For some of the boys in Old Glory Red, the number on the back of their jersey is more than just a number.
It means something, represents something, or reminds them of something, or someone, that inspired or encouraged them along their journey towards playing professionally.
For Jordan McCrary, his original number #3 was all about honoring a friend before making a small tweak and changing it to #30 out of respect for a previous club legend.
“Three was the first number I wore playing soccer as a kid,” McCrary said. “And from there as I got older, when I went to school, I had a great friend Kirk Urso who was also number three, and that was who I represented because once he passed away, it was something I always remembered."
For some of the boys in Old Glory Red, the number on the back of their jersey is more than just a number.
It means something, represents something, or reminds them of something, or someone, that inspired or encouraged them along their journey towards playing professionally.
For Jordan McCrary, his original number #3 was all about honoring a friend before making a small tweak and changing it to #30 out of respect for a previous club legend.
“Three was the first number I wore playing soccer as a kid,” McCrary said. “And from there as I got older, when I went to school, I had a great friend Kirk Urso who was also number three, and that was who I represented because once he passed away, it was something I always remembered.”
"When I went professional, I had a chance to say okay, what number, I get to choose. And for one, my first number was three. My favorite professional athlete, Allen Iverson, number three. And then also I felt like man, I want to honor Kirk Urso, number three. And then as I went professional, I had number three with New England and I played it when I got to Seattle. I was going to take three as well, but out of respect for Brad Evans who was there before and did many things for the club, you leave the number. So from there, I wanted to stick with the three so I went to 30. And then from 30, it was like a new chance, a new time. So from 30, I built it from there and as I came here I wanted to keep it and keep that going.”
“When I went professional, I had a chance to say okay, what number, I get to choose. And for one, my first number was three. My favorite professional athlete, Allen Iverson, number three. And then also I felt like man, I want to honor Kirk Urso, number three. And then as I went professional, I had number three with New England and I played it when I got to Seattle. I was going to take three as well, but out of respect for Brad Evans who was there before and did many things for the club, you leave the number. So from there, I wanted to stick with the three so I went to 30. And then from 30, it was like a new chance, a new time. So from 30, I built it from there and as I came here I wanted to keep it and keep that going.”
Fellow defender Shannon Gomez chose his #2 because it’s the same number his favorite player whose game he tries to replicate wore.
Fellow defender Shannon Gomez chose his #2 because it’s the same number his favorite player whose game he tries to replicate wore.
“I have worn number two my entire career for specific reasons, one of my favorite players wore number two, he’s the most decorated player in the world with the most trophies by the way – Dani Alves, Brazilian,” Gomez confirmed. “I grew up watching him, I grew up emulating his game, wanting to be like him. That’s one of the reasons why I wear number two.”
“I have worn number two my entire career for specific reasons, one of my favorite players wore number two, he’s the most decorated player in the world with the most trophies by the way – Dani Alves, Brazilian,” Gomez confirmed. “I grew up watching him, I grew up emulating his game, wanting to be like him. That’s one of the reasons why I wear number two.”
For Jaime Villarreal, his #24 is the same as his favorite basketball player who played in the midfielder’s hometown of Los Angeles.
For Jaime Villarreal, his #24 is the same as his favorite basketball player who played in the midfielder’s hometown of Los Angeles.
“Kobe Bryant,” he said. “That's my idol and even though he passed away, he's still my idol and he's someone who I look up to just because of how good he played but his preparation, his work ethic and to hear all his stories about all the time he put in in training and doing all the right things. That’s a guy that’s definitely worth idolizing.”
“Kobe Bryant,” he said. “That’s my idol and even though he passed away, he’s still my idol and he’s someone who I look up to just because of how good he played but his preparation, his work ethic and to hear all his stories about all the time he put in in training and doing all the right things. That’s a guy that’s definitely worth idolizing.”
As for Rafael Jauregui, it’s almost like his number chose him – and it’s a number that sounds like its meant to stay in the family.
As for Rafael Jauregui, it’s almost like his number chose him – and it’s a number that sounds like its meant to stay in the family.
“I had 33 at first during preseason and by chance [the team administrator] gave me the number 34 and when I told my mom about having the number 34, she told me that was grandpa’s old number when he played baseball,” Jauregui explained. “That was really insane. I guess it was just chance, and I just kept that number and I thought I would just keep this number for my grandpa.”
“I had 33 at first during preseason and by chance [the team administrator] gave me the number 34 and when I told my mom about having the number 34, she told me that was grandpa’s old number when he played baseball,” Jauregui explained. “That was really insane. I guess it was just chance, and I just kept that number and I thought I would just keep this number for my grandpa.”
The boys in Old Glory Red will kickoff the 2021 USL Championship season on April 30 against LA Galaxy II in Southern California.
The boys in Old Glory Red will kickoff the 2021 USL Championship season on April 30 against LA Galaxy II in Southern California.
