March 27, 2023 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – Forward Madison FC News Release
Forward Madison FC forward Derek Gebhard
(Forward Madison FC)
We sat down with Gebhard to catch up on his three years in the Pink and Blue
Why did you come to Madison? How did that come about?
Derek Gebhard (DG)
I was at Charlotte and 2020. I was just kind of chillin’ in Virginia, with my family on a vacation. Carl Craig was the coach [of Forward Madison] at the time. So him and Neil, I think I played against them before when they were both with Minnesota, they knew of me. They gave me a call, and told me about the club here, how it’s a very community oriented club. That’s the kind of thing I felt like I had been missing in the last two or three years in my career at that time. So yeah, it made me really want to come here. That’s how it started. Fast forward, I’ve been here for three years, this is my third year now. It’s pretty crazy, I’m happy to be here.
How have you seen the club change from year one to year three now?
DG
Year to year, I feel like this club always tries to improve in everything we do. Engaging with the fans more every year makes me feel more connected with them. On the field, it’s been up and down. But every year, I would say we’ve had guys that are capable of winning, it’s just you can’t always win and get what you want. The vibes are definitely here this year. All the new guys that they brought in, it feels like we’re close. We joke around with each other in a relaxed way. It’s just a good vibe, where we know when to be serious and when to relax and joke around a bit. It’s good to have that connection with guys where you feel like you can mess around and get a little closer with each other. That’s definitely something that’s changed.
How have you seen the competition kind of change year to year in USL League One?
DG
It’s definitely changed, it’s better. I’d say what’s changed is a lot of players that were in the Championship are coming to play in League One. There’s also lots of young talent, but then there’s also older, experienced guys that maybe played overseas. I think the level has definitely improved over the years. There’s more teams coming in as well, which creates more opportunities for players. With all of that, I think the league has come a long way since the first year and there’s a whole lot more to still come.
What does it mean to have your family in Madison and have their support at your home matches?
DG
It means a lot, especially when…