Meeting LCD Soccersystem

Team Identity

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What's the story behind LCD Soccersystem? How did it start? How long have you been playing together?

The team started playing together in 2013, with a handful of the original squad (myself included) still around. The original core of the team had gone to the Calhoun School together, and a bunch of us filtered in as free agents or friends of friends over the years across different leagues. So much of the team came in as one friend of an existing player, and then he stuck around, and then another, etc.

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Why the team name?

When I took over as captain about 7 years ago, our previous team name was Calhoun Reunited, a nod to those aforementioned roots. But most of the Calhoun guys had filtered out so there was no reason to keep the name. A teammate and I were at an LCD Soundsystem show — I'm a big fan and they're one of the all time great bands to come out of Brooklyn, and I will never stop pestering them on social media to sponsor our jerseys — and the name just came to me in a tequila-inspired moment. It was cool and goofy and I love a pun. My wife created our team badge loosely based on the band's logo, and the rest is history.

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How has the team changed since the beginning?

For much of our history the team played in red jerseys. We switched to blue as part of the LCD rebrand, and I think it suits us. We've gotten much more tactical in our style and formations. That might be a function of aging, where we can't just rely on the pure athleticism of a bunch of 20-somethings anymore, and actually have to think about how we play. We also started getting jerseys from Icarus Football, so even if we don't win, we look fantastic.

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Why do you play with Gotham?

We and the guys from Vallo Memorial (a longtime rival full of frenemies) worked with Gotham to get the field permits on Randall's Island from a different league that had been mismanaging their operations. Having been part of this team for so long, it's taken on more importance over time. When work or family or the ongoing implosion of American society gets you down, it's genuinely great to have soccer to look forward to every week. Gotham gives us that opportunity and makes it fun and easy for us. On a practical note, I appreciate that the games are always on Randalls Island and always Monday nights, making it easy to plan around. Gotham does a great job curating a fun, positive, and competitive vibe. And the league is very responsive to any issues that come up.

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A Few More Questions

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What are three words to describe the vibe of the team?

Organized, earnest, competitive

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Does your team have a go-to off the field activity? What is it?

A lot of us go for beers at Finnegan's Wake on the UES after games. Mostly though, just a lot of stretching and yoga and the like so we can prolong our careers, now that more than a few of us are on the wrong side of 40 with kids.

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We won what I'm calling the Calendar Year Treble in 2025, winning the spring, summer, and fall seasons. On a personal note, I'm most proud to have made the save in the penalty shootout that won us the summer 2025 title.

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"We won what I'm calling the Calendar Year Treble in 2025."

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Most proud moment?

We won what I'm calling the Calendar Year Treble in 2025, winning the spring, summer, and fall seasons. On a personal note, I'm most proud to have made the save in the penalty shootout that won us the summer 2025 title.