state bird and the badge maintains the Red at its focal point. They have received their new look badge from graphic designer @danygraff. They have maintained the 13 stars representing their home as the 13th state, the anchor from the Rhode Island flag, and the 2012 inaugural season on their badge. The club website explains why it kept many of the same elements during this change. The new look reflects the work that has been put in by the players and staff and they hope that by keeping the key elements they are "ensuring a level of respect, family, hope, and positiveness to its Players, Fans, and Volunteers of all levels while still maintaining the symbolic Rhode Island State symbols."

The club has teamed up with the Portuguese brand G-Sport to produce its shirts for a second year. They have taken the idea of change and completely revamped their look. As Kabba explained, "If new logo design, why not a new shirt." They have moved from last year's plain red or blue and yellow blocks of color to bold new patterns. Working with G-Sport allowed the Reds to create the shirt the way that they wanted. Kabba explained that he is generally more conservative in his soccer, but Paz, a Portuguese American, saw this as a chance to work with a company that has produced many shirts for amateur clubs in Portugal. Even though he was "concerned about getting too close to the edge" he likes the shirt because it is different. The Reds are the first team in the United States to have kits from G-Sport and sees this as the next step in their efforts. G-Sport has worked with smaller soccer teams and as Kabba put it, all aspects of the "game starts on the grassroots level."

The new kits. Image courtesy of Rhode Island Reds FC.

Last year, they gave their title sponsor spot away to a non-profit: the March of Dimes. Their main sponsor this year is Beard Care Club. They saw this partnership as a chance to show their growth and their connection to the community. The owner spent the 1990's in New England after he left the army and has maintained a friendship with the club. "My family and I have been football (soccer) fans as far as I can remember. When we were approached about the possibility of being a sponsor for the Rhode Island Reds FC we were ecstatic and had to jump on it," owner Donny Salazar said in the press release about their partnership.

Club players trying on the new kits. Image courtesy of Rhode Island Reds FC.

The Rhode Island Reds believe that they have improved on and off the field. The organization and team are evolving from one of the older teams in the Northeast and NPSL as they step up their game.They are using their history and belief in the bottom-up development of soccer to promote their future.

Their shirts are available at their website and if interested, they still have a few tee shirts available with the old logo as well.

- Andy Rittenhouse

Snohomish County FC: Addicted to Creativity

Snohomish County FC has quickly taken off with their social media presence and soon enough, they’ll be flying up the ranks of top lower league kits. I wrote about the club around the time they first got up and running and now, I am revisiting the team to look at their brand new, beautiful, and unique kits. I spoke with SnoCo FC General Manager, David Falk, about the new kits, which have preorders launching today. The kits will only be available for preorder for the rest of this month, so don’t hesitate to get your hands on at least one of these gorgeous jerseys. 

What was the inspiration behind the kits?

The foundation of the Steelhead in our crest is hexagon "scales," and we wanted that foundation to be part of the kit as well. In the Primary Orange the hexagon foundation is a subtle 'pinstripe' hexagon pattern. in the Hex Grey Alternate / Away Kit it pops to the front in a big way and also takes the "scales" look further too.

How did you settle on Icarus as the designer?

We have been talking with Icarus for several months on and off about the kits. They have always been accommodating and quick to reply. They were willing to listen to various ideas and extra touches and then implement them.

These were obviously the first custom kits in club history. How important was it to get it right and get an incredible kit?

These will be our first custom kits, made only for use and worn by no other team in the world. So we have a large folder on the computer with scores of different styles, designs and near misses. It is probably good that it has taken us this long to be ready to order custom kits, because the wait helped the process of eliminating some unneeded elements. We will wear these for our first 2 years in league play, so we wanted them to look good.

What was the goal when you guys set out with designing the kits?

Our logo is both simple and complex. Yes, it is a single Steelhead fish within a simple black circle, but it is also a hexagonal pattern. How could kits be both simple and complex, or both complex and simple? The Primary Orange is the latter - simple beautiful 'Steelhead Orange' with a faded half fish at the bottom. But the hex pattern reveals there is more going on if you look closely. The Hex Grey is the opposite - a lot going on, but wait...it is actually just a simple hex pattern with shades of grey and black.

What was your favorite part of the kit designing process?

I love the creating. Even after the designs were chosen I wanted to keep making more. Not because we weren't satisfied, but because the process of trying new ideas and seeing new outcomes is so addictive.

Which of the two kits is your personal favorite?

Hey, I wanted us to wear orange since day one of the club. No regional adult men's club in Washington has orange as its main color. We are all whites, blues and greens up here for the most part. So the Primary Orange is my favorite. Needless to say though, I will be buying both.

Could you explain the significance of the “Oso 43” for those unaware?

In March of 2014 there was a devastating landslide in Northern Snohomish County near the town of Oso. 43 people were swept away in the mud in a matter of minutes. The neighborhood destroyed was called "Steelhead Haven," and we have vowed to honor their memories by putting "Oso 43" somewhere on all of our kits and also retiring the number 43. Our stadium is just 19 miles from the landslide area. Mark Lavis, who designed the Steelheads crest, also designed the "Oso 43" mark that will appear on the back neck of the shirts.

Is the club close to securing a kit sponsor? If not, how could interested businesses get in contact with the club?

We have  until March 1 to place our order with Icarus to get the kits in time for the 2019 season. We recently ran a poll to see what people thought we should do if we didn't have a shirt sponsor. The vote was 52% to donate the space to a charity and 25% to leave it blank. We will just have to see what happens. We'd love a sponsor to help us out. We are still looking. Contact us at snocofc@gmail.com if you have any leads.

Pre-orders start Friday, February 1st! How can fans get in on the action and how long will it be until they get their hands on the new threads?

Fans can pre-order the shirts at SnoCoFC.com. We use PayPal. They are $40 each + $5 postage per entire order. They will have to be patient though. The cutoff date to order is February 28th but the shirts won't arrive at the club until mid April and then  be shipped out to individual buyers after that. It's a pay now, be surprised around Easter kind of deal.

- Aarik Long

Running in Rouge: Lower League Ingenuity at the Professional Level

Detroit City’s 2018 will likely be best remembered for its historic friendlies against the likes of St. Pauli, Necaxa, and Frosinone and its continued record setting when it comes to attendance, the club’s top-level kits are often a forgotten element of its ever-growing profile and personality. Protagonist had the chance to speak with Detroit’s Director of Media, Lindsey Pehrson in order to find out more about Detroit’s 2018 rendition of the rouge and gold.

2018 was not the first time Detroit had a winning look, a huge part of this comes down to smart color selection, “our team colors are Rouge and Gold.  Secondary colors include White, Black, Grey, Navy and Verdigris.” That combination of rouge and gold has been the flagship for a long run of great designs. The combination isn’t just rooted in good design, however, and is tied to the history of Detroit itself. “One aspect of the history of the Detroit area is a connection to France.  The Rouge River flows through SE Michigan and the Nain Rouge still haunts the streets every spring.”

Detroit’s 2018 kits, made by Adidas, were designed within the club per tradition, “We have always designed our own kits in-house.” This combines the professionalism of a global company like Adidas with the smart and free minded design of a fan-focused community club like Detroit City. This leaves us with a kit made by Adidas that doesn’t feel cookie cutter like many of the often-criticized MLS kits made by the same company.

The club doesn’t stop at a good pair of colors and has used traditional kit motifs like stripes, hoops, and buttoned collars to elevate their kits, again combining modern and authentic ideas with classic concepts found on kits for over a century. Pehrson explained that this combination of eras has helped the club visualize the professional look it strives for, “as a club we have always strove for a professional and timeless look for our kits. Hoops, stripes, collars, solids are all good examples of this aesthetic.”

One of the more interesting aspects of Detroit’s kits is that they stand out as an example for what soccer can be outside of the establishment while still utilizing big brands, in this case Adidas and Lyft. “Since our founding, we have only kitted out our players in two brands - first Nike and now Adidas - and we have been happy with the look and quality those brands have provided. As for sponsorship, strong partner relationships are a vital part to running a successful organization.  We built a great relationship with Lyft in 2018, and we are hopeful that partnership continues.  Any sponsorship agreement is multi-faceted, but an important aspect is ensuring a tasteful and professional presentation of the partner brand.” Detroit City’s success with brands of that scale shows that upper-pyramid clubs don’t have to have a monopoly on sponsorships of nationwide or global substance.

2018 was a great year for Detroit in many ways, but the club is far from done. With the Founders Cup and another shot at NPSL glory on the ropes, the club will surely aim to break new barriers with its next look. “Our 2019 kits will be our best-looking kits yet and will be the perfect look for making the move to fielding a professional roster.”

• Dominic Bisogno

Going Local from the Start

Originally named the Louisiana Premier League in 2014, the league had to be rebranded two years later to the Gulf Coast Premier League because it had outgrown the state of Louisiana. Now the league operates in Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Texas. The GCPL originally came into my radar while covering Motagua’s run in this year’s USOC qualifying. But recently I spotted a new kit in my twitter feed and found another GCPL club. Honestly, the first time I read the name Krewe FC, I thought someone had made a major spelling mistake. But because I’m a nerd, I decided to google it. Turns out it’s a real term for the team of people that operate a float for street festivals (you probably already are, but think Mardis Gras). So a club from Lafayette, Louisiana, the Cajun Capital, couldn’t be more appropriately named. Lafayette is somewhat isolated from other soccer clubs, so this year Krewe FC was formed to provide an outlet for the local soccer talent coming out of area high schools and academies.

Often times, when we write an article on a kit, it’s a rebrand. The tired and old is pushed out for something slick and new. But today’s Uni-Formity is about a brand new kit, fresh and clean, the Icarus-designed away kit for Louisiana Krewe FC. Yes, before I go further, Icarus sponsors this column and is an advertiser on our site. They also make some of the most amazing kits in the lower league.

I talked with Krewe FC about their new away kit and they described their thought process in choosing the club colors - “we wanted to go with something that would really resonate with South Louisiana. It made sense to go with the black and gold color scheme. Sports fans here relate and identify to those colors.”  Drawing inspiration from the local sports scene for the colors was only the beginning, inspiration for the stripe came from a place far from Louisiana. The inspiration for the sash design was inspired by “the newest kit Peru rolled out for the World Cup and the old Umbro shadow stripe jerseys of the early 80’s.”

That sash really makes the kit pop, particularly with the inclusion of more local inspiration. “The diagonal “shadow”stripe accented by the Fleur de Lis. A Gold Fleur de lis is also located just under the collar on the back of the jersey.” Even more local flair will be on the kit with “the addition of the club motto on the back of the jersey, running across the very bottom; ‘Toutes les Mains Aye’. This French phrase refers to the order, All hands on deck, or All hands Aye. This refers to the Regions French history and the Naval and Marine history of South Louisiana. In order for our Club and our objective to be met, “All hands” will be required to work and contribute.”

While the away kit is an absolute beauty, the home kit has yet to be revealed. The club plans on making that public in the near future, with public kit sales in early January. There are also plans in the works for a limited run of “Mardi Gras Edition” jersey in early 2019 (mock up of that kit below).

Bugeaters FC: Reaping the harvest

Few teams have exploded on the lower tier soccer scene like Bugeaters FC. Founded earlier this year in Lincoln, Nebraska, Bugeaters FC has effectively leveraged social media, beneficial partnerships and smart design to attract a national audience that few have been able to match. Led by owner John Collura, the club has been a model of smart but aggressive growth - targeting opportunities in creative ways to yield results. Their fans are spread across the map - far from the sprawling fields of Nebraska - due to their innovative approach to growing a soccer club in the lower tiers of the American pyramid. That creativity hasn’t just garnered attention in their social media marketing, their slick packaging of the crest and kit have also brought hungry eyes from all over the world. Jonathan Collura shared some of his thoughts on their kit and crest and what he feels defines the Bugeater brand.

Jonathan Collura has a hands-on approach to his club and designing the kits was a task he took on himself. His love of kits began long ago and he brought that love of design to the Bugeaters’ look. “I designed them. I’ve been collecting kits since ‘94.“ Having collected kits for almost 25 years, Collura knew what his unifying focus would be for his kit design: the logo. “The black one is intended to make the badge the focal point…I believe the key to a successful kit is logo placement and being completely visible.”

The Bugeater name goes back to a 19th century nickname for farmers from Nebraska. As the story goes, farmers grew crops, bugs ate the crops, farmers had nothing to eat but bugs - so they were bugeaters. The farming ethos, such a defining one for the club’s home state, is seen throughout their design. The crest is a model of clean lines and distinct design. The tractor drives across the top of a soccer ball, but, in some ways, the soccer ball is a symbol of the world. The brand has a worldwide appeal, tapping into a innate appreciation for farmers and their important work. Farming has been the key to our success as humans, and Bugeaters embraces that culture with passion. Their catch phrase, seen throughout their social media and web presence, is “Farm to Pitch.” That connection, both soil based and passion based, is embodied by this Nebraskan club.

Their away kit is a beautiful example of Collura’s eye for design. “The red/white sleeves are something unique I thought of. Commonly seen on the kit, itself, I felt that this would fit the look.” The use of bright colors, particularly in contrast to their dark black kits, provides two distinct looks for fans to choose from when purchasing kits. Both kits feature small details that continue to tie the club to their state and agrarian ethos - “You’ll note the state outline on the back of the neck. The inside has Farm to Pitch in the neck. I think it’s the little details that help.”

The kit has also been used to cement new relationships that are paying dividends for Bugeaters FC’s popularity and financial success. Every kit features a patch on the arm for the Cooligans podcast, a national show that mixes comedy and soccer. “Absolutely fantastic guys. I cannot say enough about how much they have helped us.” Pair that with their kit sponsor, Backswing Brewing, also based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Backswing specializes in brewing craft beer and created a special brew specifically for Bugeaters, “Bugeaters FC Goalden Ale.” The kit will change next year as another corporate connection is finalized, a multi-year kit deal is in the works. When asked with which manufacturer, Collura only offered - “Can’t say yet, but we are excited that they wanted to sign a deal with us…We’ll aim to be consistent with style and keep unique elements and details.”

What is clear about Bugeaters FC and Collura, they are resourceful and are using their kit and crest as a means to grow their fan base and financial well being. Much like the farmer ethos the club models itself after, Collura is using what he has in the most resourceful way possible. And just like those farmers, he’s beginning to reap a successful harvest.

- Dan Vaughn

Providence City FC: Death for Them, Victory for Us

There are few things more intimidating in history than the skull and crossbones. The symbol goes back to the Middle Ages as a symbol of death, usually used on a tombstone or as a memento mori - a reminder that life is soon over and death is coming for all of us. And what better way to be reminded of that fact than by a naked skull, stripped of skin, muscle and flesh, ghoulishly grinning from the grave? Add to that symbol, the crossed bones, usually femurs, marking the spot of your eventual resting place.

In the 17th century, when pirates were in their heyday, the variety of flags they flew under were numerous and individualized to the crew and captain of the ship. But the most common, and what eventually became the standard, was the skull and crossbones. Rather than flying the flag every day, at all times, pirates would fly another flag until close enough to attack another ship. Then, the skull and crossbones (often referred to as the “jolly roger”) would be pulled to the top of the mast, striking fear in the hearts of their victims. Pirates would kill, rape, pillage, rob, and then sink your ship. There was reason to fear them and not only because of their fearsome symbol fluttering above your head.

The history of Providence, Rhode Island is tied to the sea, from day one. Founded in 1636 by Roger Williams (a renegade pastor who was fleeing religious persecution) the city made religious and political freedom its priority. As the city grew, funded by the ships and trade that flooded the harbor, that spirit of freedom and creativity continued to inspire the people of the area. The connection between the city’s past and the soccer world of the present lies within the club that calls the city home.

Providence City FC exemplifies that spirit of freedom. Known for their creative approach to kit designs and advertising approaches, Providence is well known beyond the shores of Rhode Island.  Though they play in a regional league, the Rogues have stretched their influence globally by focusing on a unique brand identity and cultivating a strong connection with the online soccer community. Certainly the crest is part of it.

As mentioned before, the history of the skull and crossbones is all about making viewers contemplate their own eventual end. Death is coming, prepare yourself. With the Rogues being from Providence, the history of piracy in the Atlantic is also contained in the crest - Death for them. Victory for us. The crest screams intimidation and aggression. The skull even has a furrowed brow, as if to tell the viewer that not even death has blunted the anger and rage of the dead. As club representative Jason Rego puts it, “It's badass. Pretty simple to depict who we are.“ The badge sums up the club’s attitude, approach, city history, you name it. When you see that crest on a kit, you know who is coming for you.

The colors of the kits typically are red and black, but Providence City has done an extraordinary job of marketing by offering multiple alternate kits, always smartly designed, always well-marketed. The public has taken notice and every time a new kit rolls out, the likes and shares plaster it into every soccer timeline in social media.

The marketing success of the club has been matched by their record of in the Bay State Soccer League. One of the most competitive regional soccer leagues in the country, BSSL has multiple tiers of competition, offering promotion and relegation between the tiers. Providence City has gained promotion in back-to-back seasons, meaning next year will find the Rogues and their grinning Jolly Roger badge in the top tier of the BSSL, competing against some of the best soccer teams in New England. Much like the pirates of the past, Providence City has found a new set of victims, ready to be plundered.

- Dan Vaughn