On Saturday, FC Cincinnati re-aired one of the club’s best performances their young history: a 4-1 win over North Carolina from May 2018.
The 70-minute conversation was filled with great moments that will make you laugh and maybe even get goosebumps as the players who wrote FCC history retell it from their own perspectives.
You can watch the second-screening episode here.
Here are some of the best moments from the episode, which featured Tommy G alongside Kenney Walker, Corben Bone, Nazmi Albadawi and Paddy Barrett:
Their favorite memories at FC Cincinnati:
“The amount of different teams and the relationships that I’ve built over the years, even this right here is a testament to what this club has done,” Bone said. “It’s created relationships and friends all over the world and it’s just been great. It helped me in my soccer career … When I was with Cincinnati, it was probably the highlight of my career so far, for sure. As far as the fan base, the atmosphere, the success we’ve had and just the fun we had as teammates … there are so many good memories.”
Walker, who played with Bone for three seasons (2016-18) had similar sentiments.
“Just going to Nippert Stadium and playing those games at night, that’s probably still one of the best atmospheres I’ve played in over an extended period of time,” Walker said of his time with FCC. “I created a bunch of memories that I’ve always cherished.”
Barrett praised the atmosphere at FCC home games as his favorite Orange and Blue memory.
“Playing in front of them fans was amazing every week,” Barrett said. “You’re playing in front of 25,000 plus fans every single week. They made me feel so welcomed there. It was a great place to be at and I felt the love both ways.”
On the team’s chemistry during the 23-game unbeaten run in 2018:
“It just kind of happens,” said Bone, FCC’s all-time leader in competitive appearances. “It’s difficult to put into words. Teams like those don’t come around often.”
“It helps when your team is doing well on the pitch,” Barrett said. “We were so good.”
“We had a lot of experienced players,” Albadawi said. “We had enough experienced players that we could pull out wins because we knew what it took to win.”
On the worst field the guys had played on
The former Orange and Blue players had no problem picking on their biggest USL Championship rival – and Bone’s current team, Louisville City FC.
Lou City has a new stadium awaiting its first match, but the players said it was horrible playing at Louisville Slugger Field, where one side of the field a baseball diamond with a tarp over the dirt.
“(I) felt like Dora the Explorer searching for the ball,” Barrett said.
On missing the Queen City
Barrett plays for Indy Eleven now, but said he loves the Queen City and loved playing for FCC supporters.
“I miss Cincinnati,” he said. “There’s so much to do and the people are so nice.”
Albadawi, who plays for North Carolina FC, had similar praise.
“We love the city,” he said about his family, and mentioned spending a lot of time in Washington Park.
