Live from Southern Oregon – LUFC’s newest territory: I’ll be at games representing the Southern Oregon Brigade (SOB) under this flag:

This place is a soccer desert – at least for soccer at the high levels. After being spoiled by LUFC last summer, my move to Medford has been a challenge on the soccer side. I have gone to a few Rogue Valley Timbers games to whet my appetite, but the U-12 level just doesn’t do it for me. Moving away from Eugene has made me realize just what a special thing we have in our own regional team.

Medford used to have a semi-pro team. Used to. Southern Oregon Fuego was actually one of LUFC’s first exhibition games before becoming affiliated with PDL last summer. LUFC, playing at Sheldon High School, earned its first victory 4-0 against the Fuego. That was the day that we were told to stop drumming so that the parents could hear their players talk. Didn’t happen then and it never will.

Looking back, we were playing against a team on its deathbed. The LUFC exhibition was the last game the Fuego ever played. We (literally) killed them that day. Now the Rogue Valley’s highest achieving soccer team is the SOU Women’s team in NAIA and a handful of youth teams. We just don’t have anything here. Lane United is the only club anywhere nearby.

“Help Me, Lane United. You’re our only hope.”

For me and many people in Southern Oregon, LUFC is the most accessible semi-pro soccer we have access to – Even if it is a 2+ hour drive each way for each game this summer. I’ll have to make sacrifices for this team – I’ll miss the companionship of other Aces at the season launch party and I can’t be as active as I was before, but I love this damned club and all the people in it. I will go broke supporting it.

I re-read last season’s blogs the other day and I realized that what we have with LUFC can only truly be appreciated in its absence. We can never let LUFC follow the lead of other failed clubs and shrivel. We all have to do our parts to spread the word about LUFC and how it will succeed where other semi-pro teams have failed. This club is built on the passion of its fans, owners, and players. That’s something you can’t manufacture.

LUFC has had a tremendous offseason and this season brings so much to look forward to. A few highlights:

1) Khiry Shelton drafted to NYCFC – I will never be able to root against him, no matter what color he wears. He’s Red ’til he’s dead. It will be cool to see him make a first-team roster one day and to have him represent the Oregon stage of his development at the highest level.

2) LUFC won PDL Best Rookie Franchise award – Other people see the passion we have for this club and they want to recognize it.

3) Returning players Stevens, Van der Velde, Baldo, Bersano, Phillips – Can’t wait to see how they’ve improved over last season and to cheer them on once more. Maybe we can get 3 wins this season?

I’m happy to keep my expectations low for now, but it’s hard to not get excited at what this season will bring.

Bring out the Boys in Red!