A letter to our readers from new NESJ editor Matt Langone

New England Soccer Journal editor Matt Langone at the Seamans Media offices in Milton, Mass.

Dear readers,

My name is Matt Langone, and I’m honored to take the helm as the new editor of New England Soccer Journal.

I feel grateful and excited to have been granted this opportunity, and I am eager to share my enthusiasm for this great sport with all of you through all of NESJ’s platforms. This includes our website (nesoccerjournal.com), magazine and, soon, a podcast.

My passion for “the beautiful game” formed at a young age.

I was 4 years old when I put on shinguards and cleats and took to the pitch for my first soccer game. It was more than my parents simply signing me up for an activity to unload some weekend energy. It was a sport I was drawn to. The precision, skill and speed of a game played at your feet and not your hands is uniquely special, as is the requirement of total team cohesion in order to be successful on a consistent basis.

I played soccer for 14 years, until graduating from Beverly High School in Massachusetts. Along that journey, I learned to appreciate the role that each position on the field plays, and that not one player can carry a team to victory.

At its highest level and when played the right way, no sport is more beautiful than soccer. Eleven players on each side, working in unison, crisply knocking the ball around like a perfect drumbeat. The majority of the world likely would wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment.

In the United States, including here in New England, we are still growing and nurturing our love for soccer. But the sport seems to gain more and more admirers as each day passes.

To that point, I’m ecstatic that I’ll be able to play my part in shining a light on this most extraordinary game. I’m very much looking forward to being a part of the team at Seamans Media, which for years has provided New England-centric content in the realms of soccer, hockey, baseball, lacrosse and skiing and is committed to inspiring, informative and insightful content.

I have been a sports journalist in the Boston area for 15 years, most recently as a sports reporter/editor at The Sun, a daily newspaper in Lowell, Mass. I’ve certainly covered my fair share of soccer during that time, at the high school, college and professional levels. A feature story I wrote on the increased interest toward women’s soccer in the aftermath of the 2015 Women’s World Cup received an award from the New England Newspaper & Press Association.

I have long believed that soccer is deserving of a far greater spotlight in our media landscape. That’s why I’m so thrilled to highlight this great game on a daily basis and expand the narrative.
Soccer is a sport everyone can enjoy. It’s the most popular game in the world for a reason. You don’t have to be big to excel, and it doesn’t matter how small you are. If you can play, you can play.

There are so many teams at so many levels within New England, and endless story angles to tell and analyze. I hope to continue doing what my predecessors at NESJ have done, which is provide soccer content in New England that you won’t find anywhere else. My team of writers will continue to deliver inspirational stories and insight on the soccer scene as athletes climb the ranks and try to reach their highest goals throughout their careers.

You can still find me in the backyard kicking the ball around, juggling and shooting on our net with my two young sons. I also thoroughly enjoy coaching at the U-8 level. The passion still burns bright, and I’m glad to now have a professional avenue to parlay that passion.

I’m ready for kickoff, and I hope you’ll continuously enjoy the result.

— Matt Langone, editor, New England Soccer Journal