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The USL Q&A – Andrew Bell, USL Memphis

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 04/04/18, 2:32PM EDT

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Veteran executive talks new opportunity, arrival in Memphis, history with Battery


Photo courtesy USL Memphis

One of the leading figures in shaping the USL from a club level with the Charleston Battery for more than decade, Andrew Bell recently made the decision to become part of the 2019 USL expansion club in Memphis, Tennessee. We caught up recently with Bell, named Memphis’ Sporting Director last month, as he began work at his new venture on the decision to move on from the Battery, the memories he’ll take with him, why Memphis is going to be a successful USL city, and the relationships he’s looking to build in the birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

MAKING THE MOVE

Q: This is a major move for you personally, why was becoming part of USL Memphis’ leadership the opportunity to take on at this point in your career?

Andrew Bell: I’ve known Peter Freund for quite a few years, and as soon as he acquired the franchise I reached out to talk to him about it. The opportunity to be involved with a pro soccer team and literally help build and shape it from the ground up is very rare, and it just felt like the right time and place to jump in.

Q: You’ve started to get to know the city a little already, what are you enjoying most about your new home?

AB: Memphis is a super-cool city, everyone I’ve met so far has been very welcoming and there is a buzz about the prospect of pro soccer returning to the city. There is also an established soccer scene here with some great youth clubs and several solid college programs. There’s a group of guys living here that have played professionally, some at the very highest levels, and a bunch with USL experience. They have all offered their support and advice which has been extremely helpful.

Q: Has USL Memphis Advisor Tim Howard pointed you toward any local spots you need to check out yet?

AB: Yes, he has, and he’s also made a couple of key introductions for me. Tim’s very motivated to see this project succeed and it’s great to have his support.

Q: What were your conversations with USL Memphis owners Peter Freund and Craig Unger like prior to your decision to join their team?

AB: We talked a lot about the potential of Memphis as a city to support USL but also in terms of how we could structure the club so that it fully embraces the community. Craig is a wealth of knowledge about Memphis and his insight and experience from running the Redbirds is going to be key to our success. Having the right front office structure will be important but also setting the tone early in terms of how we will engage with the fans and businesses. We want this to be something that will be a fixture in Memphis for a very long time.


Photo courtesy Troy Glasgow / USL Memphis

FAREWELL TO CHARLESTON

Q: You spent almost two decades in various capacities with the Charleston Battery, what are your proudest moments of your time in the Low Country?

AB: I was very lucky to be a part of three USL championships, and I’ll never forget how that felt and how the city responded to our success. I was also fortunate to work alongside some amazing people over the years not just on the technical side but also in our front office. Seeing the successes that many of them have had in their post-Battery careers is very humbling.

Q: Yourself and Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser have been very close for a long time, how did you break the news that it was time for you to move on?

AB: It was a tough conversation for sure, but I let Mike know that I was considering it as soon as the first conversations happened. He’s a fantastic coach and one of the most experienced General Managers in the business, and I think often doesn’t get the credit that he deserves.

Q: What will you miss most about Charleston, and being part of the Battery?

AB: I’m going to miss those nights in the Three Lions Club after matches for sure! It’s an amazing club, but it’s in good hands and I’m sure there will be many future successes for the Charleston Battery.

BUILDING USL MEMPHIS' FUTURE

Q: You talked about the people that come to represent USL Memphis in terms of the coaching staff and players ‘becoming Memphians’ in your first press conference, how important is connecting with the city and its residents going to be to the success of this club?

AB: It’s very important and I know that I can draw on my experience in Charleston to make sure that we embrace that philosophy as a group. The coaches, players and front office all need to understand that to really get the support from a community you have to show your support to them in equal measure.

Q: What does it meant to have someone with the profile of Tim Howard as part of the organization?

AB: He brings a tremendous amount to the club just from his name and profile but the manner in which he is supporting the project elevates it to a much higher level. We all believe that this will be a big club, and Tim’s support and guidance is going to be critical as we work to achieve that.

Q: Is there a timeline in place for the club to unveil its branding and official name for next season?

AB: Yes, we have a timeline and are working on a couple of initiatives that we will announce in the coming weeks that should clarify some of those items.

Q: What are you looking forward to most about the next 12 months?

AB: Honestly, it’s all very exciting. We should have the first couple of new employees on board in the next week or so, and slowly the club is going to start to take shape. I’m particularly looking forward to our first home USL game next March, the stadium is going to be like a cauldron, very loud, and hopefully intimidating for the opposition. The atmosphere will be unlike anything else!

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