FROM WORST TO FIRST: THE STORY OF AMERICA'S TEAM FC
October 2009
http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/3820/38/
Here's a taste of the article above:
Thursday 27 August ~
Tuesday's announcement that Channel 4 will be axing Big Brother could mean an end to the reality TV era with which this decade has been plagued. However the news may also have repercussions for the football club described as the “worst team in senior football”. Last season Fort William FC of the Highland League took just one point from 28 matches. Based in the town situated under Ben Nevis, they suffer from shinty's local popularity – Fort William Shinty Club is one of the best in the country – and have been cemented to the bottom of their league for three years. [Click the link above to open the rest of the article in new window].
August 22, 2009
Article in the Scotsman is a little less than complimentary - but here it is!
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/latestnews/Field-of-dreams-for-39Britain39s.5557067.jp
BUSINESS PLAN UPDATE:
AMERICA’S TEAM FC
August 22, 2009
“More than just a series about "a team that
has one of the worst records in all of
professional sports" But when the team is the
subject of an interesting public ownership
scheme/reality show you're probably not too
hung up on doing things as they have been
done before. It's an interesting intersection
between reality TV, social networking and
sport...it's gonna be special. Anyone else want
to join me?”
- This is American Soccer Magazine
How will the locals react to a group of fit, handsome,
young American men playing “their game”, invading
“their” bars, restaurants, shops and churches? All will be
played out against the breathtakingly beauUful backdrop
of Ben Nevis, the Outdoor Capital of the UK.
This is no minor experiment. USA Today, The Scotsman,
The Herald, The Daily Mail, The Daily Record, London
Times, The Independent, BBC News and numerous blogs,
forums and internet sites have all developed feature
stories on this revoluUonary concept. It demands to be
taken to the next level.
America's Team FC (ATFC) will provide viewers with
unique access that will focus on the Highland locals, new
bandwagon fans, the squad, the coaching staff, rivalries
from the opposiUon, the many detractors, and of course,
the influx of these wide‐eyed American sports stars.
ATFC will be an arced series, driven by the interviews,
emotions, issues, problems and complex characters
rather than exclusive footage of the actual matches ‐
although primary matches will serve as the "climax" of
every episode.
These matches will be edited down to a
fast, five minute "music video," focusing on the
highlighted plays, special moments, player commentary,
and explosive action. In addition to filming matches for
America's Team FC/Fort William, there will be
supplementary shoots that pick up the team, staff and
supporters at selected away fixtures around the country,
as well as using video cameras in and around the living
areas of the US transplants and Scottish players.
The battle cry of “Worst to First” screams of potential
culture clashes on so many levels. Will UK side with the
day‐glo yellow marketing machine that is determined to
jump start a minor economy, or the sleepy Highland
football team that may not be quite so responsive or
recepUve as would want? Viewers will follow the lives of
the US players as they go, live, and play in one of the
UK's least glamourous and perhaps most rugged league.
“Fort William will succeed where David
Beckham failed - by selling Soccer to Americans”
-The Daily Mail
As a viewer, you can watch the series AND interact with
the players and the managers daily on the future
AmericasTeamFC.com website. You can also get inside
looks at the upcoming opponents ‐ catch interviews with
rival players and coaches ‐ so you can have all of the
tools you need to succeed to help these “Bad News
Bears” of professional soccer lig their first and only
trophy.
At the end of the season ‐ only one question will remain:
can this group of dynamic young, unknown Americans
take Europe’s worst team all the way to a Scottish League
Championship?
Contact:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Sizzle reels can be located at
http://www.youtube.com/user/thepmac42
MAY 14, 2009
Thanks to you and your interest, ATFC continues to grab headlines. In the past 48 hours
the plans have been discussed in two major European papers, The Times (UK) and
the German financial newspaper, Handelsblatt. A pdf will be available soon.
The Fort lost a tough battle Wednesday evening, and should have come through with their
second point of the season - but in the end, lost out to Rothes 1-2.
May 11, 2009
Fort William plays its final two matches of the season - with a match Wednesday at May 13th v Rothes at 8 pm BST.
This is perhaps the teams best chance to get into the win column for 2009 before taking on powerful Inverurie Locos
to close out the season on Saturday May 16th.
America's Team FC is currently negotiating a time slot with the Fox Soccer Channel for the Reality Series for this fall -
as well as conducting conversations with a UK provider and production company: more details to be announced soon!
April 20, 2009
The Cinderella Story that is (and will be) the rise of Fort William still grabs the attention of media.
Sunday's Independent ran THIS story and another feature on ATFC was seen here.
Much is being finalized with the media - and with some luck - we hope to announce details for the upcoming 2009-2010 season soon. We appreciate everyone's thoughts, well-wishes, and patience!
BITS AND BOBS
Thanks to writer and former player Gordon Parks, here is a fabulous story on the trials and tribulations of the Fort William FC - and the upcoming America's Team FC project!
CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE DAILY RECORD
Fort William / America's Team FC update: ATFC founder Paul McDonald will be in Fort William April 2nd through the 6th to discuss further negotiations and developments with the squad and management - as well as take in the match v. D'Vale. Let's hope for good weather! See you all at the Crofters!
FEB 9th, 2009
Thanks to Adam Spangler for writing an in depth and detailed feature story on ATFC.
IF you have not seen it - please check out the ATFC Sizzle Reel
Midas Multimedia wins BBC commission to create documentary on America's Team FC http://www.obantimes.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/8303
WHAT IS AMERICA'S TEAM FC?
SCOTTISH SOCCER - AMERICAN MADE
If you’ve ever played fantasy sports, love playing Football Manager, or thought you could be a great coach - then you know the thrill of calling the shots and winning the game. Welcome to America's Team! At America’s Team FC this is your chance to lead the team to victory, but only this time it's for real, and it’s going to be televised for the world to see.
America’s Team FC is the site of the struggling Fort William Football Club, based in the Highlands of Scotland. Beginning in the 2009 season, America’s Team FC website members will be able to take Fort William FC all the way to the Highland League Title. The twist is - we will be bringing 7 American-born players over to compete - and help lift the first title ever to Fort William!
As a member, you get a piece of a REAL European Senior League Team! All members will get inside access with the coaches, players, and other key personnel - and make the kind of management decisions that are usually left to the "insiders."
It's also the chance to take a team from "worst to first" - something that has never been done before. The action starts Summer 2009 - but you can get in on the action now - and take advantage of pre-season specials!
For all Current Fort William Match Updates and Player Info:
Click here for the latest match reports on the current 2008-2009 season!
Picture By: Jason Law
