FiftyFive.One
• Voices From Soccer's North •
Author: Brian Quarstad
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Minnesota Soccer Loses an Important Pillar in Gavin Pugh
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: Minnesota Soccer Loses an Important Pillar in Gavin PughThe Minnesota soccer community suffered a great loss last Tuesday. Gavin Pugh passed away from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) at the far too young age of 37. In my 40 years involved with soccer in Minnesota, I’ve seen many good coaches. Gavin was one of them. He excelled as a teacher, both to his soccer students…
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Minnesota United Looks to the Future, Appoints Tim Carter as Director of Development Academy
Continue Reading: Minnesota United Looks to the Future, Appoints Tim Carter as Director of Development AcademyOn Thursday, Minnesota United officially announced that Tim Carter will be the director of their Development Academy as the team moves to MLS. While most fans will be unfamiliar with Carter, those involved in youth soccer circles around the country will likely be aware of him. In fact, the former Shattuck-St. Mary’s DA Director may be…
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Gopher Women Split Weekend Road Trip with Heads Held High
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: Gopher Women Split Weekend Road Trip with Heads Held HighThe University of Minnesota Women’s Soccer team had mixed results over the weekend. The Gophers traveled to Durham, N.C. for the Duke Classic where they defeated Villanova on Friday night with a dominating 5-0 performance. On Sunday, the #9 ranked Gophers lost to #7 ranked Duke in a tightly contested match, 1-0. Gophers 5-0 Wildcats…
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Villarreal’s Mukwelle Akale Taking His Chances After Graduating from Youth Team
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: Villarreal’s Mukwelle Akale Taking His Chances After Graduating from Youth TeamIn late June, Mukwelle Akale finished a very hectic 2015/2016 season. It was followed up by a busy and far too short summer in Minnesota. Now he’s back with his team in Spain and determined to take his chances as he moves up from the youth team. Akale has now been with Villarreal in Spain for 19…
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Minnesota Golden Gophers Sweep their Weekend with Dual Victories
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: Minnesota Golden Gophers Sweep their Weekend with Dual VictoriesKansas or Minnesota: it just didn’t matter. The Minnesota Gopher women’s soccer team kicked off their 2016 fall season with two big performances this weekend. The Gophers defeated the Kansas Jayhawks on Friday evening with goals from Simone Kolander and April Bockin at Rock Chalk Park in Kansas. On Sunday they played their first match…
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Q&A: Nick Rogers Looking Forward to MLS in 2017
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: Q&A: Nick Rogers Looking Forward to MLS in 2017The wait is over. After months of speculation, Minnesota United fans know a lot more about the future of the team. While we know the who, what, when, and where about the team’s future, many of the details about those decisions are still a mystery. Minnesota United president Nick Rogers took the time to answer…
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History of Minnesota’s Supporters Group, the Dark Clouds
Categories: Minnesota Soccer HistoryContinue Reading: History of Minnesota’s Supporters Group, the Dark CloudsIn soccer, the team’s supporters are often known as the 12th man. That couldn’t be any more true of the Dark Clouds, the team supporters for Minnesota United, who will soon be moving to Major League Soccer. These days, the Dark Clouds regularly draw hundreds to games to sing, chant, wave flags and banners, and…
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No 2016 Special Session – What Now for Minnesota United?
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: No 2016 Special Session – What Now for Minnesota United?One step forward – one step back. A day after the St. Paul City Council passed crucial resolutions allowing Minnesota United to start work on their stadium at the bus barn site in St. Paul, the team was thrown a setback on Thursday. There will be no special session of the Minnesota State Legislature in…
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Pride and Prejudice: A Minnesota United Stadium Story – Part III
Continue Reading: Pride and Prejudice: A Minnesota United Stadium Story – Part IIIIn preparation for Minnesota United’s MLS announcement this coming Friday, FiftyFive.One is bringing you a three part series that originally appeared in its entirety in the 2015 year in review book of Minnesota United called the Complete Darkness. It’s published by FiftyFive.One’s parent company, Byline Press. There are still copies available which can be ordered…
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St. Paul City Council Approves Midway/Stadium Site Plan
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: St. Paul City Council Approves Midway/Stadium Site PlanThe St. Paul City Council approved four measures on Wednesday that pave the way for Minnesota United to build their stadium on the Midway bus barn site. The Council also approved the Midway site plan which will allow Midway Center owner Rick Birdoff and his company, RK Midway, to go forward with their redevelopment plans…
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Pride and Prejudice: A Minnesota United Stadium Story – Part II
Continue Reading: Pride and Prejudice: A Minnesota United Stadium Story – Part IIIn preparation for Minnesota United’s MLS announcement this coming Friday, FiftyFive.One is bringing you a three part series that originally appeared in its entirety in the 2015 year in review book of Minnesota United called the Complete Darkness. It’s published by FiftyFive.One’s parent company, Byline Press. There are still copies available which can be ordered…
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The History of Soccer in the Minnesota State High School League
Categories: Minnesota Soccer HistoryContinue Reading: The History of Soccer in the Minnesota State High School LeagueOn Monday the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) kicked off the 2016/2017 school year with the opening of preseason training for fall sports. Last year the MSHSL celebrated its one-hundredth anniversary. I was asked to write a history of soccer for the official 2015 state tournament program. With the kickoff of the 2016 soccer…
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Pride and Prejudice: A Minnesota United Stadium Story
Continue Reading: Pride and Prejudice: A Minnesota United Stadium StoryMinnesota United’s struggle to build a stadium took them through plots and proposals that would have made Jane Austen’s head spin. In preparation for Minnesota United’s MLS announcement this coming Friday, FiftyFive.One is bringing you a three part series that originally appeared in its entirety in the 2015 year in review book of Minnesota United…