The secret to the success of the Flint City Bucks isn’t exactly well-kept. Players on this year’s team and previous teams frequently tout the sense of community that is built around them each summer in Flint, with opportunities to work with kids at Flint Style Soccer sessions to participating in several Flint events and festivals to just things like having lunch at the Flint Farmers’ Market together regularly as organizational strengths that help them form close bonds.
A few players added something new to that team bonding list this summer, though. For generations, Flint residents can often be seen fishing on the concrete banks of the Flint River in and near downtown. This summer, you were likely to see a few Bucks players out there fishing alongside longtime residents.
Team president Costa Papista said a handful of players on the team enjoy fishing, and when they saw that people go fish on the river, they took matters into their own hands.
“They (the Bucks) have a bunch of fun stuff for us to do, but a few of us were like, ‘Why not go fishing?’” said midfielder Jack Roman. “We went to Walmart, bought some $10 dollar rods, and would go down to the Flint River and just fish for a couple hours a day to just get to bond with each other, hopefully catch some fish. It was just a good time to relax, get our mind off the game, and just let loose and have a little fun.”
The camaraderie and culture that the Bucks organization builds is exactly why Roman wanted to return to the team this season after spending last summer with the Bucks as well. Roman is a Canfield, Ohio, native who plays collegiately for the University of Akron, but he’s felt at home in Flint.
“I think the structure from the club organization people, the leaders, and then we have people like Katie (Roe, the game night operations person) who are always with us every day, they just really make it feel like home,” Roman said. “All the guys here, we come from different parts of the world, different parts of the country, so I think having all these different facilities for us to use and activities to do throughout the summer really helps us bond and connect, and that’s really what keeps people coming back. Flint’s a great community, so I think that’s ultimately what drives people coming back for such a great summer.”
Roman also came back because he felt like last year’s team had unfinished business. A season ago, the Bucks lost 2-1 to Ballard FC in the semifinals last season, just one win away from advancing to the national final.
“Last summer we had a great run, made it to the national semifinal, and I think that was a little bit in my head, I wanted to come back and get the full job done, get to that national final, and hopefully bring some hardware back to the Flint community and the Flint City Bucks,” Roman said. “That was ultimately my motivation in coming back.”
To do so, they’ll have a tough task when they face defending USL League 2 national champions Vermont Green FC at 7:30 p.m. August 1 at Atwood Stadium. Vermont has not lost a USL 2 match in two seasons (their only loss was to a professional team in penalty kicks in the U.S. Open Cup last April). In their current playoff run, Vermont has outscored four opponents by a combined 19-1.
“I watched the second half of their last game in the semifinal, and they’re a really strong team,” Roman said. “I mean, from the front all the way to the back, they have top college guys on the team. They’ve played together, haven’t lost a game in two years, so they’re gonna be a really tough opponent. But I have full belief in our coaches here to implement some tactics to hopefully force them to play how we wanna play, Flint-style.”
Two current Bucks players, keeper Judewellin Michel and forward Stephane Njike, both played for Vermont last summer, so they have some familiarity with a few of the players still on the roster. Roman said some Bucks players have also played against current Vermont players during their collegiate seasons.
The Bucks have also had a strong playoff run. Like Vermont, they’ve given up just one goal in four games, with veteran keeper Steve Clark solidifying them in net but bolstered by a steady, consistent defense and midfield that has helped the Bucks control possession. Their most recent win was an exciting 1-0 victory over Ventura County Fusion on a goal by Oliver Moller-Jensen deep into stoppage time. For all of their success on the pitch, though, Roman credits the unselfish way they play to their togetherness off the field.
“I think what’s really helped is that we all live together, so we’re with each other 24 hours of the day, and I think just building that off the field chemistry has really helped connect on the field,” he said. “We all know what each other’s roles are on the field. We get the job done defensively, midfield, attack. We just know each other’s games, and I think that’s one of our biggest positives about how we play. We know what we’re expecting of each other.”
The players have also come to rely on their support in the stands. Approximately 4,000 fans have attended each of the last two playoff games. The last time the Bucks hosted a national title game in 2019, they drew around 7,000 fans. Atwood Stadium holds 10,000, so Roman and the team are hoping to surpass even that 2019 total. Tickets are available online.
“We’re expecting a lot of fans, hopefully more than the past ones, because the fans really help drive us,” Roman said. “I mean, it took us the entire game in the last game to find the winning goal, and I think the fans nonstop playing the drums in the corner, that really motivates us on the field, keeps us focused, knowing that the crowd’s behind us. So we need everybody to come out and support, I’m expecting a big crowd.”
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