The Back Stick Podcast
Welcome to The Back Stick Podcast!
Hosted by Jamil Roberts & Dom Okus, this is your weekly source of banter, professional soccer insider stories, and behind-the-scenes scoops from the MLS, USL, and all levels of the US Soccer pyramid.
The Back Stick is all about authentic, funny and insightful soccer interviews that highlight the careers and personalities of pro players in the US. While also bridging the gap between passionate soccer fans and the professional soccer players they support week in, week out.
Whether you’re a lifelong soccer or a football fan eager to get to know the players you cheer for, a lover of behind the scenes stories in professional sports, or just someone who loves soccer in the US at all levels from college to the pro’s, The Back Stick is the show for you!
Expect unfiltered conversations, pro soccer insights that you won’t hear anywhere else, and plenty of laughs along the way.
The Back Stick Podcast
Paco Craig - West Ham Roots, Louisville Legacy & A New Chapter at North Carolina FC - E21
This week on The Back Stick Podcast, Dom Okus and Jamil Roberts are joined by Paco Craig, former West Ham Academy standout and current North Carolina FC defender, for a conversation packed with stories, insights, and laughs.
We delve into Paco’s incredible football journey, from his early days in London to lifting multiple USL Championships with Louisville City, finding love and leadership with Miami FC, and now writing a new chapter in the USL Championship with North Carolina FC.
Paco opens up about:
- The move from West Ham to college soccer in the U.S.
- D2 vs D1 in American college football
- The reality of USL contracts and salaries
- Special memories from Louisville’s golden era
- Coaching aspirations and how he sees the game from a manager’s lens
- Life beyond football: family, love, and personal growth
- The impact of COVID-19, aging as a pro, and what’s still to come at NCFC
Chapters
00:00 Intro & Welcome Paco!
04:30 Paco's Journey in Football
05:56 The Influence of Family and Background
08:55 West Ham To Young Harris
12:20 The Reality of D2 Soccer vs D1 Soccer
15:09 Football Development in England vs US
17:52 Making the Jump to Louisville City
21:00 Salary Disparities in the USL
25:30 Navigating the USL Transfer Market
27:33 Special Memories from Louisville
31:49 What Kind Of Manager Would Jam & Dom Be?
33:58 Paco Craig: A Future Manager?
37:54 The Impact of COVID-19 on Paco's Career
43:42 Finding Love and Life in Miami
47:30 Transitioning to North Carolina: A New Chapter
50:47 Adapting With Age
53:42 Early NCFC Expectations
01:00:22 Extra Time
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