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This week on The Back Stick Podcast, Dom Okus and Jamil Roberts are joined by Paco Craig, former West Ham Academy standout and current North Carolina FC defender, for a conversation packed with stories, insights, and laughs.

We delve into Paco’s incredible football journey, from his early days in London to lifting multiple USL Championships with Louisville City, finding love and leadership with Miami FC, and now writing a new chapter in the USL Championship with North Carolina FC.

Paco opens up about:

• The move from West Ham to college soccer in the U.S.
• D2 vs D1 in American college football
• The reality of USL contracts and salaries
• Special memories from Louisville’s golden era
• Coaching aspirations and how he sees the game from a manager’s lens
• Life beyond football: family, love, and personal growth
• The impact of COVID-19, aging as a pro, and what’s still to come at NCFC

Chapters

00:00 Intro & Welcome Paco!
04:30 Paco's Journey in Football
05:56 The Influence of Family and Background
08:55 West Ham To Young Harris
12:20 The Reality of D2 Soccer vs D1 Soccer
15:09 Football Development in England vs US
17:52 Making the Jump to Louisville City
21:00 Salary Disparities in the USL
25:30 Navigating the USL Transfer Market
27:33 Special Memories from Louisville
31:49 What Kind Of Manager Would Jam & Dom Be?
33:58 Paco Craig: A Future Manager?
37:54 The Impact of COVID-19 on Paco's Career
43:42 Finding Love and Life in Miami
47:30 Transitioning to North Carolina: A New Chapter
50:47 Adapting With Age
53:42 Early NCFC Expectations
01:00:22 Extra Time

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