the footy queen

MLS New England Revolution Fanzine - Pictures of Chairman Mao - Every Issue →

Love zines. Love fanzines. Do not love New England Revolution, but I still wish I could check out some of these bad boys.

Footy love, nikhak

talesfromthesquare:

MLS New England Revolution Fanzine - Pictures of Chairman Mao - Every Issue in Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop, Vintage Sports Memorabilia, Publications | eBay

Can’t quite believe that someone is selling every edition of the fanzine I did - and for right now they are $125. Might need to dig out the spares

I recently took a part-time job in addition to my full-time one to work for a soccer organization in Chicago called Kick It Social. I’d been playing in Kick It Social leagues for the last year, and I’d really been enjoying my time with them. I appreciated the owner’s passion for the game (every time he steps on the field, his eyes light up with happiness), the relationship he built with teams & players in the league, and the level of play that the leagues had to offer (from beginners to competitive).

I was especially thankful for the risks he took in starting up women’s leagues through Kick It Social. Even though Chicago is a massive city - since I started playing adult leagues in the city in 2006, it seems that there has never been a lasting women’s league no matter how many organizations have tried to get one up and running. As a female player, I’m hopeful that a great women’s league can last and continue to grow in years to come - Chicago is certainly not short on female players.

I’ve always been an advocate of adult soccer in Chicago especially women’s adult soccer, so I’m happy to have the opportunity to help the game grow in a different setting now - other than just spreading the word individually, through friends, teammates, etc.

If you’re in Chicago and looking to join a league, hop on a team, or play a little pick-up - please feel free to reach out, as I’d be more than happy to help you find a league, team, or pick-up session that suits you best.

Happy to be helping grow the game.

Footy love, nikhak

[Photos: Top Left: My coed team - Team Decent FC. Other two photos: Saturday afternoon pick-up.]

The Footy Queen Links

What we were reading last week:

American Team Reigns in This Devout Soccer league // The Wall Street Journal
Desert heat: World Cup hosts Qatar face scrutiny over ‘slavery’ accusations // CNN
Man City boss favored to own MLS team likely called New York City FC // Sports Illustrated - Grant Wahl
Frank Klopas on Robbie Rogers potential return: “We’d like to have him here with us.” // Chicago Fire Soccer Club
LA Galaxy star Landon Donovan: “My personal hope is that we’ll sign” Robbie Rogers // MLS Soccer

inventfootball:

The Real Theater of Dreams

When talking about soccer, we all have a tendency to get a bit overwhelmed by transfer budgets, sponsorship contracts and wage allowances. The modern game is one dominated by a never-ending news cycle that’s difficult to avoid; one in which is cynicism has a certain inevitability. But while FIFA officials and fascist fans conspire to drag us down, soccer remains a children’s game; a fact that was made clear in Portland this afternoon.

Teaming up with the Make-A-Wish foundation, the Portland Timbers gave 8-year old Atticus Lane-Dupre, who was diagnosed with Cancer last fall, a moment in the spotlight. Alongside teammates from his local youth soccer side, the Green Machine, Atticus was invited to Jeld-Wen Field for a scrimmage in front of more than 3,000 fans against a group of select players from the Timbers starting eleven.

Backed by flares, signs and a variety of G-rated chants, the Green Machine took down the Timbers 9-8, with four goals coming by way of Atticus himself. Don’t let the television coverage or blogs fool you: the heart of soccer emanated from the Pacific Northwest today.

Check out the photos above (video here) and let me know whether it’s just me, or if AFR headquarters are especially dusty this afternoon. [Posted by Maxi]

This is so damn awesome (via afootballreport)

Things that made me cry at work today:

See above ^^^^^

Footy love, nikhak

4-1 aggregate leads turn out to be helpful: Borussia Dortmund have reached the Champions League final despite a 2-0 loss to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. - SB Nation

Footy love, nikhak

Get on the bus!

This Saturday, April 24th there will be a (beer) bus leaving from the Chicago Fire vs Montreal Impact watch party hosted by Section 8 Chicago and then headed out to the Chicago Red Stars vs Portland Thorns game at Benedictine University.

I’m excited & proud to say that I helped coordinate this bus trip. I thought it was a perfect opportunity to unite soccer in Chicago - Kick It Social (my part-time employer) and Chicago Red Stars are co-sponsoring the bus, while Section 8 Chicago has helped with promotion and ticket sales.

Some cities are fortunate enough to have their men’s and women’s clubs working together, promoting one another, or at the very least have a friendly relationship with each other. Those cities, clubs, teams are fortunate - not every city has the same unity between soccer teams & organizations. If it can’t be done on the club level though, let us, the supporters, at least try to connect everyone, every team together

Join us! Get a ticket here.

C’mon you men in red! C’mon you Stars!

Footy love & Chicago soccer pride, nikhak

Everton can survive without Marouane Fellaini - ESPN FC →

Sigh.

Don’t go, Marouane. Don’t go.

Footy love & sometimes sadfaces, nikhak

awesomesoccerhairclub:

It’s all but inevitable that the Belgium is headed to Chelsea this summer. He will be a monster for them, as his versatility in midfield is exactly what they are lacking.

I attended the Chicago Red Stars inaugural NWSL match this past Sunday at Benedictine University vs Seattle Reign FC, which ended in a 1-1 draw with goals from Christine Nairn (10’ - SRFC) and Lori Chalupny (19’ CRS).

I cannot wait to see more of this team (CRS), especially when their German internationals are here to play.

Footy love, nikhak

This is Andriy Yarmolenko’s ground.

…

Andriy Yarmolenko played small-sided every day after school in his home town of Chernigov, in the north of Ukraine.

He joined the school futsal team to improve his skills and close ball control.

This is where Andriy learned how to keep possession of the ball.

It’s where he made his first touch perfect…

…and developed his eye for goal.

Footy love, nikhak

[NIKE Football]

The Footy Queen Links

What we were reading last week:

Margaret Thatcher and her attempts to destroy English football // SIDESPIN
Pressure has risen at White Hart Lane, admits Clint Dempsey // London Evening Standard
A U.S. Soccer Star’s Declaration of Independence // The New York Times
After long road back, Holden takes in return to lineup // ESPN FC