Hey, Scott. We’ve seen different sorts of PDL clubs in the Carolinas, those that want to build a brand, those that want to connect with the community. What would you say is the mission of Carolina Dynamo?

Our goal is to get players ready for the next level of soccer. We currently have 35 players in the higher divisions of US Soccer right now that have come through the Dynamo. (editor’s note: he wasn’t kidding.) We also expect to win the championship every year. It’s a good mix of development and competition to get our players where they want to be.

How long have you been the involved with the team?

The club has been around for 25 years, and I have been the general manager the last 17 years.

Wow! You must love your job then?

I do. It’s what I went to school for. I’m originally from the Cleveland area, but I went to school at Methodist University in Fayetteville where I got my degree in sports management. I stayed down here because I hate snow, and the lifestyle down here is much friendlier. I played all my life so when the opportunity arose to get back into the game I jumped on it.

What is the story behind the distinctive name and crest?

Well, the logo has the Nottingham Forest tree in it. The story behind that is the founder of the Dynamo, Neil Macpherson’s father, was the chairman of the Nottingham Forest’s board back in their heyday. When Neil came over here, he said he wanted to start a soccer team, and wanted to use the logo. He then got permission and exclusive rights to use the logo over here.

I know we get bashed for it on some soccer websites, saying it’s boring, but at the same time it’s historic. We are the oldest club in the USL. I know that’s in debate with Charleston and Richmond, but we claim our founding date was ahead of theirs.

As for our name, It’s definitely a more popular name these days. We actually had the trademark on the name, so when Houston used it we had a little tiff with them. We got that sorted out around the last time we played them in the Open Cup in 2006.

So how does the club view the Open Cup?

It’s very important to us. I wish the competition was structured a bit differently. I feel they should let the smaller teams who typically care more about the cup host more often. For example, when we played Houston in 2006, we had to travel down there. If we had hosted that, we would have crushed it at the gate. Instead, we had to pay to play against them due to short turn around and cost of airfare.

What makes the PDL the right League for the Dynamo? Why not the NPSL?

We have been part of the parent league USL pretty much since our inception, so it just felt right to stay under their umbrella. In 2004, we moved to the PDL. We felt it was more of a solid business model for us, and that it allowed us to have more connectivity with our community.

It’s the perfect size league for our area. The budget is much more manageable. The PDL has incredibly high minimum standards, so you know what you are getting into on the road, and that our players will be taken care of. Plus, it’s nice having players in similar age with our guys.

PDL does allow several players over the age of 23, but most of the team is around that college age.

How do you qualify for the playoffs?

It changes from year to year, but in the Eastern Conference in 2017, we have 3 divisions. We are in the South Atlantic Division, and we have to be in the top 2 out of 11 teams to be in the Eastern Conference final four. The winner of the Eastern Conference tournament then goes on to the national semifinals. The division has really grown in the last few years, which is great! It helps with travel costs and the competition just keeps getting better. Overall we have 4 conferences in the States and a few teams in Canada.

What success on the field has the club had?

We won a few regular season titles in the mid 2000’s. We hosted the 2012 final but lost to FC London 2–1. But, since they were a Canadian team, we were the top ranking US team of the PDL. This qualified us to be in, and host the Hank Steinbrecher Cup.

The Dynamo won the Hank Steinbrecher Cup in 2012 (Photo credit: Carolina Dynamo)

Not a lot of people know about this cup, but it’s the USASA amateur national championship cup. It’s a competition between the PDL Champion, NPSL Champion, USASA amateur cup champion, and the previous Hank Steinbrecher Cup champion. It usually takes place at the end of May, beginning of June.

We won the cup that year we hosted it which is quite an honor.

How involved is the Dynamo in the Greensboro community?

Over the years our presence has expanded. We have a great partnership with Greensboro United Soccer Association. We got roughly 3,500 families that play where our stadium (Macpherson Stadium, built by the founder) is located.

As part of our partnership with GUSA, they purchase season passes for their entire youth membership. So those kids have the ability to see the highest level of soccer in the Triad, free of charge. And they get significantly discounted season passes for additional family members or friends. They start out at $25 for the season which is 7 PDL home games and also 5 WPSL games as well.

We want to be the top of the pyramid here in Greensboro so these kids can come through the program if they can get the opportunity to play for us over the summer. We also have a reserve side as well for both the men and women’s sides. We set up friendlies so they can get some structured soccer, and get the opportunity to train with other high level players.

So would you say Greensboro is a soccer town?

Yes, I would. UNCG had some great years right when we started the club. A lot of their players who stuck around played for us. Our attendance has averaged around 1,800–2,400 over the last 5–6 years.

We also have a supporters group called The Battleground. They aren’t your typical rowdy supporters group, they are more of a wine and cheese kind of crowd. They started around 2005, most were groups of fans who had kids that played. They were buddies of ours who wanted to do something so they formed an independent group. They tailgate, they come out, and they support the club. A lot of them house our players. Some of our players that come from another area, we will set them up with a family to live with while they are here.

It’s amazing to me how many people will open their homes to a stranger and embrace them as part of the family. A good portion of the families that do that are in this group.

So when is your first game?

Our first game is a US Open Cup match that will be played on May 10th. We host Legacy 76 from the NPSL at 7pm. If we win, we will host North Carolina FC in the second round on May 17th.

Our first PDL game is at Tobacco Road FC in Durham on May 14th. (editor’s note: you can read about them here.) Our first home game is on May 27th, and we will be hosting Tobacco Road FC.