Preaching Soccer to the Masses: On the Frontlines With Queen City FC
09/04/2008
Ryan is the owner of a double life, as he calls it.
In his normal life, Ryan is a PhD student studying Linguistics at the University at Buffalo, New York where he researches Catalan Language Policy and Planning, along with immigrants and their feelings and thoughts on Catalan policies enacted by the Generalitat.
In his second life, he is involved in all things soccer related. He is the founder of Center Holds It, which is a featured blog on BigSoccer (centerholdsit.bigsoccer.com) where he discusses all things La Liga. He is also the founder of the Sevilla Offside page on The Offside, one of the weekly panel members of The Offside Podcast and also contributor to the Spain World Cup Blog. He is also a member of the Peña Sevillista Puerta de America, the only official Sevilla peña that exists in the United States.
His love for Spain comes from having lived in the land of Paella and Sangria on two occasions. First, Ryan lived in Sevilla where he took classes (if you can call them that) and lived directly across from the Sanchez Pizjuan, where he became a Sevillista hasta la muerte. The second time around, Ryan turned in his flamenco and feria for the vendemia and pueblo that was Villacañas, Spain, a town of about 10,000 nestled in the heart of Castilla-La Mancha. Ryan was a headmaster at an English Academy where he taught English to kids of all ages and actually played semi-pro Basketball, since he was the tallest person in his town.
To add to his love of footy, Ryan is President and General Manager of Queen City FC, a semi-pro soccer club located in Buffalo, New York. Queen City Football Club is Buffalo's premier soccer organization since 2007. Combining a winning tradition on the pitch with a standard of excellence within the community, QCFC remains the height of achievement in amateur sport. QCFC were the 2007 Eastern Conference Champions and 2007 NPSL Runners-Up.
For more information about the club, check out www.queencityfc.com or www.nationalpremiersoccerleague.com.
After graduating with his PhD sometime soon, Ryan will take on a Masters in Sport Administration at Canisius College and will look for a job back in Spain upon graduation in 2009.
And another week of college football is in the books! Check out my top 25!
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/65792-college-football-power-rankings-week-six
417 days ago
Hi Ryan
I thought you might be interested in my latest article as you are a Liverpool fan.
“Agger off to Real Madrid?”
Check it out and feel free to comment.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/64775-agger-off-to-real-madrid
Cheers
Tim
420 days ago
Wow, what a week in college football! Sure made coming up with a Top 25 interesting! Check out mine:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/62859-college-football-power-rankings-week-five
425 days ago
It's hard to keep up with everything going on with the Buckeyes, but I've done my best to wrap it up. Check it out!
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/58978-controversy-injury-confusion-make-ohio-state-football
435 days ago
This article is really special to me. I'd appreciate it if you took a look at it and if its good enough, help spread it around. Thanks.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/56317-911-and-how-sports-helped-the-country-return-to-normalcy
442 days ago
Okay, so I've gone a little USC-Ohio State crazy, but I'd really appreciate your input on my latest article!
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/56122-an-alternative-look-at-usc-ohio-state
443 days ago
After a very succesful debut, it's time for another MLS roundtable!
The subject this time around is: which non-American players would you like to see make the move to MLS?
Give me two or three names, and a brief explanation of why you think they would be a good fit.
Try and send your response to spartanbone@gmail.com by Saturday, Sept. 13th for inclusion in the next roundtable.
Cheers,
Joe
444 days ago
Hey man,
I took a look at ur teams website. Looks like u got a good team. Nice work.
448 days ago
I'm back on the topic of MLS articles. Here's my latest article. I'd appreciate it if u took a look. Thanks.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/54113-dc-united-defeats-charleston-battery-2-1-wins-first-us-open-cup-in-four-years
448 days ago
Hey Ryan,
That's great, thanks for the suggestions. One of the schools he is really interested in is BYU, our dad went there, and their team is PDL actually rather than NCAA. But I'll talk to him and see what he's been thinking about the summer and everything and I'll let you know. Thanks again, and let me know when you've got another article coming out and would like an edit, they're free! haha.
Best, Molly
449 days ago
Ryan,
I was really interested in the your article about QCFC. I just spent a while search around the NPSL site and learning about the league and the teams. It is a really interesting league and your stories were inspiring. I was looking to see if there were any teams around me that I could get involved in but I think the closest they come to Burlington is the Maine Sting up in Bangor.
I may try to check out the PDL's Vermont Voltage.
I am currently doing a lot of work covering the University soccer team and am very interested in ways to expand soccer in the US so your article really hit home in a lot of ways.
Keep up the great work and good luck,
All the best,
Dakota
449 days ago
Hey Ryan,
Just published the latest in my semi-weekly MLS news series. I'd appreciate it if you took a look.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/54077-mls-news-roundup-september-4th
Cheers,
Joe
449 days ago
Thanks for asking me to edit your article! It was my pleasure! My brother has played club soccer for over 10 years, he plays for a club called Crescenta Valley Soccer Club. His team in particular has really struggled lately to et players that can pay. The majority of his team comes from L.A. and are on scholarship from the club but that can only go so far. He's a senior in HS this year and he's looking at colleges. Anyways, just blabbing about all of this because we understand your plight and wish you the best with Queens City FC!!
449 days ago
Ya bradley was fun! I can't wait to get back to Ohio in the next couple of weeks...after going to the USC game here at home of course.
450 days ago
Hot Read: Bronze Medal
Antonio Puerta's Death: One Year Later
Received 1,000 Reads • August 31, 2008
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Ricky O'Neal said...
DeleteProfessional Football: The Chase of An Impossible Dream?
For every one of the 13 million people playing football unprofessionally in the UK, the possibility of professional contracts with professional clubs is a very real possibility for some. But of those with the talent to play our beautiful game, how many are chasing an impossible dream?
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/66021-professional-football-the-chase-of-an-impossible-dream
Check out my latest article, I'm sure you'll have an opinion!
Ricky
416 days ago