Rochester Pride - RSC Lightning '96

This year, we move to the select side of the club. Rochester Select Soccer Club (RSSC) generally carries 2-3 teams within any given boys or girls age group. But they are always designated Lightning, Thunder, and Storm. We are designated the Thunder '90 team ('90 representing the age group of the players). And so we are. All official reference to the team (roster submissions, banking matters, league business, etc.) will, from now on, carry the Thunder ’90 designation. We will, however, carry over our long-standing moniker of “Pride” and use that as our own nickname. There are several reasons for this. First, a full two-thirds of this team are, in fact, previous Pride players from the old recreational team. Over the last two years Pride have created for themselves an excellent atmosphere team-first thinking, full effort in training, sportsmanship on the field, and a manner of class and dignity in conduct and bearing. These are highly admirable characteristics. To create such a positive, energetic and pro-active environment is not an easy thing to do. Many players never have the good fortune to ever be a part of such an atmosphere and I think this team will be better served by considering itself as a continuation of that fine tradition and embracing what they have built in the last two years rather than discarding it. Also, there is nothing novel or unprecedented about a team having a separate nickname. D.C. United also call themselves the Eagles; Manchester United also are call the Red Devils; Arsenal are called the Gunners. This is the same thing. And finally, and from a more practical standpoint, the prospect shelling out the money to create a new website, not to mention spending countless hours to put it together, only to end up with essentially the same material and information that exists here seems pointless and silly to me, and holds no appeal. Beyond that, a great many people visit our site based on coaching forums and discussion groups I have participated on for years and know where to find us. Over 4,000 visitors have found us at our “rochesterpride” address. Many return regularly to watch our progress throughout the season. Many have and expressed thanks for information we have been able to share with them. I don’t wish to throw that away either. And so, Thunder we are – Pride we remain. From here on out you can expect that I will refer to either interchangeably both here on the website and out on the field.