By Jon Johnson
It was a last hurrah of sorts to close out the Dothan United soccer season, but also a look ahead to the future.
In tune with his trademark “Go, Go, Go,” team co-owner Mike Schmitz said, “Folks, we’ve just begun. We’re going to keep ‘Go, go, going.’”
Schmitz hosted the players, coaches, support personnel and fans to a season-ending celebration at his Mercedes-Benz dealership Monday night in recognition of the program’s success in its third year of operation as a United Soccer League Two franchise.
Schmitz remarked on the impact the soccer club has had on Dothan and the surrounding communities.
“On July 3rd we had fireworks,” Schmitz said of a postgame event. “If you saw on the field how many kids sat with our players and watched the fireworks … who do they want to be? They want to be these folks (players). We have an incredible team; incredible coaches.”
Dothan United finished the season with a 9-2-2 record, earned the South Central Division title in the Southern Conference for the first time in franchise history and hosted a first-round playoff game.
“Look what we’ve grown into … look what we’ve become,” co-owner and team president Steve Donner beamed as he looked out over those who had gathered. “We’re a thriving, passionate group of people supporting soccer here in Dothan.
“A lot of you have been here from the very beginning. Some of you have caught us along the way. It doesn’t matter when you started to follow us, we’re so grateful that so many people care about the team and this community. That separates us from the other teams in our league.”
Donner believes the best is yet to come.
“This is a soccer community now, and we’re so proud that it’s grown into that,” Donner said. “We’ve got some big things on the horizon for the growth of the team, improvements at the stadium, hopefully improvements in our involvement in amateur soccer here in the area as well for future development.”
For the third straight year, consistently large crowds gathered at Rip Hewes Stadium for home games to cheer on the Dragons.
It didn’t take long for first-year head coach Ricky Davey to see the passion the fans have for their hometown team.
“When I first took this job, you hear about the community, you hear about fans in the stands, fantastic players,” Davey said. “You doubt it somewhat because you haven’t seen it.
“But this place has everything in terms of USL2 that you could hope for. It has a great community; great fans. The players are taken care of. This place does an amazing job.”
Davey thanked his assistant coaches – Connor McGoldrick, Tommy Shepherd and Mike White.
“It’s so hard to put together a good staff and people that you trust and can just hang around on a daily basis,” Davey began. “Trust is the biggest word for me.
“Three people that I had not worked with before … but to bring in three guys that have unique skill sets and that give everything to the players; give everything to the club. They’re all unbelievable people and have done an amazing job for the players. They understand what it means to be a part of the club.”
Davey also announced midfielder Josh Salas was chosen as Player of the Season for the team.
“At certain points of the season we really leaned on him to make us tick in games – to connect back line and forward line,” Davey said. “What really sticks with me is as a coach you have players you can trust and you trust a ton, and he’s one of those guys.”
Salas, a native of Ecuador, is one of the few players who has been a member of the Dragons all three years and now considers himself “a local boy” in the Circle City.
“I’m so grateful to be here,” Salas said. “I knew the first time I put one foot in Dothan that this place is special.”
Salas hopes to return for a fourth season.
“This feels like home, so I would love to be here,” Salas said. “Every time Dothan calls me, I say yes. Hopefully I’ll get the fourth year here.”
Team captain Josh Hallenberger, a defender, spoke on behalf of the team.
“This is my second year down here, and both years have been truly amazing,” Hallenberger said. “I want to give thanks for everyone showing out for us at every home game, even the away games as well. We could not do it without you. Thank you from the whole team.”
Dothan United general manager Aaron McCreight acknowledged all of those who have made it another special season – fans, sponsors, partners, staff members, supporters and host families.
“We’re going to continue to build this,” McCreight said. “I want to also give a special shoutout to the staff. The support from Steve and Mike and the community … it’s been an incredible three years. And the job by Ricky and his staff – what a heck of a year.”
