Dear Soccer Fans,
As the holiday season comes and goes, we are all reminded how fortunate we are and how good life really is. I always think it’s amazing how much a holiday, no matter how commercialized, can bring out the good in so many people. For that, I am truly thankful for this time of year.
With the New Year approaching, it also makes for a perfect time to reflect on the last. As I go through the year I realize, like every other before, there are lots of highs and lows. 365 days with 24 hours in each day… that’s 8,760 hours to make life happen each year. It’s not always going to be perfect, but it will always be one thing: whatever you make it.
In 2010, Khaled El-Ahmad had an incredible idea. At first, as with anything, that’s all it was, an idea. A few weeks later, it was a ten-page PDF file and a month later, it was Our Game Magazine.
When the first issue came out in June, we knew it was just one step in a long journey for women’s soccer. We knew that it wasn’t going to be easy and that there was a lot of work to be done before we could make an impact. We also knew that if we didn’t do it, no one else would.
Our Game Magazine has high hopes. Like our mission statement says, we want to aid in the growth of the women’s game. It’s the most popular sport in the world with so many opportunities for female athletes and we want everyone to hear about all the great things that are happening.
Our promise to the women’s soccer fan is this: we promise to do everything we possibly can as a women’s soccer publication to further the growth of the game. We want women to have the same opportunities as the men; we want college players to have a forum to continue their career after they graduate, and finally, we want young girls to dream just like young boys do. When I was little I dreamt of playing in a professional league that didn’t exist. How much more motivating is it now for kids to actually have a tangible dream?
We need to make sure it lasts. For us, for our kids, for their kids and so on…
It’s Our Game and we can make it happen.
Lastly, Our Game Magazine wouldn’t be possible without so many people. I would like to take this time to first thank all the women’s soccer fans that support us. The magazine thrives on the interests of the readers. We appreciate every single one of you.
I’d like to personally thank Khaled for giving me this incredible opportunity. I’ve always dreamed of putting my two passions together, and this is the perfect avenue for that.
A big thank you goes out to Ryan Wood, Kat Galsim, Robert Weimer and Michelle Chang. We wouldn’t be where we are today without you four. That is certain.
And the rest of the Our Game staff and contributors who have been instrumental in our growth this year:
Leslie Osborne
Carmelina Moscato
Alyssa Naeher
Meagan McCray
Ciara McCormack
David Bayer
Beto Alfaya
Carrie Dew
Valerie Henderson
Yael Averbuch
Manya Makoski
Gloria Averbuch
Katie Marx
Allie Daus
Olaf Goldbecker
Mike LeGates
Martin Desmarais
Karie Mikel
Matt Magliozzi
Finally, thank you to all the players, teams, coaches and mangers that helped give us information for stories and articles.
Happy Holidays!
Soccer Luv,
Tiffany Weimer
Editor in Chief