Colin Herriot will coach the Annapolis Blues FC during the club’s inaugural season. Photograph by Steve Buchanan.
We talk with Coach Colin Herriot and Owner Michael Hitchcock about Annapolis’ new professional soccer team
Get excited area soccer fans. There’s a new professional sports franchise in town: the Annapolis Blues Football Club semi-pro soccer team. It has already sparked a lot of enthusiasm in the community.
Last summer, close to 1,400 fans voted for the nickname of the team, which has already sold about 2,400 season tickets. The Blues will play their home games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium starting in mid-May. The season runs through July, with playoffs beginning afterwards for the National Premier Soccer League title.
Michael Hitchcock, Kyle Beckerman, and Alex Yi co-own the Blues. Beckerman, a Crofton native, played on the U.S. Men’s National Team that competed in the 2014 World Cup. Hitchcock co-owns 14 sports franchises around the world and worked as a sales executive with D.C. United. He also was part of the LA Galaxy management team that attracted superstar David Beckham to its franchise.
“My wife is from Maryland and I have spent a lot of time in Annapolis,” says Hitchcock, a Texas resident who serves as managing partner of the Blues. “I think it’s a dynamic city and I know how supportive Annapolis is of things that are cool and local. I think the area is a sleeping giant for soccer.
“It’s my business to identify great markets, build a meaningful connection with the community, and build something pretty special with the world’s most popular game.” The Blues will be coached by Scotland native Colin Herriot. The 40-year-old played soccer professionally in his native country, then at College of Southern Maryland before working as an assistant coach there.
He also has coached nationally-rated high-school-aged club teams and served as Maryland United FC Boys Director of Coaching for a decade.
“He checks all the boxes of what we are looking for in a great coach,” Hitchcock says. “He is going to build a quality team and he really understands how we are trying to grow the sport in Annapolis.”
We recently talked to Coach Herriot and owner Hitchcock about starting the franchise, fan support, the players, and community involvement.
Annapolis Blues co-owner Michael Hitchcock (left) with Eva Longoria during a charity event in San Antonio.
Coach Herriot, what can you tell us about the players you will be coaching? The nucleus of the team is from the DMV. We have guys that have played Division I college soccer, are looking to have professional careers, and play at the highest possible level. We also have a couple of guys who have played in New Zealand, Brazil, Poland, and Romania.
Soccer was drilled into you in Scotland from an early age. How has that translated to your coaching abilities? It has given me such a passion for the game. It has given me a unique insight into how important soccer is to people in their daily lives. I have been around the game for as long as I can remember. I would like to think that I have gained some great knowledge about the game. I have seen what soccer can do for people. It can change their lives. I never want to take it for granted. It’s important to develop players as a coach. What is just as important is that we want to develop people as well.
At what point did you realize you would be transitioning from playing to coaching? Coaching has always been a part of my makeup. Even as a player, I was always viewed as a coach. I would always ask questions. I was always intrigued. As a player, I thought I would make the transition into coaching.
What brought you to the U.S.? I came here on a soccer scholarship. I just wanted a new cultural experience on and off the field. The opportunity presented itself and I took it. It presented a new challenge. I didn’t know one person. Looking back on it, it was one of the best decisions I made.
How do you feel about playing in Navy’s football stadium? It’s a fantastic facility and a great venue for soccer. The facilities are first class. It’s a modern stadium. I took a tour and was really impressed with the facility as a whole. I think our players are in for a real treat. Anything attached to the Naval Academy makes it special. It checks all the boxes. I would be really surprised if there was a better venue in the league.
How hard do you have to work off the field to raise awareness about the Blues? I think the responsibility is just as equal as preparing for on the field. It isn’t just about the product on the field. I just want to see as many youth players as possible in the community come and support the team, so they see role models that they relate to. It’s going to create a great atmosphere and environment. We will put a great team on the field that people will be proud of.
What have you been doing in the community to spread the word? Getting involved with youth clubs and organizations. We want to put on clinics and be involved with coaches. We have an open-door policy if coaches want to come and watch training. In terms of giving back, there are many things. There is a food drive benefitting food banks. There are charities we want to get involved with.
How do you compare Maryland for soccer versus other areas of the country? Maryland has been a hotbed for youth soccer. It has produced a lot of talent over the years. There are many strong youth clubs here. There are many strong university programs. You look at what the University of Maryland has done over the years. There’s good soccer in the state, so for us, it’s just about continuing to attract the fans. I would put Maryland soccer up there against any other state in the country.
Michael, can you tell me about your soccer background? I have been in the soccer business for 27 years, including soccer management. I started working for D.C. United in ticket sales and was an executive there. I ended up having a pretty good Major League Soccer career and later was executive vice president of the Los Angeles Galaxy and president of FC Dallas.
How did you get into soccer ownership? I left Major League Soccer and started a soccer investment and management company 13 years ago. I have a lot of resources in my company. I think Annapolis is an incredible market. I knew soccer was going to hit this massive growth stage. I knew some markets that would support a soccer team and build something meaningful for the community. We can bring our playbook in and partner with great local companies and bring in great local investors. We introduced the team name and logo in August. It has caught fire ever since. The team will be run at a very high level and professionally. Our fans are going to still be D.C. United supporters, but this is in their front yard or backyard. It has that community feel and that kind of vibe.
Is being active in the community going to be vital to your success? We take a community-first marketing approach. A lot of grassroots stuff. Through today’s social media platforms, it’s called virtual grassroots to really connect with the community. You have to give to the community before you expect them to return that favor and support you. A connection to the community is absolutely critical in all different steps and areas of the community. You always want to build a brand and DNA from the club that is meaningful. You need everyone from city leaders to community leadership to business leaders to buy into the philosophy of the club. When you do those things right, you see great results. There is always a secondary market for people who visit Annapolis or went to the Naval Academy. Or call Annapolis their second home. And people who support you out of the immediate area. We have seen a lot of that.
