FC Monmouth 2023 Tryouts Recap
WRITTEN BY: Chris Dailey
FC Monmouth held their annual open tryouts on March 5 from 10 AM - 12 PM at Count Basie Park.
Around 60 college and high school players from around the tri-state area gathered at the Basie and were greeted by FC Monmouth owners and staff in preparation for tryouts. All players received an FC Monmouth shirt and bag along with the opportunity to represent FC Monmouth in the upcoming NPSL season.
Several returning players, including Rhys Cotter and Rob Saunders, attended the tryout.
Count Basie was sunny and the weather was pristine for tryouts, giving Coach John Killick and his staff the best possible chance to analyze the talent on display.
“Today was an amazing, perfect day for soccer. Moving the tryout to March gave people a little more time on what they want to do and we had the biggest turnout in history, and the best level of players as well. Super happy about that,” said Coach Killick.
Killick was joined alongside his counterpart, Seamus O’Connor for the day. Seamus, who has been with the FC Monmouth youth community program for several years, is in his first season as the senior team's assistant manager.
“I’m so excited, with the younger kids it’s a little different - more developmental. I’m trying not just to grow good soccer players, but good young men. But this level is different, it’s not developmental anymore. They’re at the point where they have or don’t have the skills, and this is just a more competitive atmosphere. I’m a huge professional sports fan so being in a more competitive environment with top-notch athletes is a dream come true for me,” stated Coach Seamus regarding his excitement levels headed into his first season in his new role.
A graduate of Wall High School, Seamus is a Monmouth local, and will now assist Coach Killick in the process of selecting the FC Monmouth 2023 roster.
Killick talked about the sense of community FC Monmouth has, and his heavy emphasis on trying to bring back returning players, such as captain, Rhys Cotter, stating, “the team looks great and I can’t wait to get going. Once the tryouts happen, it’s like taking the top off of a can and it all goes from here. And over the past couple of years, that’s something we’ve been trying to do. Getting returning players helps bring community and you sense it when the guys see meet other again. They haven’t seen each other in a while but it gives it much more of a club atmosphere.”
Killick and company plan on finalizing the details of the roster shortly and it will then be released to the public on FC Monmouth's social media pages. They plan on bringing a healthy mix of returners and new faces, all united in a mission to hoist the NSPL Championship.
To follow along on Instagram and Twitter for roster updates, follow @wearemonmouth