Matt Doherty brings new focus on clubs and academies to New England Soccer Journal

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Editor’s note: New England Soccer Journal is pleased to welcome Matt Doherty as its newest writer. Matt will cover the club and academy soccer world extensively.

Like many others, my first memory of organized sports was soccer. I was 5 years old playing on my town team and my jersey was a baggy lime-green t-shirt that fell to my knees.

I looked pretty cool. But I stunk on the field.

I had no dribbling skills. I was always in the wrong place. I wasn’t fast. I looked forward to eating orange slices at halftime more than actually playing. But I still loved being part of a team. It was around that time when I fell in love with sports.

I became obsessed with following, watching, and consuming as much sports content as possible. I knew statistics and players and I wasn’t shy about sharing my knowledge with anyone who would listen. Sorry, Aunt Laurie.

When I attended St. John’s Prep in Danvers, Mass., for high school, my athletic career was pretty much over, save for a few years on the school’s baseball team.

But I desperately wanted to stay in sports, so my journalism career began. I joined the school’s broadcast network and called soccer and baseball games, hosted our version of “College Gameday” before football games with Brendan Hall and Bruce Lerch, and wrote for the school newspaper.

I was hooked. I loved being in the middle of the action. I was captivated by the feeling in the air during a big game. I was addicted to watching improbable goals and exuberant team celebrations.

Sports bring out passion and hope. Sports are filled with so many amazing stories: Perseverance, ambition, development, community.

I’ve been fortunate to experience these themes firsthand. While at Boston University, I joined the Boston Globe as a high school sports reporter, covering boys’ soccer, boys’ basketball, and baseball.

For seven years, I wrote about players overcoming adversity and chronicled state title journeys. I loved every minute of it. I cherished the relationships I built, the players I watched develop, and the incredible games I got to cover.

That brings me to now. I’m so excited to join the New England Soccer Journal and continue doing what I love. Seamans Media, which owns New England Soccer Journal, was a company I’ve always had my eye on. I loved their detailed analysis, the niche stories they uncovered, and the pulse they had on the amateur sports scene.

I can’t wait to continue the strong tradition. My role here is to deepen our coverage of club and academy soccer throughout the region. I plan to make the New England Soccer Journal the go-to source for club and academy soccer news. I will bring thorough analysis, tell captivating stories, and use this platform to highlight all of the incredible soccer players in New England.

Because that’s the thing. This region is filled with so many talented players and teams, but they are undercovered right now. I’m thrilled to change that by bringing this part of the soccer world to life.

Reach Matt Doherty at [email protected]