GFR Falling apart?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:there's nothing wrong with being a local club. GFR has never been a destination club. It has always been on par with the Herndons and Valors of the world.

Both those clubs have pathways and Valor is the strongest club in Union now -- probably the only decent one. GFR has been a strong club but will continue to decline unless they fix their pathway issue.

GFR had a pathway to NVA and it was a disaster for them. You don't have to have a direct pathway to a national league, you can just be a local club.....and GFR has done that well for a while now.

They continue to lose players due to the pathway issue and will continue to do so until they address it -- Loudoun, McLean, SYC, Arlington have all been beneficiaries of good GFR players wanting more than RL.

It is fine to lose players to other clubs. It happens even to clubs WITH a pathway. Having strong local and regional teams and not competing nationally is FINE. How many ECNL and GA/MLS NEXT clubs can there be in just the DMV? As long as they encourage talented players to move to other clubs I do not see why it matters that they don't aspire to be bigger/better.

Last season was one of the worst retention years for GFR during tryouts. Granted much of that was because of the craziness initiated by the board. But it was also GFR’s first season in a while without a pathway. Don’t be naive to think that GFR didn’t want a pathway. Last year it looked very likely that GFR was going to join BRYC, VYS and McLean in FVU. Then McLean made the surprise announcement and left. To this day no one knows why GFR didn’t join. It also seems odd that they are not entertaining a move to GA/MLS2. Why is that? I’m not buying this whole “local club” story. Something is not adding up. Any club of GFR’s size is making moves but why are they not?

What are you talking about? GFR had ONE season with NVA and it was a disaster so they left. Prior to that there was no "pathway" at GFR beyond RL. It's not "odd" they aren't moving to GA/MLS2 - it's not what they want or even have the players for. "No one knows why GFR didn't join" - yes, they do. Ask the coaches or anyone at the club in a director role if they plan(ned) to try to move to GA/MLS2 and they will tell you they do not. That is WHY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:there's nothing wrong with being a local club. GFR has never been a destination club. It has always been on par with the Herndons and Valors of the world.

Both those clubs have pathways and Valor is the strongest club in Union now -- probably the only decent one. GFR has been a strong club but will continue to decline unless they fix their pathway issue.

GFR had a pathway to NVA and it was a disaster for them. You don't have to have a direct pathway to a national league, you can just be a local club.....and GFR has done that well for a while now.

They continue to lose players due to the pathway issue and will continue to do so until they address it -- Loudoun, McLean, SYC, Arlington have all been beneficiaries of good GFR players wanting more than RL.

It is fine to lose players to other clubs. It happens even to clubs WITH a pathway. Having strong local and regional teams and not competing nationally is FINE. How many ECNL and GA/MLS NEXT clubs can there be in just the DMV? As long as they encourage talented players to move to other clubs I do not see why it matters that they don't aspire to be bigger/better.

Last season was one of the worst retention years for GFR during tryouts. Granted much of that was because of the craziness initiated by the board. But it was also GFR’s first season in a while without a pathway. Don’t be naive to think that GFR didn’t want a pathway. Last year it looked very likely that GFR was going to join BRYC, VYS and McLean in FVU. Then McLean made the surprise announcement and left. To this day no one knows why GFR didn’t join. It also seems odd that they are not entertaining a move to GA/MLS2. Why is that? I’m not buying this whole “local club” story. Something is not adding up. Any club of GFR’s size is making moves but why are they not?

What are you talking about? GFR had ONE season with NVA and it was a disaster so they left. Prior to that there was no "pathway" at GFR beyond RL. It's not "odd" they aren't moving to GA/MLS2 - it's not what they want or even have the players for. "No one knows why GFR didn't join" - yes, they do. Ask the coaches or anyone at the club in a director role if they plan(ned) to try to move to GA/MLS2 and they will tell you they do not. That is WHY.

Please do tell. I have yet to hear the answer to this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:there's nothing wrong with being a local club. GFR has never been a destination club. It has always been on par with the Herndons and Valors of the world.

Both those clubs have pathways and Valor is the strongest club in Union now -- probably the only decent one. GFR has been a strong club but will continue to decline unless they fix their pathway issue.

GFR had a pathway to NVA and it was a disaster for them. You don't have to have a direct pathway to a national league, you can just be a local club.....and GFR has done that well for a while now.

They continue to lose players due to the pathway issue and will continue to do so until they address it -- Loudoun, McLean, SYC, Arlington have all been beneficiaries of good GFR players wanting more than RL.

It is fine to lose players to other clubs. It happens even to clubs WITH a pathway. Having strong local and regional teams and not competing nationally is FINE. How many ECNL and GA/MLS NEXT clubs can there be in just the DMV? As long as they encourage talented players to move to other clubs I do not see why it matters that they don't aspire to be bigger/better.

Last season was one of the worst retention years for GFR during tryouts. Granted much of that was because of the craziness initiated by the board. But it was also GFR’s first season in a while without a pathway. Don’t be naive to think that GFR didn’t want a pathway. Last year it looked very likely that GFR was going to join BRYC, VYS and McLean in FVU. Then McLean made the surprise announcement and left. To this day no one knows why GFR didn’t join. It also seems odd that they are not entertaining a move to GA/MLS2. Why is that? I’m not buying this whole “local club” story. Something is not adding up. Any club of GFR’s size is making moves but why are they not?

What are you talking about? GFR had ONE season with NVA and it was a disaster so they left. Prior to that there was no "pathway" at GFR beyond RL. It's not "odd" they aren't moving to GA/MLS2 - it's not what they want or even have the players for. "No one knows why GFR didn't join" - yes, they do. Ask the coaches or anyone at the club in a director role if they plan(ned) to try to move to GA/MLS2 and they will tell you they do not. That is WHY.

Please do tell. I have yet to hear the answer to this.

The NVA thing was a disaster, why would they do the same thing with FVU??

[Anonymous]

I think the "pathway" argument is overstated. Most kids who play travel soccer (and their parents) aren't looking for a pathway. At least not at the U-little ages where our kids play. They are looking for competitive soccer, good coaching, and a reasonable commute. Our kids' practices are ~5-10 minutes from our house. That's hard to beat.

Even at the biggest clubs in our area, only a small number of travel kids will end up playing college soccer. If the best of the best want to gravitate to those programs, that's great. But there are plenty of other good (and very good, and even extremely good) kids who are more than happy to play for GFR or similar RL clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:there's nothing wrong with being a local club. GFR has never been a destination club. It has always been on par with the Herndons and Valors of the world.

Both those clubs have pathways and Valor is the strongest club in Union now -- probably the only decent one. GFR has been a strong club but will continue to decline unless they fix their pathway issue.

GFR had a pathway to NVA and it was a disaster for them. You don't have to have a direct pathway to a national league, you can just be a local club.....and GFR has done that well for a while now.

They continue to lose players due to the pathway issue and will continue to do so until they address it -- Loudoun, McLean, SYC, Arlington have all been beneficiaries of good GFR players wanting more than RL.

It is fine to lose players to other clubs. It happens even to clubs WITH a pathway. Having strong local and regional teams and not competing nationally is FINE. How many ECNL and GA/MLS NEXT clubs can there be in just the DMV? As long as they encourage talented players to move to other clubs I do not see why it matters that they don't aspire to be bigger/better.

Last season was one of the worst retention years for GFR during tryouts. Granted much of that was because of the craziness initiated by the board. But it was also GFR’s first season in a while without a pathway. Don’t be naive to think that GFR didn’t want a pathway. Last year it looked very likely that GFR was going to join BRYC, VYS and McLean in FVU. Then McLean made the surprise announcement and left. To this day no one knows why GFR didn’t join. It also seems odd that they are not entertaining a move to GA/MLS2. Why is that? I’m not buying this whole “local club” story. Something is not adding up. Any club of GFR’s size is making moves but why are they not?

What are you talking about? GFR had ONE season with NVA and it was a disaster so they left. Prior to that there was no "pathway" at GFR beyond RL. It's not "odd" they aren't moving to GA/MLS2 - it's not what they want or even have the players for. "No one knows why GFR didn't join" - yes, they do. Ask the coaches or anyone at the club in a director role if they plan(ned) to try to move to GA/MLS2 and they will tell you they do not. That is WHY.

Please do tell. I have yet to hear the answer to this.

The NVA thing was a disaster, why would they do the same thing with FVU??

100% wrong! Everyone knows they were ready to be added. There was already a tentative partnership in place. Something happened between GFR and the powers that be at FVU. The NVA failure was simply that Loudoun took all the slots. That has nothing to do with this.

[Anonymous]

Is HM still with GFR? I heard he left a while ago.

[Anonymous]

The “let’s just be a small neighborhood club” argument doesn’t hold water when they have RS, NM and ML making director $ and have coaches that also are looking to get paid - GD, MW, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is HM still with GFR? I heard he left a while ago.

He’s long gone

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The “let’s just be a small neighborhood club” argument doesn’t hold water when they have RS, NM and ML making director $ and have coaches that also are looking to get paid - GD, MW, etc.

+1000

You cannot claim to want to be a “local” club then pay the high salaries of the heavy hitters from TF. Something happened between GFR and FVU and neither party is coming clean about it. Now, the claim of “local neighborhood” club sounds disingenuous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The “let’s just be a small neighborhood club” argument doesn’t hold water when they have RS, NM and ML making director $ and have coaches that also are looking to get paid - GD, MW, etc.

ML is not a director anymore. Several coaches got their pay cut. MW is not coaching at GFR anymore. They are projecting a loss of money again this year. One of the dads on DC’s team has been attending their board meetings and reports back to everyone. The club is not in any way interested in national leagues and is happy with where they are right now based on everything he’s heard.

My DC’s team is a 3rd team but my older is 1st team and I agree. Most parents at GFR are happy with the club and don’t care about pathways.

[Anonymous]

[twitter]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is HM still with GFR? I heard he left a while ago.

He’s long gone

Where did he go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:there's nothing wrong with being a local club. GFR has never been a destination club. It has always been on par with the Herndons and Valors of the world.

Both those clubs have pathways and Valor is the strongest club in Union now -- probably the only decent one. GFR has been a strong club but will continue to decline unless they fix their pathway issue.

GFR had a pathway to NVA and it was a disaster for them. You don't have to have a direct pathway to a national league, you can just be a local club.....and GFR has done that well for a while now.

They continue to lose players due to the pathway issue and will continue to do so until they address it -- Loudoun, McLean, SYC, Arlington have all been beneficiaries of good GFR players wanting more than RL.

It is fine to lose players to other clubs. It happens even to clubs WITH a pathway. Having strong local and regional teams and not competing nationally is FINE. How many ECNL and GA/MLS NEXT clubs can there be in just the DMV? As long as they encourage talented players to move to other clubs I do not see why it matters that they don't aspire to be bigger/better.

Last season was one of the worst retention years for GFR during tryouts. Granted much of that was because of the craziness initiated by the board. But it was also GFR’s first season in a while without a pathway. Don’t be naive to think that GFR didn’t want a pathway. Last year it looked very likely that GFR was going to join BRYC, VYS and McLean in FVU. Then McLean made the surprise announcement and left. To this day no one knows why GFR didn’t join. It also seems odd that they are not entertaining a move to GA/MLS2. Why is that? I’m not buying this whole “local club” story. Something is not adding up. Any club of GFR’s size is making moves but why are they not?

What are you talking about? GFR had ONE season with NVA and it was a disaster so they left. Prior to that there was no "pathway" at GFR beyond RL. It's not "odd" they aren't moving to GA/MLS2 - it's not what they want or even have the players for. "No one knows why GFR didn't join" - yes, they do. Ask the coaches or anyone at the club in a director role if they plan(ned) to try to move to GA/MLS2 and they will tell you they do not. That is WHY.

Would have been good for the girls side, but MLS2 is a joke for the boys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[twitter]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is HM still with GFR? I heard he left a while ago.

He’s long gone

Where did he go?

No clue. Anywhere left that hasn't fired him?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The “let’s just be a small neighborhood club” argument doesn’t hold water when they have RS, NM and ML making director $ and have coaches that also are looking to get paid - GD, MW, etc.

+1000

You cannot claim to want to be a “local” club then pay the high salaries of the heavy hitters from TF. Something happened between GFR and FVU and neither party is coming clean about it. Now, the claim of “local neighborhood” club sounds disingenuous.

It was clear around March of 2025 that NM and ML were not going to be returning to FVU after the season was over. After that, the merger of GFR into FVU fell apart. My guess is that NM convinced RS to not be a part of it, to which RS happily obliged. Now NM and ML are doing ECNL at Bethesda while keeping a foot in the door at GFR (NM is still TD at GFR). So, they cannot allow GFR to go GA/MLSNext and again RS is happy to oblige. But they blew the one chance for GFR to dominate in a ECNL alliance. So the GFR families are now being told that "local neighborhood" club is the way to go. This kind of stuff is why we left season and don't plan on ever coming back!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The “let’s just be a small neighborhood club” argument doesn’t hold water when they have RS, NM and ML making director $ and have coaches that also are looking to get paid - GD, MW, etc.

+1000

You cannot claim to want to be a “local” club then pay the high salaries of the heavy hitters from TF. Something happened between GFR and FVU and neither party is coming clean about it. Now, the claim of “local neighborhood” club sounds disingenuous.

It was clear around March of 2025 that NM and ML were not going to be returning to FVU after the season was over. After that, the merger of GFR into FVU fell apart. My guess is that NM convinced RS to not be a part of it, to which RS happily obliged. Now NM and ML are doing ECNL at Bethesda while keeping a foot in the door at GFR (NM is still TD at GFR). So, they cannot allow GFR to go GA/MLSNext and again RS is happy to oblige. But they blew the one chance for GFR to dominate in a ECNL alliance. So the GFR families are now being told that "local neighborhood" club is the way to go. This kind of stuff is why we left season and don't plan on ever coming back!

FVU leadership wanted no part of NM. That's mostly (but not entirely) what it comes down to.