We need to talk.

Half a year ago, we announced that Tap In Guide was going to shift all of its focus to North American soccer, ideally MLS and Liga MX.

At the beginning, this seemed liked a fantastic idea. The intentions were good. We wanted to focus on the market we live in and hopefully boost its popularity in some way.

Now, a few months later, some of us who work on the app are regretting the decision. We loved the idea and put 100% effort into the new American concept. However, while we were working on the new campaign, we always felt a sort of nagging in the back of minds. That nagging was European soccer, and one of the main reasons why Tap In Guide was made in the first place.

The app was made to help fans have an easier time to keep up with foreign games not in our market.

With that being said, we are going to refocus once again. We are going BACK to the European soccer.

This means we will cover the English Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, and Serie A again. What this also means is that we will continue our work to cover MLS and Liga MX.

So, expect a broader range of games from different parts of the globe on Tap In Guide.

We are a small team always looking to improve and hiccups like these are welcomed. Sometimes you have to trip-up to understand what really needs to be done.

We want to thank everyone who has been fantastic fans over the years we wish you would stick around for many more.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can email me at johnthazzard@gmail.com

We made a mistake… was originally published in tapinguide on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Since their inaugural season in 1970, life as a soccer franchise in the United States has not been easy for the New York Cosmos. The world renown team has endured club and league dissolvement twice since their birth and continue to fight through unfavorable conditions.

Most recent, the Cosmos dealt with the second collapse of the North American Soccer League (NASL). This turmoil resulted in New York losing its head coach Giovanni Savarese as well as its entire first team, which now leaves the organization without an active team in the country’s top two divisions.

For now, the team operates as New York Cosmos B. While the NASL works out its kinks in court, the Cosmos, for the time being, will live out its days as a reserve team playing in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL).

While its future remains up in the air, New York has a few things going for itself. Firstly, the team will feature in this year’s U.S. Open Cup. Secondly, its fan base continues to support its team even with its lower division status. Lastly, the team’s age-old never-changing badge still stands as a historical reminder of the United State’s soccer past.

The iconic crest is simple in design with a total of five colors. The crest is a perfect circle with a soccer ball placed directly in the middle. Surrounding the ball is three stripes (yellow, blue, and green) used to create “movement from the soccer ball,” stated the creator Wayland Moore in an interview with Bleacher Report. The distinct colors were used “to include nationalities” as well as to help “cross boundaries…the font was simple and easy to read on a uniform.”

Since Moore’s initial creation, New York’s crest has undergone slight renditions. Notable changes include the addition of “New York” to the badge name and the simplification of the soccer ball.

Crest of the Week: New York Cosmos was originally published in tapinguide on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

What does a mayor, a Champions League winner, and a New York City Development Firm all have in common? London football team Dulwich Hamlet.

Dulwich Hamlet, a 125-year-old soccer team, has made its rounds on social media as of late due to its recent ongoing eviction battle from Champion Hill, a place the London team called home since 1912.

New York Development Firm Meadow Residential, the owners of the stadium’s land, kicked off the rife between supporters and council at the start of March 2018. Meadow submitted a proposal to the Southwark Council stating that they planned to develop a $112 million-plus apartment complex on the site.

Luckily enough for Dulwich, the initial plan was scrapped due to Meadow’s inability to provide a certain amount of affordable housing within the complex. However, the result of the New York company’s proposal still led to the eviction of Dulwich Hamlet from Champion Hill.

Now, the firm plans to demolish the stadium and build on top of the land, but the emotion and backing of supporters have made this difficult for Meadow.

On record, former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand and current London mayor Sadiq Khan, along with many other supporters’ groups across the world, have offered unwavering loyalty to the evicted soccer team.

This comes as no shock as “London’s most hipster football club” has earned plaudits over the years for its family-friendly environment that has actively stood against racism and homophobia. One of the team’s greatest moments came in 1911 when the team fielded Hussein Hegazi, the first ever African player in English soccer.

According to Guardian contributor and five-year-fan Hugo Greenhalgh, the global support has been uplifting. He said, “It’s been so touching seeing people from all around the world get behind our cause! Our sister club in Hamburg are called Altona 93 and they’ve done a number of banner displays for us. When I was living in New York, I also fostered a friendship with the New York Cosmos. They have some of the best fans in the US…we’ve been sharing the love across stickers and social media.”

However, the love and support of fans across the world may not be enough to keep Dulwich at Champion Hill.

“We’ve had some support from a lot of high profile politicians, including the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. They’re talking about new legislation that would really help our cause, but the fight is far from over,” Greenhalgh said. “Our local council have tabled an offer to Meadow to buy the ground off them, so we can move home but they’re being evasive. We need to keep ramping up the pressure on them and make sure they know they’re not welcome anymore.”

For now, Dulwich Hamlet’s fight against Meadow’s proposal lingers on. Dulwich currently plays its home games down the road at their rivals Tooting and Mitcham FC’s ground and will be there for the foreseeable future.

To help out the club, donate to The 12th Man (via PayPal) or JustGiving pages. A fan group called Save Dulwich Hamlet has also been established to organize fan action and put pressure on Meadow to relinquish the ground. Keep up to date with the latest plans on Facebook or Twitter.

The Badge:

Now that you know about Dulwich’s story, here a thing or two about their crest. This information comes from Guardian contributor Hugo Greenhalgh himself.

Greenhalgh said, “There’s a lot going on there! It’s one of those badges where you’ll see something new every time you look at it. Each segment of the crest relates to a different part of South London, all of which hold significance to the origins of the club. The main thing is that it highlights our distinct pink and blue colors and has the year we founded — 1893.”

As for what each individual symbol means on the crest, Greenhalgh offered context.

Top Left: The Country of Surrey, of which Dulwich was once part.

Top Right: The badge of Dulwich. Associated with Dulwich College school, where some of the founder members attended.

Bottom Left: The old crest of the Borough of Camberwell, within whose boundaries the club played until it was swallowed up by the London Borough of Southwark.

Bottom Right: From the emblem of Westminster Some of the founding members went to Dulwich College and Westminster schools. Hence the club colors are the pink of Westminster and the Blue of Dulwich.

Crest of the Week: Dulwich Hamlet was originally published in tapinguide on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The past year has not been too kind for the Columbus Crew, but that has not stopped them from keeping their pride. One of Major League Soccer’s oldest teams, who play in one of the league’s oldest stadiums, is on the brink of being relocated to Austin, Texas by six-year owner Anthony Precourt.

The decision to move the team South has not been met with resounding applause. Instead, it has led to backlash from both the Columbus community and the global soccer community. Too many times in the past, teams have been moved for unpopular reasons, only to lead to hate for both the new team and its owner.

Soon after Precourt’s announcement to move the Crew to Austin, the hashtag #SaveTheCrew flourished across social media. Soon, players, personalities, and celebrities flocked to the Crew’s aid. Protests and marches took the street and stadium, pleading for the dismissal of the proposed plan.

As of now, the future of the team is up in the air, and no one knows how the tides will turn.

The Badge

On October 8, 2014, the Columbus Crew changed their crest to their current version. Before the circle crest, the Crew had a shield with three men wearing hard hats. Covered in black, white, and grey, the men stood side-by-side with stern faces.

After the change, Columbus sported a circular crest dawning white, yellow, and black. On the outer edge, the name of the team circles the circumference. Within the circle, stands a “96,” which resembles the year they began play.

The horizontal stripes represent the original ten MLS franchises, something fitting to think about during the current relocation situation.

Overall, the Columbus Crew has a terrific modern crest with complementary colors that are fitting to the common eye.

Crest of the Week: Columbus Crew was originally published in tapinguide on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

For most North Americans, their soccer allegiance is pledged to domestic clubs and European juggernauts, but what about their neighbors south of the border? Why is no one rooting for them?

Some would say the lack of Liga MX fandom is due to the United States’ ongoing political turmoil with Mexico while others would say it is due to the language barrier. However, both of those reasons are not good enough excuses to avoid watching Liga MX soccer.

Liga MX is a league full of excitement, fandom, and skill. Each game has a flurry of crushing tackles, slick rabonas, and cheeky backheels. In some ways, Liga MX is a complete contrast to Major League Soccer’s brutish style.

If you have not done so already, pick a Liga MX team to follow next season. The 2017/18 campaign has just ended so it gives you time to look around and find that caters your style.

To offer a bit of assistance in finding a team, look no further than Club Tijuana.

This may offend some fans, but Club Tijuana is the closest thing to a United States team in Mexico.

The team is only a few short miles south of the California border and always possess a roster with a few United States players. Currently, the team has United States Men’s International team members Michael Orozco and Rubio Rubin. In addition, they have a few young prodigies such as Alejandro Guido, Fernando Arce Jr., and Carlos Lopez.

Furthermore, Tijuana, who is nicknamed Xolos, developed recent United States international and current D.C. United midfielder Paul Arriola.

To further help you with picking Tijuana as your Liga MX team next season, check out the recent breaking news announcing that Fox Sports has acquired the rights to broadcast Tijuana’s games next season in English and Spanish.

This deal is fantastic news for those U.S. fans who want to check out the league in their own language.

As for Tijuana’s crest, it stands out. Personally, I think any bright colored paired with black is a strong statement. However, the best part of the badge is the hairless dog, which is referenced in the text right below, “Xoloitzcuintles.”

Rob Nicoletti of The 18 gave a perfect description as to why the dog is used. He said, “Legend has it that these dogs were considered sacred by the ancient Aztecs and, thus, Club Tijuana wanted to pay homage to man’s best friend.”

All in all, this crest is unique and awesome. I hope to see a few Americans wearing it with pride in the next coming years.

Crest of the Week: Club Tijuana was originally published in tapinguide on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Editors Note: Pertaining to this series, we at Tap In Guide wanted to find a way to give reverence to some of the world’s greatest soccer badges. The series will show the club’s badge, our very own original twist of the original design, and a brief explanation of the badge/club.

Kicking off Tap In Guide’s newest series “Crisp Crests” is none other than German third division side FC Carl Zeiss Jena. The Jena, Thuringia club’s sleek and minimalistic badge shines when compared to other teams due its bright blue, yellow, and white colors that are engulfed among bold black outlines. The badge does not contain any special design but the beauty of it lies within its simplicity. The team’s name is clearly the center piece at the top while the “FC” portion is given equal size to the badge’s tri-color stripe on the lower left.

Much like many other lower league tier teams in Northern Europe, FC Carl Zeiss Jena was created by a group of factory workers. Founded in May 1903, employees at the Carl Zeiss AG optics factory came together and created the then-called Fussball-Club der Firm Carl Zeiss. After finding much success in Northern Germany’s top division, the club came under extreme stress due to the Germany’s participation in two World Wars while also dealing with the separation and reunification of the country.

Following Germany’s reunification in 1990, Jena was thrown into the 2. Bundesliga. Since then, the club has jumped up and down from 3. Liga to the Regionalliga Nordost without ever gracing Germany’s top flight. Now, FC Carl Zeiss Jena is playing soccer in 3. Liga, where they sit comfortably at midtable.

A former notable Carl Zeiss player is American defender Brian Bliss, who spent time with the club from 1992–1996 before returning back to the United States to play for the Columbus Crew, MetroStars, and the Kansas City Wizards.

Crest of the Week: FC Carl Zeiss Jena was originally published in tapinguide on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

If you have been keeping up with Tap In over the past couple of years, you have seen a multitude of positive and drastic changes. These adjustments and updates have not only made it easier for all of us to enjoy the beautiful game but it also has given us the chance to flex our creative muscles.

Within the past couple months, Tap In has changed inside and out. The app has undergone multiple updates while the team behind it has seen people come and go. With these adjustments, we have decided to make a huge leap with our app’s focus.

As many have noticed in the past, we have focused primarily on Europe’s top leagues. We have displayed matches from the Premier League, Champions League, La Liga and so on but now, we are ready to make a change.

Tap In Guide is now officially concentrating primarily on North America soccer. What this means is that our main focus and efforts will be turned towards Major League Soccer and LigaMX.

We understand that this is a big change but we feel the time to switch is better than ever. MLS is at its all-time high for viewership and the recent work that LigaMX has been doing in the United States has inspired us.

We understand that this move may turn you off from the app. We completely get that. We made this decision in reply to our main audience’s central focus and our desire to support our home country’s league.

So, what does this mean for the rest of the European season? We will continue posting Europe’s top matches until the end of the season. We plan on finishing out the rest of the Champions League and will reassess European soccer when the next season approaches. But for now, we will focus on MLS and LigaMX.

As for international soccer, we will continue our full coverage. We are excited about the World Cup and can’t wait to cover it this summer. The last World Cup saw our number of visitors reach a record high and we hope to see the same results this year.

All in all, we appreciate you all for being fans of the app and we enjoy hearing your feedback. If you have questions, please feel free to reach out. Our DMs are always open on Twitter and you can reach me (Jack Hazzard) at johnthazzard@gmail.com.

Thanks,
Jack Hazzard

Tap In Guide goes full American was originally published in tapinguide on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

As someone who primarily listens to Hip-Hop religiously, every once in a while I try to move away from the norm and take a chance on something outside of my favorite genre. Lo and behold, I stumbled upon Mr. Jukes latest record, God First.

Mr. Jukes’ God First is a ten track soul and R&B album published in July 2017. Fans of the indie rock bank Bombay Bicycle Club should be familiar with the man behind the album, Jack Steadman, the band’s former lead vocalist.

If you keep up with Bombay Bicycle Club, you would have noticed that the band officially disbanded in January 2016. This decision came as a result that each member wanted to pursue their own solo career. Bass player Ed Nash has since taken the alias of Toothless while Steadman became Mr. Jukes.

The origin of Mr. Jukes’ first album is unique. Steadman began the musical project on a cargo ship sailing from Shanghai to Canada. He goes into depth on his journey with Jamie Milton on Noisey’s website, so instead of stepping on anyone’s toes, I’ll let you guys click on the link and read the full interview.

Nevertheless, what drew me to this album primarily — besides a recommendation from a friend— was the album’s features. Hip-Hop fans reading the track list should immediately point out two prominent figures: De La Soul and BJ the Chicago Kid.

These features were more than enough of an excuse for me to try out the album. Without any further hesitation, here is how I believe each song stacks up:

Typhoon

Typhoon is a typical intro song. It is the opening act of the album and serves its purpose well. It starts off slow with a few chimes and strings. The song gradually becomes louder, adding more instruments along the way. Around half way through the five minute track, Steadman’s voice enters. His voice, along with a few other overtones, begins to sing what seems like a sailor’s chant. The eerie lyrics along with an inclusion of drums strums up an enjoyable opening act.
Rating: 7/10

Angels / Your Love (feat. BJ the Chicago Kid)

Angels / Your Love is a song with two acts. The beginning kicks off with a brass sample loop with a steady baseline supporting it. A chorus of kids sing along as trumpets graduate the noise. In the second act, BJ the Chicago Kid lends his voice to the play. His smooth jazzy voice compliments the buzzing brass sample and adds a unique twist to an already vibrant upbeat track.
Rating: 9/10

Ruby

Following such a bombastic track is Ruby, a slower melodic song. The track kicks off with a hip-hop bass and drum sample, which then leads into a piano loop. Steadman offers his own voice on the track. He sings two verses and two choruses with a rough somber yet lively voice. The beat remains primarily the same throughout the track with a few adjustments here and there. My favorite aspect of the song is the lyrics in the chorus.

“Let them sing in ecstasy
Let them drink their wine
Let me sip the words between
Your ruby lips and mine”

The quirky lyrics and melodic beat really make this song something memorable.
Rating: 7/10

Somebody New (feat. Elli Ingram)

This track is by far my favorite on the album. The upbeat melody and Elli Ingram’s beautiful voice are terrific and lead the song through and through. Add in a funky bass line with a rhythmic keyboard sample and you have a thrilling concoction of jazz and funk. (The live version is even better.)
Rating: 9/10

Grant Green (feat. Charles Bradley)

Grant Green can simply be described as cacophony of fun. The enigmatic voice of Charles Bradley sings over a simple drum beat and a terrific brass section. The song means much more following Bradley’s death earlier in late September 2017. The song screams funk and I’m happy to have been introduced to Bradley's great voice even after recent passing. (The Live Version does not include Bradley.)
Rating: 8/10

Leap of Faith (feat. De La Soul & Horace Andy)

And the fun doesn’t stop. Hip-Hop group De La Soul offer their legendary lyricism on the sixth track on the album. Although I enjoy the song, I do have two complaints with it. First, the collage of instruments can be a bit overbearing at time. For me, it seems like there is too much going on. As for Horace Andy’s voice, it sounds too altered. It is like they recorded it with an iPhone mic and fixed it up later. Apart from those flaws, it still is an exciting track to dance to.
Rating: 6/10

From Golden Stars Comes Silver Dew (feat. Lalah Hathaway)

The album calms down in From Golden Stars Comes Silver Dew. Once again, a simple drum beat and funky baseline make for a soothing song. Lalah Hathaway provides her somber voice and is joined with a choir during the refrain. I think this song is a bit overtaken by the rest of the album. In a way, it seems like filler in order to stretch he album. Nevertheless, it is still a calming track.
Rating: 6/10

Magic

Magic shows off Steadman’s fascinating voice. His raspy vocals lead while a distorted keyboard supports. He later adds an up-tempo drum and raises his voice to a higher pitch for the refrain. The somber track is beautiful and is one of the greater highlights on the album.
Rating: 8/10

Tears (feat. Alexandria)

With a name like “Tears,” you know this song will make you cry a bit. The song starts off with subtle strings and leads with Steadman’s high voice. A choir later adds extra vocals with a spider drum and piano loop bringing up the rear. My favorite part of the track is the breathing between the chorus and verses. It was a unique way of keeping tempo.
Rating: 8/10

When Your Light Goes Out (feat. Lianne La Havas)

The closing track ends the album on a high note. Much like the rest of the album, an up beat tempo keeps the track funky. Both Steadman and Lianne La Havas offer their voices and combine for a soothing melodic duo. A great ending to a great album.
Rating: 8/10

Conclusion:

Mr. Jukes created something out of the ordinary. Jumping from alternative with his last band and trying something new with jazz, funk, and hip-hop is something I applaud. I do not typically listen to jazz or funk so it is hard for me to call this album unique from those genre’s perspective. From a hip-hop perspective, this album is different and I liked it. Ever since I downloaded it, it has been playing none stop on my stereo. I hope Steadman found satisfaction with his final product and I hope he still continues to put music out under the same pseudonym.

Overall Rating: 7.6/10

Note: The overall rating is an overage of every rating given to each song. I feel like this is a better way of giving an accurate rating instead of just throwing random numbers into the air.

As with every review, you know that this is just my opinion, right? What did you think of the album? Put your comments down below.

What would you like to see me review next?

Follow me on Twitter at @JTHazzard to keep up with all of my content.

It is not too often when I tear up from playing a video game. Let alone, it is not too often when I become so immersed into a video game that I play it through without taking a break.

In order to avoid spoilers, I will attempt to summarize the early stages of the game without giving away too much of the plot, but at the same time, give you enough of an argument to go out and try the game foryourself.

What Remains of Edith Finch is a complicated story that tackles the many types of narrative conflict. For a brief recap, examples of narrative conflict include Person vs. Fate, Person vs. Self, Person vs. Person, Person vs. Society, Person vs. Nature, Person vs. Supernatural, and Person vs. Technology.

In the story told by the game’s developer, Giant Sparrow, we see each and every example of literary conflict play out.

Our main protagonist, Edith Finch, takes us on a first-person narrative adventure journey to the home that she was raised in (somewhere in Washington state). Upon returning after many years, the house is silent and empty, giving off an ominous vibe.

As a player, you quickly see that the house is a bit unique. At the base level, it looks like your normal cabin in the woods, but as your eyes advert higher and higher, you see a jungle gym of rooms that are poorly placed along the house.

As you advance through the house, you find that most of the doors are glued shut. So, it is up to you to locate the secret passages in order to move from place to place. As the game progresses, you — the player and not Edith — learn that the rooms were glued shut to keep the inner contents closed off.

You are told that each room was previously inhabited by family members who have passed away. Each room contains items left behind by a deceased family member and appear to be untouched.

Except for one station.

In each room — which there are a lot — you will find a station with the family members name on it, along with some sort of book, picture or drawing. Once you click or tap on the shrine, you are given an unbelievable and artistic view into that person’s final minutes.

This is where the many examples of ‘narrative conflict’ come into fruition. In these tear jerking scenes, you see each and every member pass away due to different causes. Whether it be nature, society, or themselves, there is always a different reason for why someone in the Finch lineage had passed away.

As a player, you come to know the story about the “Finch’s curse.” This curse explains that every family member in the Finch lineage will die young or in a crazy way. This predisposition fate appears real as every member of the Finch family is gone… except you.

This adventure taken by you and Edith — and someone else —is a coming of age experience that I believe every young adult should play. Its themes of growth, understanding, and confusion is something that leaves players haunted once they finish the single-player indie game.

If you have ever lost someone, this game will bring back those memories. Everyone has a story and you won’t truly know how it really goes until you take a step in their shoes. What Remains of Edith Finch does that to you. It is a game where you sit at your desk or on your coach after and just contemplate everything.

I enjoyed every second and I think you would too. Knowing each of the family members’ deaths and stories is titillating and cumbersome, but you can only know them if you buy the game.

I would personally like to thank the creators of the game at Giant Sparrow for making such a terrific story and I wish their studio all the best with future projects.

As for the soundtrack, it was beautifully conducted by Jeff Russo, whose work has been included in Fargo TV Series, The Night Of, and Power.

You can buy What Remains of Edith Finch on PlayStation 4 or on Microsoft Windows — which I did.

If you can’t pay for it, I highly recommend watching Youtuber Cryaotic’s Lets-Play. I both played and watched Cry’s adventure through the game and was given two great experiences.

If you don’t pay for the game and end up watching it on Youtube, please try to eventually give money to the studio in some sort of fashion to help it stay afloat so that it can continue making great games like this one.

I recommend you go out and buy the studio’s first game The Unfinished Swan once you complete What Remains of Edith Finch.

In 2016, NYFEST (New York Film and Entertainment Soccer Tournament) partnered with the City of New York Department of Youth and Community Development to create the Young Filmmakers Initiative (YFI).

YFI’s goal was to grow the creative ambitions of young aspiring filmmakers in middle schools throughout the New York City area. With the initiative, students produced short documentaries (two minutes max) about soccer culture throughout the city’s boroughs.

The program provided professional filmmakers and Tribeca Film Festival alumni as mentors for the rising students. These industry experts acted as instructors for the young filmmakers over a six-month production timeline (one school semester), offering hands-on technical and creative guidance.

YFI, which affiliated itself with after-school programs, was able to draw in 40 student participants from six programs across all five NYC boroughs, resulting in nine terrific short films. A special 10th entry called ‘Kimie’ was later added by VerieFutbol.

Here are a couple of their stores:

We Are One

“We are One” tells the story of a young student from Guniea Conakry, West Africa named Tierno Barry. The young man discusses his fears of moving to the Bronx while reminding us that all you need is family, friends, and an imagination to play the world’s favorite game.

Kimie

Written and directed by Adolfo Lee, “Kimie” shows a glimpse into the life of a free-spirited Ashikaga, Japan native living in New York City. Having moved from Los Angeles to George to New York in the name of adventure, Kimie, along with her daughter, Mina, formed an unexpected family that showed her the beautiful world of soccer.

To watch all 10 films, click through the YouTube playlist below.

For further information about the Young Filmmakers Initiative, check out their website:

YOUNG FILMMAKERS INITIATIVE

Young Filmmakers Initiative romanticizes soccer in New York City was originally published in Howler Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.