Lubbock Matadors
Welcome to another interview by LowerLeagueUSA. This time we reached out to Dustin McCorkle, the GM of the Lubbock Matadors. This man has a ton of experience with sports around the nation, and I look forward to sharing his story as well as the Matadors story with everyone.
Hello Dustin,
Thank you for taking time out of your surely busy schedule (with the open cup coming up) to answer some questions about your club, as well as your background in the sport!
Tell us about you and your history in soccer, and more specifically, lower league soccer in this country, and your goals with the game.
I grew up around the game and even played 2 years in college on a team that finished #5 nationally for D2.
I got my career start in the NBA and NHL but got back involved with soccer as CRO for New Mexico United in USL and consulting with OKC Energy FC & San Diego Loyal. The Lubbock Matadors was my first stab at semi-pro and now [I] am involved with several clubs around the country including Annapolis Blues FC and Columbus United FC.
My goal is to continue to grow the game and make our level of play feel like you’re at an EPL match.
What was it like building a team in Lubbock? Was it helpful having a major university (Texas Tech) in the area?
Building a team in Lubbock was a dream come true. It’s a place I call home and so to bring the worlds game to a town that wasn’t known for soccer has been a challenge and rewarding. Texas Tech athletics has been helpful in that we do some cross promotion with coaches and athletes for our games.
Why did you decide that Lubbock is the best spot for you to start a club?
Lubbock is a growing hub for people and community. We have a great school in Texas Tech that represents our city on the national stage in a great way. We felt there was opportunity to play outside of college athletics season and give the local community something fun to cheer on.
You’ve been able to build up a passionate fan base that includes a supporters group (Mozos, who consistently suggested that I interview you), when did that start coming to fruition, and what does the attendance look like for each game?
Fans are the best part of this club. I met 3 guys over a beer that said they wanted to start a supporters group which led to now around 100 people marching and chanting all game long. Their energy is the best part of our games and why our players love playing here. [The] attendance average this past year [was] 4,988 fans. We got to 6,000 at our last game of the year.
What do you say to a new fan of the sport to get them to follow Lubbock Matadors, rather than the closest Professional side?
We make this club focused on community impacts and positive outcomes. I believe we are good stewards of the city we live in and give back. There is no pitch other than if you want to support local and have a great time [in] a fun atmosphere, come check us out.
How does it feel to be able to host a match in the 109th US Open Cup? Do you have any big plans for the gameday experience that day, considering the importance of the cup?
Hosting a match is one of the greatest honors and feels surreal for a club coming into season 3. We had our sights set big when we first started and now we are getting to participate in one of the largest platforms for our league. I’m humbled that US Soccer has selected us and will be sending a broadcast team to cover us and our amazing fan base!
The Matadors have seen some success in the Lone Star Conference, how do you build upon that for the future?
We continue to stick to our values and principles. Find good players [who] want to work off the field just as hard as they do on the field so we can turn a huge crowd each and every match.
What clubs do you look at for motivation/inspiration as you continue to build and grow your club?
I do not want to compare us to any other semi-pro club. Lubbock is a special place and we look to set the bar and go accomplish something bigger and new every season.
How do you feel about Promotion/Relegation? What’s the best way to build a true pyramid in the United States in your opinion?
I’m all for pro-rel in the States IF money and politics can leave our sport. We need a true system that feels authentic for the fan and that would require MLS to jump on board happily in order to fully implement the system.
What are some things you would do to improve this level (defacto tier 4) of US Soccer?
The biggest thing is the money for the clubs. A lot of cities that have good clubs locally don’t get the attention because a higher level of play gets promoted and invested in way more than our level.
With the number of leagues at this level, why would the Matadors join NPSL? What about the NPSL stuck out, or is important for you as you grow the club?
The NPSL has some great attributes. One of the most important things is all owners get a say. This is not league driven, but member driven. I like that at any time we can have collective minds vote on [improving] our systems.
What do you and the club do to help the community of Lubbock?
We did over 70 community events with our mascot Notorious, we buy jerseys for boys and girls club each year for their soccer players, we show up every way we can, [and] we tell the stories of why youth soccer and investment is so important to the future of our city.
Dustin, I want to once again thank you for taking the time to do this interview so we can highlight Lubbock and the Matadors. I want to wish you the best of luck all season along, and especially in the Open Cup on Thursday (March 21st). Make sure to catch their game on streaming platforms at 7:30 pm CST. (https://www.ussoccer.com/us-open-cup/watch)
Please make sure to follow Lubbock Matadors, the NPSL, and LowerLeagueUSA on social media. You can find the links below.
