Local Grassroots Stories

The Longest Game(s) in College Soccer History | LGS Pod Ep. 25.41

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2448553/open_sms] This year marks the 40th anniversary of the 1985 NCAA Men's College Cup final between UCLA and American University that took EIGHT overtime periods to decide the winner.  It is usually referenced as the longest soccer match in college history.  However, that 1985 final was NOT the longest match in college soccer history but rather the longest match in *NCAA* history. The longest match in college soccer history happened nine years earlier during a  semi-final match of the 1976 NAIA men's soccer tournament at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.  That match went nearly an hour longer and required FOURTEEN overtime periods before the match winner was scored. Tonight, as the 2025 college soccer tournaments are about to wrap up, John and Dylan recap both of these historic events - and the San Diego ties to the 1985 UCLA match. . . . and, as always, we'll kick off the show with any of the latest cup, lower league, pro/rel, soccer history, and San Diego specific news. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Do you want more stories about San Diego, California, and/or general soccer history? Use the SEND US A TEXT link at the top of the description to send us any questions, comments, or feedback you have about the show. EPISODE HOSTS: Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture. Co-Host: Dylan Wilson HELP US GROW! 1. Tell a friend 2. Rate & Review 3. Subscribe 4. Leave a comment JOIN US LIVE! We usually record our shows live on Tuesdays at 6PM Pacific time. Come join us in the chat. YouTube: @LocalGrassrootsStories SOCCER SHORTS: Follow on socials: BlueSky: @SoccerShorts.BigPineDigital.com Check out the Soccer Shorts YouTube channel YouTube: @BPDSoccerShorts PARTNERS: SanDiego.futbol Website: https://www.sandiego.futbol/ BlueSky: @SanDiego.Futbol YouTube: @SanDiego.Futbol

Developing Storylines for the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup | LGS Pod Ep. 25.40

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2448553/open_sms] The 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup is approximately 200 days away.  Forty-two teams have qualified.  Six additional berths will be determined in March 2026.  The draw will take place on December 5, 2025 in Washington D.C. Tonight John and Dylan attempt to look beyond the Trump/Infantino headlines and dig deeper into the sporting stories that are taking shape for this edition of the World Cup in order to remind us why we all love this beautiful game. . . . and, as always, we'll kick off the show with any of the latest cup, lower league, pro/rel, soccer history, and San Diego specific news. . . . and, as always, we'll kick off the show with any of the latest cup, lower league, pro/rel, soccer history, and San Diego specific news. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU What are your thoughts about the upcoming 2026 MWC? Use the SEND US A TEXT link at the top of the description to send us any questions, comments, or feedback you have about the show. EPISODE HOSTS: Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture. Co-Host: Dylan Wilson HELP US GROW! 1. Tell a friend 2. Rate & Review 3. Subscribe 4. Leave a comment JOIN US LIVE! We usually record our shows live on Tuesdays at 6PM Pacific time. Come join us in the chat. YouTube: @LocalGrassrootsStories SOCCER SHORTS: Follow on socials: BlueSky: @SoccerShorts.BigPineDigital.com Check out the Soccer Shorts YouTube channel YouTube: @BPDSoccerShorts PARTNERS: SanDiego.futbol Website: https://www.sandiego.futbol/ BlueSky: @SanDiego.Futbol YouTube: @SanDiego.Futbol

The Knock on Effects of the MLS Calendar Switch | LGS Pod Ep. 25.39

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2448553/open_sms] After years of internal discussion, the MLS Board of Governors has voted to more closely align their calendar with many of the major European leagues.  While much of the discussion this past week has been laser focused on the pros and cons of this move for MLS proper, this change will undoubtably create a seismic shift in the entire US soccer ecosystem. Tonight, John and Dylan look beyond MLS to see what the knock-on effects might be for the rest of American soccer and try to predict how each of the other professional and pre-professional leagues could be impacted by this calendar shift. . . . and, as always, we'll kick off the show with any of the latest cup, lower league, pro/rel, soccer history, and San Diego specific news. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU What are your thoughts on the MLS calendar shift?  How do you think this change will impact the US soccer ecosystem? Use the SEND US A TEXT link at the top of the description to send us any feedback, questions, or comments you have about this episode or our series. EPISODE HOSTS: Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture. Co-Host: Dylan Wilson HELP US GROW! 1. Tell a friend 2. Rate & Review 3. Subscribe 4. Leave a comment JOIN US LIVE! We usually record our shows live on Tuesdays at 6PM Pacific time. Come join us in the chat. YouTube: @LocalGrassrootsStories SOCCER SHORTS: Follow on socials: BlueSky: @SoccerShorts.BigPineDigital.com Check out the Soccer Shorts YouTube channel YouTube: @BPDSoccerShorts PARTNERS: SanDiego.futbol Website: https://www.sandiego.futbol/ BlueSky: @SanDiego.Futbol YouTube: @SanDiego.Futbol

Forecasting the Women's Game in the U.S.? | LGS Pod Ep. 25.38

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2448553/open_sms] The last few years have seem dramatic growth in women's professional sports. The NWSL and the USL Super League are growing and adding more teams.  The lower leagues of women's soccer (USLW, WSPL, UWS, UPSL) are all adding teams.  Will the women's game chart a new path forward and become the model for professional soccer in the U.S.? Or, is it more likely that the women's game is destined for decades of the same soccer wars that have plagued the men's game for the last 100 years? Tonight, John and Dylan get out our crystal balls and do our best to answer these questions and more as we try to predict where the women's game might be in the next 5, 10, 15 years? . . . and, as always, we'll kick off the show with any of the latest cup, lower league, pro/rel, soccer history, and San Diego specific news. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU What are your thoughts on the future of WoSo in the US? Use the SEND US A TEXT link at the top of the description to send us any questions, comments, or feedback you have about the show. EPISODE HOSTS: Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture. Co-Host: Dylan Wilson HELP US GROW! 1. Tell a friend 2. Rate & Review 3. Subscribe 4. Leave a comment JOIN US LIVE! We usually record our shows live on Tuesdays at 6PM Pacific time. Come join us in the chat. YouTube: @LocalGrassrootsStories SOCCER SHORTS: Follow on socials: BlueSky: @SoccerShorts.BigPineDigital.com Check out the Soccer Shorts YouTube channel YouTube: @BPDSoccerShorts PARTNERS: SanDiego.futbol Website: https://www.sandiego.futbol/ BlueSky: @SanDiego.Futbol YouTube: @SanDiego.Futbol

Pro-Rel Series: Pt. 8 - Designing an Integrated P/R Ecosystem for USL (2 of 2) | LGS Pod Ep. 25.37

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2448553/open_sms] Last week, John presented his Vision 2050 for the USL: four independent regional pyramids—East, Midwest, South, West—linked by a national, Champions League style tournament featuring the top first division teams across each of the independent pyramids . . . and why an independent pyramid approach could better satisfy our soccer needs over a more traditional single national pyramid. Tonight, in PART 8 of our Pro-Rel Series, we'll dive deeper into Vision 2050 and review: 1. The structure of a regional pyramid: tiers, divisions, pro-rel, trophies/cups, and entry into national tournaments. 2. How USL could begin to transition to this new system. 3. How the independent regional pyramid model can scale and adapt for growth. . . . and, as always, we'll kick off the show with any of the latest cup, lower league, pro/rel, soccer history, and San Diego specific news. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU What are your thoughts on how USL is handling the move to D1 and pro/rel? Use the SEND US A TEXT link at the top of the description to send us any questions, comments, or feedback you have about the show. LINKS FROM THE EPISODE SOCCERNOSTALGIA TALK PODCAST: Website [https://www.buzzsprout.com/838273]  USL: USL Names English Premier League Executive Tony Scholes President of New Division One Men's League [https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/1349165]  MATADOR NETWORK: This Map Shows How Many European Countries Can Fit Into the Continental US [https://matadornetwork.com/read/map-shows-many-european-countries-can-fit-continental-us/] THECUP.US: Graphic: USASA Regions Map [https://thecup.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USASA-regions.webp] MAPHUB: US Men's Soccer [https://maphub.net/zackleischner/map] by zackleishner [https://maphub.net/zackleischner] (interactive map of all the adult men's teams in the U.S. - amateur through professional) MORNING KICKAROUND VIDEO: YouTube Channel: Morning Kickaround [https://www.youtube.com/@MorningKickaround] Video: The HUGE Questions Facing USL Ahead of Promotion and Relegation [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l14J079nyQ] EPISODE HOSTS: Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture. Co-Host: Dylan Wilson HELP US GROW! 1. Tell a friend 2. Rate & Review 3. Subscribe 4. Leave a comment JOIN US LIVE! We usually record our shows live on Tuesdays at 6PM Pacific time. Come join us in the chat. YouTube: @LocalGrassrootsStories SOCCER SHORTS: Follow on socials: BlueSky: @SoccerShorts.BigPineDigital.com Check out the Soccer Shorts YouTube channel YouTube: @BPDSoccerShorts PARTNERS: SanDiego.futbol Website: https://www.sandiego.futbol/ BlueSky: @SanDiego.Futbol YouTube: @SanDiego.Futbol