NYCFC Compete in First MLS Preseason Game
By Ron Orchard
Tuesday night, that’s Tuesday night Manchester time, saw NYCFC play their “first” game, resulting in a 2-0 win, read about it here. The club claiming this preseason match as its “first game” should make its true set of fans take umbrage at another slight.
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The most obvious issue with the club making this statement is how disloyal it is to its fans. As a club celebrating your inaugural match, either do so as an official league match (if away from home), or at home, whether league match or friendly. This match was played at Manchester City FC’s training ground, and was included in the English club’s season tickets, with supporters being able to obtain 150 Cityzen points for attending.
Not sure exactly the use of these points, but I did see you only get 10 Cityzen points for attending the 3/4 league match at home against Leicester City. Either their fans really hate Leicester, or they view NYCFC as a charity, or both. This decision to claim that this game was the “first match” for the club could also have been motivated to give those fans in Manchester the superiority that has pervaded much of the interaction between MCFC and NYCFC.
The only excuse for playing an inaugural match away from home as a friendly would be to face a legendary opponent. Who did NYCFC play? That mammoth of Scottish clubs, the pain from Paisley. Still don’t who I’m talking about? Maybe you know them by their nickname, the Buddies. Give up?
Their opponent was St. Mirren FC, and don’t get me wrong, I love Scottish Football, but I wouldn’t have selected this small and not very good team for my first match. They are currently third from the bottom in table, with a significant gap in points they’ll likely have to participate in the playoffs to try an avoid relegation.
If you’re aligned with a massive club like Manchester City, then make the “first match” one against a legendary club. Alright, if you want to make it a Scottish club, what about Rangers? I hear they could use some cash. I mean, even the Cosmos’ first match back returning from the dissolution of the original NASL saw them play against Manchester United.
As American soccer fans, we can continue to shake off the indignities shown to us by our cohorts in England, knowing that we’ll all see NYCFC’s actual first game on ESPN or as one of the lucky 60+ thousand who will be filling the Citrus Bowl for a true piece of American Soccer history.
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