So, I'm sure at least a few of my MANY NEFC friends can provide more accurate details, I'd like to get this started and in so doing pay my very belated (despite the fact that I have done so many times) respects....
I remember when NEFC was cute and cuddly Tri-Valley. They were a good mid-tier club along with the likes of Aztecs, Crusaders, SF Vikings, North Shore United, etc. FC Puma was probably a more notable club at the time. I think they turned into something else, maybe New England Eagles before the merger with FC Puma, but in any case they had a couple of stronger boys teams at the higher age groups led by the Worcester Academy guy and they had at least one girls team that was not at the level of Stars and Scorps but played them fairly competitive. Here are at least a few factors that led to the outstanding, powerhouse club that we see now and that essentially owns TS.
1) Forekicks affiliation and access.
2) Merger with FC Puma.
3) Timely, and as I recall pretty simultaneous beneficiaries of another cyclical round of Scorpions fallout, landing BB and PM, and regardless what one thinks of them, perhaps more importantly having at least two years of very good players land in their lap, creating the double whammy of strengthening NEFC and damaging Scorps in a way from which Scorps arguably never has recovered.
4) Landing a semi-celebrity and national-player-to-be with the parent with or without club consent becoming the face of the club and promoting the club non-stop through the now infamous several year "internet savvy marketing" plan, which apparently included marketing all day and night on TS while ingeniously creating the perception that the rival clubs were doing the marketing and they were only responding in defense, so that the rivals were essentially paralyzed to actually market themselves. This became a hallmark strategy....alleging something enough to corner rivals into being unable to respond or if they did respond causing the rivals to march right into a bear trap in the woods.
5) Going for ECNL (apparently repeatedly) and turning rejection into a triumph.
6) The whole "alternative paths" thesis to the point that "alternative" became synonymous with "equal" and now better than equal. Adding the "watering down/dilution" thesis for extra effect.
7) Some strong results on the pitch, and relatively strong results from both the girls side and the boys side, making the club look more like the Bolts of old (when Bolts also had strong girls teams).
8) Becoming by far the largest and most money-conscious and money-making of among the top rival clubs, and then ingeniously focusing on the whole money grab thesis as more true of the rivals than themselves. Becoming the Starbucks on every block while creating the perception of the rivals as the boutique Coffee Connection (remember them?) that is either on the verge of folding or being bought out.
9) And some never-die resentment and bitterness from old wounds, perceived snubs, lopsided beatdowns in a bygone era, etc keep the drive burning inside. In other words, a little bit of an inferiority complex/chip on the shoulder goes a long way, and nothing is sweeter than the comeuppance. Screw the ECNL. Who needs them? We sure as heck don't.
In short, well played across the board. Congrats.
I remember when NEFC was cute and cuddly Tri-Valley. They were a good mid-tier club along with the likes of Aztecs, Crusaders, SF Vikings, North Shore United, etc. FC Puma was probably a more notable club at the time. I think they turned into something else, maybe New England Eagles before the merger with FC Puma, but in any case they had a couple of stronger boys teams at the higher age groups led by the Worcester Academy guy and they had at least one girls team that was not at the level of Stars and Scorps but played them fairly competitive. Here are at least a few factors that led to the outstanding, powerhouse club that we see now and that essentially owns TS.
1) Forekicks affiliation and access.
2) Merger with FC Puma.
3) Timely, and as I recall pretty simultaneous beneficiaries of another cyclical round of Scorpions fallout, landing BB and PM, and regardless what one thinks of them, perhaps more importantly having at least two years of very good players land in their lap, creating the double whammy of strengthening NEFC and damaging Scorps in a way from which Scorps arguably never has recovered.
4) Landing a semi-celebrity and national-player-to-be with the parent with or without club consent becoming the face of the club and promoting the club non-stop through the now infamous several year "internet savvy marketing" plan, which apparently included marketing all day and night on TS while ingeniously creating the perception that the rival clubs were doing the marketing and they were only responding in defense, so that the rivals were essentially paralyzed to actually market themselves. This became a hallmark strategy....alleging something enough to corner rivals into being unable to respond or if they did respond causing the rivals to march right into a bear trap in the woods.
5) Going for ECNL (apparently repeatedly) and turning rejection into a triumph.
6) The whole "alternative paths" thesis to the point that "alternative" became synonymous with "equal" and now better than equal. Adding the "watering down/dilution" thesis for extra effect.
7) Some strong results on the pitch, and relatively strong results from both the girls side and the boys side, making the club look more like the Bolts of old (when Bolts also had strong girls teams).
8) Becoming by far the largest and most money-conscious and money-making of among the top rival clubs, and then ingeniously focusing on the whole money grab thesis as more true of the rivals than themselves. Becoming the Starbucks on every block while creating the perception of the rivals as the boutique Coffee Connection (remember them?) that is either on the verge of folding or being bought out.
9) And some never-die resentment and bitterness from old wounds, perceived snubs, lopsided beatdowns in a bygone era, etc keep the drive burning inside. In other words, a little bit of an inferiority complex/chip on the shoulder goes a long way, and nothing is sweeter than the comeuppance. Screw the ECNL. Who needs them? We sure as heck don't.
In short, well played across the board. Congrats.
Comment