June 14, 2024 – United Soccer League One (USL1)
Spokane Velocity FC News Release
Father’s Day is a time to take a step back from the game of football and celebrate the role dads play in their family’s lives. Spokane Velocity FC is home to multiple players and coaches who balance familial duties with performance on the pitch.
“I think being a father changed my mentality a bit,” said Spokane Velocity FC team captain Luis Gil. “It’s in a way made me more focused and more determined. I think the things I want for my son apply with my mentality on the field that I’m a go-getter and I want to be a winner on and off the field.”
Finding a winning formula can be a difficult task for a club’s inaugural season, but much like being a father, it starts with building a family, something that Velocity FC has focused on.
“I’ve been at a lot of clubs where it’s been hard, since I had my daughter almost six years ago now, she hasn’t been able to come to a lot of games,” said USL Spokane head of performance and Velocity FC assistant coach Josh McAllister. “But here, since we’re such a family club, it’s been really special because after every game I look for her and then she can come see, jump on the field and run around a little bit.”
A child running up to their dad after a match for a hug can seem like one of the many little things that makes Spokane feel special, but what separates this club from other professional organizations goes much further than opportunities for father-child bonding.
For the dads on the team, playing and coaching the game of football is more than just a passion, or even lifestyle. It’s how they support their families.
“The reason why I’m doing this is for my family to be honest,” said Velocity midfielder Andre Lewis.
Lewis lives away from his family – who live in his home country of Jamaica while he plays professionally in the United States. The ability to play football to help his family is something that matters a great amount to the 29-year-old. For him, Father’s Day also is a time to honor his own father, who inspired him to become the man he is today.
“As a kid, I tried to do everything my dad did,” Lewis said. “My dad is a great, calm and humble person and I think I get that from him. I tried to reciprocate whatever I saw my dad do because for me, he’s my idol. I want to walk in his footsteps and be even better for my kid.”
Gil also believes in the importance of family. In an interview with The Spokesman-Review in March, he said his…