My name is Jordan Prouty, I am a 19-year-old Divison III Goalkeeper attending Russell Sage College for physical education.
This is a piece about the realities of starting a hometown amateur football club alongside two of my friends. Spindles United is a Cohoes, NY-based club that competes in the Capital District Soccer League (CDSL).
Where did the idea come from?
Not many people know the story of this club. An idea that came into fruition in October 2021. During my first year at Russell Sage College, I was dealing with many personal setbacks pulling me away from my freshman season.
Meanwhile, my best friend Jad Essoulaimani, currently studying at SUNY Albany, was struggling to accept his competitive football career was over after his senior season at Cohoes High School.
One night the two of us were talking about our struggles. Jad proposed the idea of putting together a team. A team where everyone dealing with these same thoughts could play on.
This idea kept my mind racing through the night. I saw this as an opportunity to not only create a team but a club. A club that would promote football and gives back to our hometown and the community.
The next day I decided to reach out to Jarron Frangie. The third partner who I knew could bring this idea to life.
What do the co-founders bring to the table?
Jad, Jarron, and I are all close friends and former teammates for years in Cohoes soccer. Jarron, captain of the SUNY ESF Men’s Soccer team, brings several traits. Not only a good footballing ability, but he also has experience in graphic design, marketing, business, and sustainability.
Jad brings to the table a wealth of football knowledge and an understanding of today's youth. A combination of these traits will improve our on-the-field product tremendously over the next several years.
Where did the name Spindles United come from?
Cohoes is a small city, about 20 minutes away from the capital of Albany. The city coined the nickname the "Spindle City" because of the importance of textile manufacturing to its growth in the 19th century.
Cohoes soccer is typically associated with the Tigers or the Mastodons. Although we loved them both we thought incorporating the rich history of Cohoes would help show our commitment to the whole community.
Spindle City United, Spindle City FC, at one point we talked about becoming the Cohoes Clams (although it would be awesome we figured not as many people would take that seriously). Eventually, we landed on Spindles United, and we ran away with it from there.
What league do Spindles play in? And why?
Spindles United plays in the Capital District Soccer League (CDSL). This amateur soccer league has been in existence for over 30 years and runs from May through August at Nott Road Park in Guilderland, NY.
After we created the club's image, the most important part was finding a league to play in and start building a team from scratch. After a lot of research, we came to these points.
We can play in an Afrims league
Join the CDSL
Raise over $30,000 and join a semi-professional league
Afrims is a chain of soccer facilities that hosts leagues, events, and the semi-professional New York Shockers. League play occurs throughout the year in 8-game sessions every 2 months.
Although these sessions are good for younger players and off-season training, they are not ideal for starting a club.
It didn't make sense for us, which is why we joined the CDSL for our 2022 inaugural season. This league plays with 11v11 FIFA rules, one game a week over a span of a 3 month season.
There are 10 regular season games, with a postseason bracket starting in July. In our minds, it seemed a perfect fit.
What makes Spindles United unique?
I think we stand out like a sore thumb compared to a lot of other clubs. We emphasize a professional online presence, which has been so important for the growth of this club. Jarron makes it look like we belong at the highest level of football.
In our first season, we went by the motto of “fake it til we make it.” This was a running joke because even if we didn't have the best match results, we'd still be looking good doing it, helping us to grow.
We’ve also emphasized the importance of being a part of our community, we've attended all sorts of events as well as being 100% Cohoes sponsored last year. If we support the community, they'll support us.
How did the first season go?
Spindles United competed in its inaugural season in the summer of 2022. It became clear and obvious that running a football club is not the simplest thing to do. Let alone starting from nothing. Selecting the players, raising money, team equipment, and fan apparel were just a few of the tasks the 3 of us have had to take on.
Spindles United gained a lot of support from the local community in its first season. Covering 100% of our costs from sponsorships and donations. We are proud to say we were 100% Cohoes sponsored in our inaugural season.
This was pretty impressive considering we were selling a product that's not even been put on the shelf yet. We had no track record or experience in this market.
In regard to the footballing results of the season, it was difficult. Prior to the season, we held our first official practice in April, a month out from our first game with an unfinished roster. Pitching to people a team that doesn't even exist yet is hard, especially for top-level guys.
By the time the roster was set, we had a mix of guys from high school, to college ball, to post-college athletes. Long-time friends, new college teammates, and also some unfamiliar faces.
A team mostly made up of Cohoes natives and others from the surrounding area.With that being said, we got off to a great start, winning our very first game 3-2, and the moment we won, it was an incredible feeling. It seemed like a dream was slowly becoming a reality.
Unfortunately, we hit many speed bumps and finished the season 2-7-1, leading to a 5th-place finish. Disappointed for the record, but I wouldn't change anything about the season.
What issues did we run into?
As I said, the player selection was hard. It was tough convincing people to play for a team with no history. Once the 26-man roster was set, we began our season on a high note.
But as it went on, we encountered a handful of challenges in regard to team management. Team morale was hard to keep up. Playing time was difficult to spread around and participation veered off throughout the season.
Accommodating a group of guys who all live different lives was challenging. Summer is a busy time for everyone, so week by week changes had to be made to keep the team together.
It was obvious that we came into this league as a target for other teams. Not only coming into a 30-year-old league as a new team but also as a pretty flashy club, comparatively.
We believe we handled matchdays very professionally. A club store, a large fan section, sponsorships, social media coverage, etc. Week after week was a party and a party that our opponents loved to crash.
The CDSL is played on one field all season. It was located in Guilderland, NY which was about 25-30 minutes away from Cohoes. This also posed problems for supporters and players having to make the trek week to week. And the rush-hour evening games made the trip more of a challenge.
Luckily, we saw a far greater amount of support at this seasons games than we expected. Each game family, friends, and new faces came out to support this club in our inaugural season. We can’t wait to see everyone again next season.
What are the short and long-term goals of the Spins?
If I’m being honest, I have quite lofty goals for this club. For me this isn’t just a 1-2 year recreational team, this is something I want to solidify into Cohoes. I want this team to be able to compete in semi-pro leagues like the UPSL, or NPSL. These are two leagues considered in the 4th tier of American Football. To get there, like most sports you need serious cash.
In the long run, I want us to compete in the US Open Cup and play in some insane stadiums. To get there, we have to reach many high but realistic goals. I want to build a team that can not only compete in the CDSL but also win it. I want to see growth in the club through social media and gain support from local fans and abroad.
How will we get to these goals? How will I help to get there?
I believe that I bring a wealth of football knowledge and connections with the local club and college teams/coaches. I have coached youth and older-level teams with a specialization in goalkeeping as I aim to become a certified USSF Coach.
My most impactful role at this club will be the on-field product of the team. With my knowledge and connections, I’m confident I can bring in a high level of talent.
The best way to achieve these goals is to raise money, attract talented players, and establish ourselves in the community.
Raising money through sponsorships, donations and fundraisers has been crucial to our growth. Every dime we have raised for this club has gone straight toward league and team expenses. Including out-of-pocket expenses.
We are actively pursuing the search for more sponsorships for the upcoming 2023 season. If you or your business are interested in sponsoring or donating, please contact Jarron at jarronfrangie@gmail.com
Looking Onward to Next Year
Who Will be Behind the Scenes for the Team?
Most clubs typically have plenty of staff members, coaches, trainers, game-day volunteers, etc. Last year, Jad, Jarron, and I handled the majority of the tasks of running a football club. With special help from Draya Muscatello, Joshua Marer, Boulos Abdallah, Woody Hamilton.
This year we hope to expand our network and get more people involved to help grow this club. I asked Jarron the same question. He said, “I would say I don't want to name any names but expect very passionate and committed individuals working to grow the club.”
Young, amateur football clubs are very reliant on volunteer support and commitment. I have high hopes for this upcoming season. As we look to expand, the growth of the club over the next couple of years is going to be crucial for success in the future.
What new faces will be around next year? Will there be any returners?
Last year's roster had a lot of quality. However, we are actively striving to add even more quality. In August we held the Spindles United First Look Scrimmage where we evaluated some of the new talents that had shown interest in the team for the 2023 season. It was awesome to see over 30 guys come to compete to show their interest in joining the club.
We created this team just under a year ago and the traction we are slowly getting is encouraging. However, the final 2023 roster is nowhere close to being final. We don't only want the best players, the guys who will come fit and can play at a high level, but the guys that want to be a part of something special. Guys who are talented but care about building something with us.
I want committed guys who are proud to wear this crest. Winning is incredibly important, but with the right squad.
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