I want to take this first paragraph just to simply introduce myself. My name is Joshua Webb – I am the owner of JW Soccer, LLC, Founder of Putnam United FC, and I love the beautiful game of Football (Soccer). This is more than just a game to me. It is imbedded – almost as if it is part of my DNA.
I grew up in the South – A military brat living along the coast in Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia. Unlike a lot of areas in the United States during the 1980s and early 1990s, my exposure of sports really had Soccer in the forefront – likely do to the diversity of the military environment.
Fast-forward to 2021. I am sitting beside my pool drawing up the infrastructure, plans, and goals of Putnam United Football club to jump start in the Spring of 2022 (organizing in the winter of 2021). We had 31 players. outside of the Middle School aged players (none of which ever made a middle school team prior), half of our players played dual rosters (U10 & U12).
Today, Spring of 2023, Putnam United FC provides now seven (7) competitive rosters, on pace for approximately 400 Academy Players, and a full 150 Player Summer Camp. In short – we have exploded in growth in a very short year.
To this end, I write this with mixed emotions. I have debated whether nor not to even write this, as I do not want unwarranted assumptions to filter in. However, I think it is not only important, but it is critical for our area and our state to engage others that are totally 100% bought in to the player centric philosophy – those that are able to set aside their ego and internal competitive spirit to ensure the youth players in our care are not only the beneficiaries but are central to decisions.
This is where I become brutally transparent. When I launched my founding of Putnam United FC – it was faced with multiple lines of scrutiny. I could not count how many times I heard “here is another short-lived club,” “don’t we already have enough clubs,” “why are you even trying to do this when __________________________ Club is already in the area?”
Another brutally honest answer – I ignored it. As a long time completive player and parent to two soccer players of my own, I saw a dramatic need of structure, organization, and a safe playing environment in the Hurricane, WV area.
The mission statement and Five Short Term and Five Long Term goals outlined in that planning phase – both incorporated partnerships with other local area leagues and clubs to provide a comprehensive and collaborative environment where players were central – that numbers were not forefront, yet environment was the core of all involved so that the player (alone) was the core focus.
As for me in a personal sense – I am humbled to be managing a waiting list for my personal training, but in full honestly becoming fatigued at the frequent attempts at suppressing the JWS presence – likely due to my personal investment in Putnam United FC.
This is my Football (Soccer) Euphoria – that we, as multiple organizations and personal trainers and coaches, collaborate and work together to give the players in our area (and state) the absolute best soccer experience that we could possibly offer; free of ego, free of win at all costs, free of manipulation, and free of weaponizing local area resources.
I continue focus and these endeavors with the optimism that the priority drivers and pure hearts within our soccer community also wants the same… will be willing to work with other leagues, clubs, and coaches to give players in Putnam County and the State of West Virginia the absolute best resources and environments that us adults can give our youth.
I am hopeful. I am always willing to collaborate. I hope others will be, as well.
In your service.
Coach J Webb