Kingston Stockade FC Makes Guest Appearance on NBC's 'Men in Blazers', FOX Sports Could Be Next

KINGSTON, N.Y. — It hasn't just been a great week for Kingston Stockade FC on the pitch. It's been a great one on the telly as well.

A few hours before Stockade managed its second win in two days on Sunday against Rhode Island Reds, a Stockade kit made an appearance on NBC's "Men in Blazers", which is a nationally televised show about the Premier League. The clip can be watched below:

Men in Blazers' Roger Bennett is a fan of lower-league soccer and is known to wear the jerseys of teams he supports.

Prior to the Men in Blazers appearance, Stockade FC actually got a mention on FOX Sports, via Rob Stone, although the video segment was focused on Hartford City FC. And Stone got Stockade's name wrong in the clip. The "Stockdale" mention is at 0:35 below ...

After hearing of Stone's gaffe, the Stockade social media team was quick to issue a friendly challenge to Stone, requesting that Stone wear Stockade gear on air if Kingston won the replay in Hartford ...

To his credit, Stone had no problem accepting the challenge ...

According to his Wikipedia page, Stone hails from Simsbury, Conn., which is 11 miles from Hartford. Meaning his allegiance to his local side is understandable, if not fully encouraged. Overall, it's great to see a broadcaster of his stature involved with NPSL and its regional clubs.

Of course, it will be even better to see said broadcaster wearing Stockade gear on-air next week.

Kingston plays at Hartford this Saturday, May 27 at 6 p.m. The club will be streaming the match on its Facebook page.

By Randy Kim, Kingston Stockade FC General Manager

Kingston Stockade FC Earns Gutsy 2-0 Home Win Against Rhode Island Reds

Stockade's starting XI against Rhode Island Reds.

Stockade's starting XI against Rhode Island Reds.

KINGSTON, N.Y. — Playing matches on back-to-back days is a tall order in soccer, even at the game's higher levels. But when you've got squad depth and players willing to fight through bloody difficult situations — literally — then anything is possible. Even six-point weekends.

Coming directly on the heels of a 4-0 away win against New York Athletic Club on Saturday, Kingston Stockade FC managed an equally impressive 2-0 home win against Rhode Island Reds on Sunday afternoon, in front of 714 spirited home fans at Dietz Stadium.

Coach David Lindholm was forced to make six changes to his starting XI from the squad that won in impressive fashion the day before. This brand of dramatic overhaul usually leads to continuity problems, but one of the new starters was the first to find the back of the net. Nimble Brazilian winger Pedro Espindola scored with a lovely finish in the 62nd minute, coming off an assist from English forward Michael Creswick.

Much to the delight of the home fans, after scoring his second goal of the season, Espindola ran off the pitch, onto the Dietz Stadium track and towards the home fans, who met the jubilant University of Albany product with wild applause.

Steady holding midfielder Matt Koziol completed the scoring for Stockade in the 77th minute with his second successful penalty kick in as many days.

Goalkeeper Steve Skonieczny then protected Stockade's second shutout of the weekend with a fine fingertip save very late in the match.

Perhaps just as impressive as any of Kingston's on-field play was the guts and determination shown by Poughkeepsie's own Scott Zobre. Zobre found himself on the receiving end of a hard elbow from of one of the Reds' players. Zobre's nose was well split open, and he had to come off the pitch in order to stop some extremely heavy bleeding. But after nearly 10 minutes spent on the sideline getting treatment from the trainers, Zobre taped up his nose, changed into a new Stockade white kit with his number duct-taped onto the back — his other unwearable due to the amount of blood on it — and returned to full-tilt action when most players certainly would've called it a day.

Another compelling subplot on the day belonged to Mercy College product Juan Gatti. Gatti got married just the day before, but showed up to start for Stockade the following day, and brought what looked like most of the wedding party to the match with him. The skilled Argentinian defender had his own private cheering section in the stands, and when he was subbed off in the 90th minute, he received easily the loudest ovation on the day, one that even carried over into the post-match autograph session.

A festive atmosphere for a weekend well worth celebrating, for these six-pointers (each win is worth three points in the standings) don't come about too often. Although given the depth, guts and devotion on display by this Stockade side, maybe these maximum-point weekends will be the norm going forward.

Stockade Man of the Match: Pedro Espindola

Stockade Starting XI: Skonieczny; Curtis, Gatti, Lis-Simmons, Anasta; Koziol, Kloster, Maley; Espindola, Creswick, Zobre

By Randy Kim, Kingston Stockade FC GM

Kingston Stockade FC Sails to 4-0 Win at New York Athletic Club

Stockade's Starting XI against New York Athletic Club.

Stockade's Starting XI against New York Athletic Club.

PELHAM, N.Y. — The home grounds for New York Athletic Club — located on Travers Island in Pelham Manor, N.Y. — is one of the most luxe in the NPSL. One end of the field lies in the shadow of a large stone manor. Another side of the pitch is an errant kick away from Hempstead Bay, where yachts and sailboats float lazily by in the distance.

In short, it's a place to breathe easy and relax. Which is what Kingston Stockade FC was able to do over the course of their 4-0 win over the hosts on Saturday afternoon.

The match admittedly started out as a relatively tight affair, with both sides creating chances early on in the match.

But things turned in Kingston's favor in the 31st minute, thanks to the stellar work of a familar face, English forward Michael Creswick.

Creswick received a penetrative pass from Eric Fortier and found himself on a breakaway with a defender and the goalkeeper to beat. The second-year Stockade star managed to hold off the lone defender for a few touches, before unleashing a perfectly placed, low strike from distance that went across goal and found the side netting for his first goal of the season. Fortier collected the assist.

This put Stockade in the lead, and the second-year NPSL club never really looked back from there.

Central midfielder Matt Koziol scored in the 41st minute on a well-struck penalty kick, which was earned by Creswick.

Then newcomer Pedro Espindola scored on an impressive breakaway goal in the 76th minute. Espindola, a Brazilian forward who went to the University of Albany, came on as a sub and immediately made an impact on the match with his blistering pace and technical showmanship. He proved to be a handful for the hosts the entire day, consistently placing defenders on their heels when he had the ball.

The final goal of the day came from Josh Maley, a midfielder from LIU Brooklyn. It was a deft strike from close range that lifted Stockade to a 4-0 lead, which proved to be the result that would hold for the remainder of the match.

The win was Kingston's first away victory in the history of the club. It was also the first win for new head coach David Lindholm.

New York Athletic Club will visit Dietz Stadium on June 3.

Stockade Man of the Match: Michael Creswick

Stockade Starting XI: Skonieczny; Curtis, Lis-Simmons (C), Barrett, Kappock; Koziol, Macklin, Maley; Corbi, Creswick, Fortier

By Randy Kim, Kingston Stockade FC GM

Kingston Stockade FC Falls to Hartford City FC, 3-1, in Season-Opener at Dietz Stadium

A side view of Koziol's free-kick goal for Kingston.

A side view of Koziol's free-kick goal for Kingston.

By Randy Kim

KINGSTON, N.Y. -- For the home side, it was a disappointing result, to be certain. Yet it was a result laced with some degree of hope and promise. And a feeling that the next time the side from Kingston sets foot on the pitch, the result could be very different indeed.

Kingston Stockade FC fell, 3-1, to Hartford City FC on Saturday in front of an impressive 489 fans at Dietz Stadium, who stayed the full 90 despite numerous rainy interludes. 

The match was the season-opener for both sides, and the first-ever match for Hartford, who just joined the NPSL this season. It was also the first match for new Stockade head coach David Lindholm.

Stockade came out of the gate flat, and paid for it dearly, giving up two goals in the first eight minutes of the match. The first was a breakaway strike by Ryan Taylor in the 4th minute, and the second came off a set piece and was headed home by Luke Albertini in the 8th minute.

But from there, the tenor of the match changed drastically.

Stockade controlled the bulk of possession, to be certain, with spirited and skilled play in the midfield from the likes of Matt Koziol, Ross Macklin and Michael Nittolo. Matel Anasta also proved a threat from left fullback, constantly making overlapping runs that challenged Hartford's backline. Meanwhile, Stockade's erstwhile left back, Juan Gatti, proved to be a minor revelation at center back, showing equal measures of grit and finesse in a position that calls for both.

Regardless, the final third proved unforgiving to Kingston, as the goals didn't come despite a number of opportunities created. Thus, the teams went into halftime with the scoreline still 2-0.

Stockade found a lifeline early in the second half, however, and not an unfamiliar one at that. After a Hartford foul at the top of the penalty area, Koziol showed his free-kick precision from last season was no fluke, and calmly dropped one in the far corner to get one back for the home side in the 54th minute and make the score 2-1.

Kingston continued to knock on Hartford's door for much of the next half-hour, and for all the opportunities created, it seemed to be only a matter of time before another goal went in.

And that goal did come. It just went against the run of play, however, and was scored by the visitors, as the speedy Ryan Taylor once again proved a handful on the break and put one home in the 85th minute to make it 3-1, a score that would hold until the final whistle.

In the end, an efficient and opportunistic Hartford side proved too much for the home club, and earned their three points on the day. But this isn't a loss that should leave Stockade feeling too despondent. There's plenty to build on before they hit the pitch again.

Stockade's next match is Saturday, May 20 at New York Athletic Club at 4 p.m.

Stockade Man of the Match: Matt Koziol
 

Kingston Stockade FC Announces Sponsors for 2017 NPSL Season

KINGSTON, N.Y. – Heading into its second season, Kingston Stockade FC continues to forge ties with the local community, not just through the sport of soccer itself, but with local business sponsorships as well.

The club is proud to announce that all sponsors from last year's inaugural season have returned again in 2017 --  Trailways NY, Dragon Search, and Radio Woodstock will continue to be featured on the club's home and away kits. In addition, the club has added some new brands that will be featured prominently at home matches at Dietz Stadium.

And working with these local businesses is a key objective for club founder, Dennis Crowley.

"From the kits to the sideline ads, sponsors are such an integral part of the FC experience overall, especially from a visual standpoint" said Crowley. "With that in mind, we are constantly looking for ways to add value to the local community and to improve our fan experience, and we couldn't be any prouder to have the club linked closely with such great local businesses."

The following is a closer look at Stockade FC's sponsors for the 2017 NPSL season, and what type of placement they will have.  This year, the club has expanded its relationships with local businesses to provide fans with special offers at home games and at some participating merchant locations in Kingston.

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KIT SPONSORSHIPS:

TrailwaysNY:  Our title sponsor returns for 2017 and continues its role as Stockade FC's exclusive transportation provider.  This year, TrailwaysNY is offering fans special travel packages to and from our home games in Kingston, NY from multiple locations in New York City.  TrailwaysNY is New York State's largest provider of public transportation employing nearly 500 people around the state and here in the Hudson Valley, which has been home to this family-owned company for more than 90 years.  For more information about TrailwaysNY, see trailwaysny.com.

Dragon Search: Founded in 2007, DragonSearch is a leading digital marketing agency with offices in New York City and Kingston, New York. DragonSearch provides SEO, Digital Advertising, Content Marketing, and Social Media services to clients throughout the United States.  Stockade FC is proud to have Dragon Search back as a sponsor for our second season.  Go to dragonsearch.com for more information.

Radio Woodstock WDST:  Radio Woodstock 100.1 /WDST is proud to be one of the few remaining independently owned and operated radio stations in the country. Radio Woodstock’s format includes a mix of great classic rock and exciting new music along with a strong local sense of community.  Returning for their second season as a sponsor, this year the radio staton's "Street Team" will be onsite for every home game. Head to radiowoodstock.com for more information.

SIDELINE BANNERS SPONSORSHIPS:

Best Western Plus, Kingston, NY:  Best Western Plus is the closest hotel to Dietz Stadium in Kingston, and as a new sponsor in 2017, they'll be offering a 20 percent discount to Stockade fans.  Please call the hotel at (845) 338-0400 to ask for the discount. For more information, visit bwpkingston.com.

Bread Alone:  A returning sponsor that provides the post-game sandwiches that fuel players on both the home and visiting teams. Bread Alone is a family-owned, values-driven bakery that's been baking using organic grains since 1983.  Go to breadalone.com for more information.

Cabinet Designers – The Kitchen and Bathroom Design Firm:  Cabinet Designers in Kingston also joins as a new sponsor this year.  The firm aims to improve their clients' lives by improving their living spaces.  See cabinetdesigners.com for more information.

Foursquare: Foursquare is a technology company that enriches consumer experiences and informs business decisions through a deep understanding of location intelligence. Every month, 50 million people use the Foursquare City Guide and Foursquare Swarm apps and websites to discover new places, explore the world and check in.

Ryan Roach & Ryan, LLP: A new sponsor this year, Ryan, Roche & Ryan is a full service law firm with over 50 years of experience that was founded in Kingston in 1952. Go to ryanroachryan.com for more information.

Todd's Salsa: A new sponsor for 2017.  Founded by celebrity meteorologist Todd Simcox out of Bangor, Maine, who started the company using ingredients right out of his own garden.  Todd's Salsa is passionate about supporting local communities and is excited to be a Stockade sponsor for 2017.  Go to toddssalsa.com for more information.

 

Kingston Stockade Football Club is a men's semi-professional soccer team based in Kingston, N.Y. Stockade FC represents the Hudson Valley in the NPSL, which is the 4th division of the U.S. soccer pyramid. For more information on Kingston Stockade FC, visit http://stockadefc.com. You can also follow the club on both Twitter and Instagram at @StockadeFC and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stockadefc

Kingston Stockade Announces April 22 Friendly at Dietz Stadium Against Newtown Pride FC

Michael Creswick (9) and Jamal Lis-Simmons (17) are part of the Stockade squad taking on Newtown Pride FC in a preseason friendly.

Michael Creswick (9) and Jamal Lis-Simmons (17) are part of the Stockade squad taking on Newtown Pride FC in a preseason friendly.

KINGSTON, N.Y. -- The NPSL season might not start until May, but Kingston Stockade FC will give local fans a preview of the second-year club this month.

Stockade FC announced its first home date of the season, as the Hudson Valley club will host a friendly against Newtown Pride FC from Connecticut on Saturday, April 22 at 3 p.m. ET at Dietz Stadium.

The match will present local fans with their first look at the new squad, as well the chance to see first-year head coach David Lindholm make his first appearance on the touchline.

Lindholm sees the friendly as a chance for both the fans and himself to see how the new team performs in a match-type atmosphere.

"This match is a perfect opportunity to play a quality opponent and continue to prepare for the season opener on May 6," said Lindholm. "We'll be able to test our fitness, see players in different positions, and get a sense of how we'll play during the season."

Club founder Dennis Crowley sees this as a chance to build some early buzz for what he thinks will be a great sophomore campaign.

"We're incredibly excited for our second season," said club founder Dennis Crowley. "This will be a great chance for our fans to get a look at our new team while spending an afternoon with friends and family watching some great soccer."

Established in 1998, Newtown Pride FC is based in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. The club plays in the Connecticut Soccer League, and are reigning league champs, having won the league's 2016 playoff. The club has played multiple community exhibition games with some of the top clubs in the US raising over 50,000.00 for local charities. 

Equally impressive, Newtown is also in the U.S. Open Cup, having qualified through the state level.

Newtown Pride coach Mike Svanda sees this as a great chance to both give his team an early run-out while spreading the word about his club.

"We're really excited to play a club like Stockade," said Svanda. "They've done some great things down here and have really generated some positive buzz already. It's great to be a part of."

Newtown captain Mauricio Turizo echoed Svanda's sentiments about Stockade being a club that's quickly generating buzz in American soccer.

"Even though it is just a preseason game you can't help but get a little extra fired up to visit one of the newest hottest clubs in the U.S.," said Turizo.

The match will be open to the public and free of charge (no tickets required). Stockade FC will be selling both merchandise and season tickets for their 2017 season. 

Stockade FC will also play a second friendly vs. Marist (Tenney Stadium in Poughkeepsie) on Friday, April 28 at 7 p.m. ET, and then Kingston's first official match of the season is on Saturday, May 6 at 5 p.m. ET at Dietz Stadium against Hartford City FC.

For more information on Newtown Pride FC, the club can be followed on Twitter and Facebook.

Kingston Stockade Football Club is a men's semi-professional soccer team based in Kingston, N.Y. Stockade FC represents the Hudson Valley in the NPSL, which is the 4th division of the U.S. soccer pyramid. For more information on Kingston Stockade FC, visit http://stockadefc.com. You can also follow the club on both Twitter and Instagram at @StockadeFC and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stockadefc

Kingston Stockade FC Announces Initial Roster for 2017 Season

KINGSTON, N.Y. -- After holding two rounds of open-tryouts, three rounds of invite-only tryouts, and getting a look at more than 225 players in total, Kingston Stockade FC is proud to announce its initial 33-man roster for the upcoming 2017 season.

The 2017 Stockade roster is a mix of returning players as well as a healthy influx of newcomers, local and beyond. A few figures about the roster for the upcoming season:

  • There are 14 returning players on the roster (42% of the roster)
  • There are 19 newcomers on the roster (58% of the roster)
  • There will be 13 current college players on the roster (eligible to play in the NPSL on May 1)
  • There are 10 current Division 1 college players on the roster (30% of the roster)
  • 17 of the players are from the Hudson Valley; 4 players come from overseas

Stockade head coach David Lindholm is excited about the start of the season.  "We’re thrilled that these players have decided to join Stockade FC this season. It’s a group capable of playing at a high level while also being great ambassadors for soccer in the Hudson Valley. I want to thank every player that tried out for the team, since they left us with a lot of difficult decisions and allowed us to make the strongest squad possible."

Stockade opens the season on Saturday, May 6 (5 p.m.) at Dietz Stadium against NPSL newcomers Hartford City FC.

Here is a detailed look at the full roster for the upcoming season:

NAME                          POS.     HOMETOWN                          COLLEGE
** = returning                                                                                 * = currently in college
Carillo, Gianni                   GK      Monroe, NY                              Siena
Giddings, David**             GK      Newburgh, NY                          Saint Peter's University
Howe, Lyle                        GK      Coral Springs, FL                      St. Thomas University
Skonieczny,  Steve**        GK      Lagrangeville, NY                      Siena/Marist
Anasta, Matel**                 D        Catskill, NY                                Marist
Barrett, Phil**                   D        Clifton Park, NY                         Siena*
Bogart, Joe**                    D        Hyde Park, NY                            SUNY Plattsburg
Conway, Eamonn             D        Delmar, NY                                 Siena*
Davis, Kevin                       D       Beacon, NY                                 Wheaton
Gatti, Juan**                      D       East Tarrytown, NY                    Mercy
Kappock, Kevin                  D       Howell, NJ                                  Marist*
Kolaj, Nick                          D        Somers, NY                                Baruch
LeClerc, Kyle                      D       Beacon, NY                                 Sage
Lis-Simmons, Jamal**       D       Highland, NY                               SUNY New Paltz
Mitchell, Ernest                 D       Montclair, NJ                               Marist*
Steigerwald, Tom**           D       Salt Point, NY                              
Alvarado, Daniel                M       Santa Barbara, Costa Rica         Dominican
Koziol, Matt**                     M      Poughkeepsie, NY                       RPI
Macklin, Ross**                  M      Henneker, NH                              Vassar
Lanzetta, Mikey                 M       Somers, NY                                  SUNY Cortland (committed)
Nittolo, Mike                      M      Poughkeepsie, NY    
Corbi, Mike                         M      Hopewell Junction, NY               St. Thomas Aquinas
Konicoff, Mike                    M      Montebello, NY                            Boston College
Curtis, Brandon                 M      West Haverstraw, NY                   Marist*
Persampieri, Alessandro   M      Tuckahoe, NY                               Concordia College
Guirma, Victor                   M       New Paltz, NY                              Howard*
Kloster, Marco                    M      Curitiba, Brazil                              Siena*
Creswick, Michael**            F      Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England  York St. John University
Zobre, Scott**                     F       Poughkeepsie, NY                        Binghamton
Fortier, Eric**                      F       Pleasant Valley, NY                       SUNY Oneonta
Jeter, Bruce                         F      Monroe, NY                                   Marist*
Siriboe, David                      F      Poughkeepsie, NY                         Marist*
Curto, Paolino**                  F      Niskayuna, NY                                Siena*

 

Kingston Stockade Football Club is a men's semi-professional soccer team based in Kingston, N.Y. Stockade FC represents the Hudson Valley in the NPSL, which is the 4th division of the U.S. soccer pyramid. For more information on Kingston Stockade FC, visit http://stockadefc.com. You can also follow the club on both Twitter and Instagram at @StockadeFC and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stockadefc

Kingston Stockade FC Announces Technical Staff; Rory Becker and Chuck Wilder Returning for 2017, Ben Walsh Joins Staff as Assistant

Kingston Stockade FC head coach David Lindholm has announced his technical staff for the 2017 season, with Rory Becker and Ben Walsh serving as assistant coaches and Chuck Wilder remaining the club’s goalkeeper coach.

“I’m delighted to have such an experienced, dedicated staff working with the team this season,” said Lindholm. “Rory and Chuck have an intimate understanding of the club in addition to their considerable coaching knowledge, and Ben brings a valuable new perspective to our group. All have experience with soccer here in the Hudson Valley and are committed to helping this club continue to develop and succeed.”

Becker was the assistant for Stockade in 2016, and has spent his career working at various levels of Hudson Valley soccer. He spent six years as an assistant with SUNY New Paltz and five years as an Olympic Development Program coach, and owns the USSF A License coaching certification. A two-time state champion at Highland High School, Becker also played at Ithaca College and with the German Hungarian Metros in Queens. Currently he is the New York State Section 9 boys soccer coordinator.

Wilder will return as the club’s goalkeeper coach for a second season, bringing extensive experience as both a coach and player. A coach at the professional level with the Rockland Glaciers of the PDL and New York Fever of the A-League, Wilder also played professionally for the Tucson Amigos, Albany Alleycats and the New York Fever during his career. He currently serves as the goalkeeper coach for Vassar College, where he has been since 2008, and he possesses his USSF C License.

New to the staff in 2017 is Ben Walsh, a graduate of Carleton College, where he was a four-year starting midfielder and helped the team to three MIAC titles and two NCAA tournament appearances. Since graduating, Walsh has worked as high school coach, leading Forman School to a Hudson Valley Athletic League championship in 2014 and recently completing his first season as the head coach at Salisbury School (Conn.). He has also earned the National Diploma coaching license from the NSCAA.

Tryouts for Stockade FC begin with an "invite only" session this Saturday February 25.  The team will hold five different tryout sessions total, including two that are open to the public on Saturday March 4 and Sunday March 5.  For more information, or to register for tryouts, please visit http://www.stockadefc.com/tryouts.

Kingston Stockade Football Club is a men's semi-professional soccer team based in Kingston, N.Y. Stockade FC represents the Hudson Valley in the NPSL, which is the 4th division of the U.S. soccer pyramid. For more information on Kingston Stockade FC, visit http://stockadefc.com. You can also follow the club on both Twitter and Instagram at @StockadeFC and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stockadefc

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