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Looking Forward: Shore Setting High Bar in Madison

By JOHN ARLIA - john.arlia@uslsoccer.com, 02/12/19, 4:35PM EST

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FMFC Head Coach hopes to turn city’s first professional soccer team into winner


Forward Madison FC Head Coach Daryl Shore hopes to bring a League One title to Wisconsin as soon as possible.

MADISON, Wisc. – Forward Madison FC Head Coach Daryl Shore isn’t holding back when it comes to setting the bar for his team as it gets ready to gear up for the inaugural USL League One season.

Shore told Harrison Freuck of The Badger Herald that he expects FMFC to compete for a title in year one and hopes that in doing so, the city of Madison and state of Wisconsin will come together to support the club and its initiatives in the local community.

The end goal for Shore, though, whether it happens this year or not, is turning Madison’s first professional sports franchise in a decade into a winner.

“Holding up a trophy, hopefully in front of a home crowd, as well as a parade down State Street,” Shore said when asked to describe his long-term vision of success.

However, the 49-year-old Peekskill, New York native knows there’s still plenty of work to do between now and then.

In advance of kicking off preseason next week, Shore and assistant coach Neil Hlavaty are still working to complete the club’s inaugural roster, which currently sits at 13 announced players. The goal has been to find guys that have the “right attitude” and are willing to fight for the team no matter the score line.

The duo told Freuck that they think they’ve built a roster with “unique players with unique backgrounds” that can do just that, bringing in the likes of Madison native Carl Schneider and former USL Championship standout J.C. Banks, a Wisconsin native. Some players join FMFC with an established connection to the coaching staff, with Shore having previously coached Jeff Michaud and Don Smart during his time in Miami.

Between now and the club’s historic opening game against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on April 6, Shore and Hlavaty face the tall task of getting that new group of players on the same page. Doing that with such a diverse group won’t be easy, but by the time the team takes the pitch at David Stanton Field to kick off its inaugural League One season, the coaching staff hopes to trot out a well-balanced side that is both disciplined defensively but also looking to push forward whenever possible.

Only time will tell if the results follow, but Shore could guarantee one thing about his club during its inaugural season: It’s going to be fun.

“[It’s] an exciting opportunity,” Shore said. “Everyone should take advantage of having a pro team.”


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