Goals, Gags, and Goodbyes: Inside NYIFC’s Season Send-Off

One Last Kick: NYIFC’s Year-End Bash Returns in Style

As the sun sets on another unforgettable season, NY International FC once again proved that football is more than a 90-minute game. It’s a year-round, community-driven movement. And what better way to wrap up the rollercoaster of 2024/25 than with our beloved annual End of Year Party? Held this year at Rivercrest - a proud NY International FC sponsor located in the vibrant Astoria, Queens - the night brought together players, coaches, supporters, and friends of the club.

The party has become a cherished NYIFC tradition. A night that mixes nostalgia, laughter, and a few too many replays of that one goal that should have been nominated for the Puskás Award. It’s a time to drop the shin guards, raise a glass, and celebrate not just the wins and goals, but the grind, growth, and grit that brought us there. Everyone showed up with something to toast: goals scored, clean sheets kept, jokes cracked, friendships forged, and yes, the occasional yellow (or red) card debated long into the evening.

Now retired coach Nick Platt set the tone early and kicked off the evening as the perfect MC with a good ol’ powerpoint and some well-timed jokes. The season recap was a great way to reintroduced what we accomplished as well as what’s ahead. An exciting season as a semi-pro team in the American Pro Soccer League (APSL) as well as the welcoming of our friends at Borgetto now representing the NY International badge.

Camaraderie Over Competition: The Real NYIFC Secret Sauce

If you ask around, most NYIFC players will tell you the same thing: the best part of playing isn’t only the final score. It’s what happens between the whistles, in the group chats, and yes, in the mandatory song when joining the team. This team isn’t just a roster, it’s a family. One that sweats together, celebrates together, and occasionally argues over who was really marking the back post. The End of Year Party is the culmination of that bond, a mirror held up to a season of shared experiences, challenges, and joy.

It was on full display all night. Teammates who couldn’t connect for a through ball all season found perfect sync on the dance floor. Tables were filled with players from all two squads—First Team and Reserves—we continue to be a “One club mentality”. You’d hear a story from March’s freezing draw against followed by laughter about the time Jordan Trott forgot to bring the kits prior to a cup final. These connections, forged in the trenches of competition, make NYIFC more than just a team. They make it a second home.

Of course, it wouldn’t be NYIFC without awards. While the Top scorer (delivered to Alex Teodorescu and Nate “only scores from outside the box” Frizzi) or Golden Glove (won by Gary Philpott)are always a good way to review some season highlights, we never forget to add some fun ones such as “Top Cheerleader” or “Miley Cirus Award” for the strong tackle winner.

However, there is one award that is particularly important to us, The Davide Giri* Clubperson award that recognizes someone who has impacted the club in meaningful ways this year. We are proud to have given this award to Naoko Tanaka who has followed the club this year and decided to follow us through her camera lens, recording happy and sad moments on and off the pitch (and provided most of the pictures in this newsletter). Thank you Naoko for your incredible work and passion 🙏🏼 Follow her IG: @chunktank.

From the Final Whistle to First Touch: Eyes on the Next Season

While the End of Year Party is a night to close the chapter on one season, it also serves as a quiet prelude to the next. Because at NYIFC, the mindset isn’t “season’s over”, it’s “what’s next?” As the music faded and the glassed emptied up, you could already hear snippets of off-season training plans, friendly match ideas, and murmurs about new player recruitment. The hunger never really stops.

Our 2024/25 campaign brought plenty to be proud of: a top-three finish in the Cosmopolitan League Division 1, a win in the CSL Division 1 Reserves and the Kilby Cup back to back trophy. But what stood out even more was the evolution of our identity: resilient, dynamic, and increasingly feared across New York’s amateur circuit. The End of Year Party may have capped the season, but it also reminded us that this story is still being written.

And so, with a little glitter on our shirts and a lot of love in our hearts, we step into the off-season not as individuals who once played together, but as teammates who will again. The laughter from this night will echo into pre-season sprints, Sunday matchups, and post-game huddles. As always, NYIFC will come back sharper, hungrier, and maybe a little better at being on time…

Looking forward to next year awards with hopefully, more trophies to celebrate!

*Davide Giri was a founding player of NYIFC who tragically lost his life on December 2nd 2021 in an unprovoked attack in Manhattan, near Columbia University, where he was finishing his PhD. This newsletter, and everything we do at NY International is with Davide in mind who was an incredible man, friend and teammate. A Lion Never Dies, He Sleeps 🦁