What does it really take for a young player to chase a professional dream beyond their hometown club scene?

Wes sits down with Ozark United FC Academy goalkeeper Zach Taylor and his parents, Beth and Joel, to unpack the family, sacrifice, and belief behind a 14 year old’s journey from Olive Branch, Mississippi, to MLS NEXT soccer in Northwest Arkansas.

Zach shares how his life has been “soccer, soccer, soccer” for as long as he can remember, from pounding the ball off the wall in the backyard to treating the garage as his best teammate. He talks about the standard at Ozark United, what it felt like stepping into his first MLS NEXT match in Louisiana, and why the playing style, speed of play, and role of the goalkeeper made him feel like he had finally found “home” with his new teammates.

Beth and Joel pull back the curtain on the commitment behind that dream. They talk about balancing work, school, and travel, what it is like to have dad as both airline pilot and full-time “Taylor transportation coordinator,” and how owning a small plane turns a 5-hour drive into a 1-hour flight to train in Bentonville. They share honestly about finances, time, and why the level of buy-in from parents and players matters just as much as the letters on the league.

Zach then looks ahead and gets real about his goals. From earning a spot in Division 1 college soccer, to breaking into the US Youth National Team pool, to one day playing professionally in Germany for clubs like Wolfsburg or Dortmund, he shares how he pairs big dreams with daily work, no off days, and a mindset that “if your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.”

If you are a parent, player, or coach trying to figure out the “right path” in youth soccer, this conversation gives you a relatable, behind-the-scenes look at one family’s route, the decisions along the way, and what they are learning about joy, pressure, and keeping the game fun.

Supporter culture doesn’t start with a logo. It starts with people who show up, test ideas in the real world, and build a sound that carries a team. We share a stoppage-time highlight reel on how our Arkansas community is shaping a fortress before a pro side even takes the field, dry runs at college matches, chant writing in multiple languages, and a clear plan to make visiting teams dread our end line.

We break down the nuts and bolts of atmosphere design: capos, drum patterns, flags, smoke, and march logistics, all tested live instead of kept in a doc. Drawing inspiration from Austin’s south end and global terrace traditions, from South America to Europe, we’re crafting chants that feel authentic to Northwest Arkansas. That means simple hooks, layered sections for stamina, and a repertoire that welcomes first-timers while rewarding the diehards who never stop singing.

There’s also a reminder of why this matters beyond ninety minutes. Fans once stopped a breakaway league in just seventy-two hours, proving that organized supporters shape the future of the sport. Our commitment is to listen, stay accountable, and keep the culture open-source: transparent planning in Discord, inclusive leadership, and rituals that reflect the community’s voice. If you care about stadium identity, matchday rituals, and the craft of turning noise into impact, you’ll find a blueprint here for building a home advantage from the ground up.

Enjoyed the ride? Follow and subscribe for more. Share this with a friend who loves terrace culture, and drop your chant or stadium nickname idea in the comments. Your voice can help write the songs we’ll sing together.

Today, we revisit a lively conversation with members of Ozark United FC’s youth program as they reflect on their recent tournament experiences. The players share what stood out most to them: the pace and physicality of the competition, the importance of communication on the field, and how small details—like warm-up routines and game-day habits—mirror what they’ve learned under their own coaches.

As they discuss what it takes to play at a higher level, listeners get an inside look at how young athletes absorb lessons about teamwork, preparation, and growth. The players talk openly about the challenges of facing bigger, faster opponents and how those moments drive them to improve both technically and mentally. Their reflections remind us that development in soccer is as much about mindset as it is about skill.

This Stoppage Time Segment captures the spirit of Pitch to Pro: passion, curiosity, and a love of the game that connects every level of play. Tune in, and be sure to catch the full episode for more stories.