Juneteenth is Black Independence Day, celebrating the end of slavery in the United States. It is a day that has had a profound and positive impact on this country in so many ways. At Ballard FC, we want to put a spotlight specifically on the black soccer community.
Ballard FC simply would not be possible without the black soccer community. From the beginning, Ballard FC started with Lamar Neagle as one of the three co-founders. Neagle played the majority of his professional career with the Seattle Sounders, winning two U.S. Open Cups and a Supporters’ Shield, and now he serves as a team commentator. As a Seattle soccer icon and active member in the black soccer community, Neagle provided the necessary star power to get fans excited about Seattle’s newest USL League Two club.
Neagle is not the only black Seattle soccer icon involved with Ballard FC. One of the most diverse coaching staffs in the entire league is led by James Riley. Riley’s playing career includes stops at seven different MLS clubs, including the Sounders. In this time, he collected one MLS Cup and five U.S. Open Cup trophies. Now, Riley is looking to have similar success on the coaching side. You can read more about Riley here. Riley’s assistants include fellow Black coaches Mutanda Kwesele and Priame Ndayishimiye.
Ballard FC are proud to be one of the 4% of USL2 clubs with a Black head coach and one of the 11% with a Black assistant coach. Although we take pride in having one of the most diverse coaching staffs, we want to be one of many and not one of just a few on this front. We hope that these numbers will continue to grow league wide.
On the pitch, the Black soccer community continues to play a huge role in the club’s success. Lesotho international, Lesia Thetsane, captained Ballard FC for the first two seasons, lifting the league trophy last August. Now, three-year player Christian Engmann has picked up those reigns and serves as co-captain for the 2024 team. These two are just examples of the many black soccer players who have been crucial parts of Ballard FC’s success.
Co-founders. Coaches. Captains. Black leadership is something this club both relies on and believes in. Seattle and this country as a whole is a very diverse place, and we think it is essential that our club reflects that, both through our personnel and our actions. One of the many reasons Ballard FC joined Common Goal is to be part of their advancing goal to “end racism in football: on the field, on the sideline, in the front office and across our communities.” The social impact arm of the club, The Ballard FC Foundation, serves to increase access to soccer for youth across the the greater Seattle area through providing free camps and clinics with high quality training.
From the front office, to the technical area, to the pitch, to the stands, and to the city of Seattle itself, the Black soccer community plays a huge role in and around this club. Let’s celebrate them this Juneteenth.
