Where We Come From and Where We Stand

by Morgan Reed

Four years ago I came home from college for the weekend. I was expecting a normal weekend of hanging out with friends and family, however what I found was not what I would have ever expected. As I walked into our living room I noticed giant binders all over the coffee table, I questioned my parents as to what this was all about and my dad, very straightforward, stated, “We are buying a soccer team.” I will never forget that moment of confusion. We had no experience with soccer, other than my sister and I playing when we were little, like most kids do, and the only professional soccer game I had been to at that time was a Baltimore Blast game when I was in elementary school. We weren’t soccer people, we were American football fans, my sister played volleyball and I rode horses, nowhere in my memory had we ever even discussed soccer. To be honest, at that time I regarded the sport as a less intense game, boring because there was no need to wear pads or anything, they just ran around a lot, how hard could it be. Needless to say, today I have a very different opinion of the sport. So, we sat down at the coffee table and began to pour over rules and regulations of this new project, and how we could use it as a missions tool to spread God’s word in the community. At the end of the weekend, I was still confused over what exactly we were getting into, but I knew that dad would make it great. Over the next few months, every time I came home there was some new development in our progression, we had to move fast in order to put a team on the field for the 2021 season. Coaches were hired, plans were made, players were contacted, all in preparation for the inaugural season of the Ocala Stampede. With the help of friends, old and new, we prepared to launch what would grow to be one of the most successful USL PDL teams in the country.

I remember that first soccer game as a whirlwind. We had been passing out tickets for weeks, talking to people about what we were doing and trying to get some excitement building in the community. Finally the day came, we successfully put on an entire soccer match and with some experience under our belts, we felt confident we could pull this off. That first season was amazing for many reasons, we had a great team that fought for great results, players from around the world who came together for a great cause. We ended that season as the Southeastern Division Champions and were incredibly proud of the product we had made.

Each season has brought a new group of young men, eager to learn more about the game they love. Many players have returned to us for multiple years because when they are in Ocala, they are with family. Among this year’s group of men we have many players who have returned from previous seasons, Karamba Janneh played with the Stampede in 2021 and 2021and returned this year. Sam Duininck, Ben Knight, Courage Chirandu, Jack Bailey, and Ocala natives Jackie Kay and Jesse Wear have loyally returned for the third season. And of course, we cannot forget Stevie Walmsley and Lex Craggs who have played for the Stampede since that hectic first season. In addition to players, head coach Cheyne Roberts has led the Stampede for three seasons. The Stampede is our family. Each summer the families that run the Stampede come together and create a huge family that consists of not only us, but about 26young men as well. Each player is remembered years later for his hard work and dedication to the Stampede.

It is hard work and dedication that has brought us to this year, the fourth season. For the2021 season, once again, we have an amazing group of young men who love soccer and who have taken our missions work and run with it. This season has been a challenging one, many teams in our division have placed targets on our back as a team they want to beat as we have held the Division Champions title for 3 years, and many of the franchises have put together great teams. But sitting here, with two games left in the season, we have risen to the occasion.

The Stampede currently holds 21 points having played 12 of the 14 regular season games. With their win on Saturday (12th), FC Miami clinched a playoff spot as either the division champion or the runner up. We control our own destiny as we go into tonight’s game against Orlando City and Saturday’s (18th) game against FC Miami. In addition, SW Florida and IMG are still in the race each with 16 points, however both teams need to win out and get some help to earn a 2nd place finish. Watch for our twitter updates tonight starting at 7:30 at @ocalastampede and come out for the final home game of the season on Saturday the 18th at7:00 pm at the MCYFL fields against FC Miami. Go Stampede!