LANSING, Mich – Since 2020, the city of Lansing has grown its community around its local soccer team, Lansing Common FC. 

Brought together by its supporters, players and coaches, the nonprofit organization provides a space for athletes from around the world to connect with one another and the surrounding area. 

The club was formed shortly after the departure of the local pro team Lansing Ignite in 2019, which lasted a single season due to a financial decision made by its owner. 

With the absence of soccer in the city of Lansing, LCFC President Eric Walcott and former Ignite supporters gathered at Ozone’s Brewhouse to discuss the possibility of a community owned and operated club, which led to the formation of Lansing Common FC. 

“It’s just really nice to play for Lansing Common, because it’s a real community,” defender Jed Blough said. 

LCFC goes beyond its regular match days at Eastern Stadium. The Robins give back to their community by hosting youth clinics, organizing park cleanups and participating in fundraising for local charities. 

“The youth camps and stuff like that, getting the opportunity to share a bit of football knowledge with some youth, you get to appreciate that as well,” defender Archie Tyers said.

Whether it’s attending clinics, serving as a ball kid during a match, or accompanying the Robins in their pre-match walkout to the pitch, there are plenty of opportunities for the youth of Lansing to be a part of something special. 

“This team is very community driven,” defender Jonah Caldwell said. “You see the spectators and the kids coming out before games, and that’s what it means to me. Giving back to the city of Lansing.”

Each year the Robins’ roster is made up of a collection of diverse cultures and backgrounds, uniting players under a common passion for soccer. 

“In general, it’s a brotherhood. I just made friends for life,” German goalkeeper Vaios Papadoudis said. “For me it was just in three months, which is incredible, just coming from a different continent.”

Goalkeeper Jackson Kiszka, a resident of Kalamazoo, MI, may not travel overseas, but he makes the drive from his hometown to Eastern Stadium for each match and training session.

“I just fell in love with the people. I fell in love with the city,” Kiszka said. “Everybody from here from the coaches to the goalies that I have over there, they have all been super welcoming and it makes the drive worth it every day.”

With players ranging in age from 16 to 30, LCFC provides the opportunity for everyone to have somewhere to play over the summer- whether it’s to prepare for their college seasons or gain experience as a stepping stone to wherever they may end up.

“The coaches are invested in each player’s development throughout the summer, helping you improve every aspect of your game so you can return to your college team ready to perform at the highest level possible,” forward Jayson Janofski said. 

Rookie players have the opportunity to learn not only from their coaches, but from their older teammates who serve as mentors both on and off the pitch. 

“I think the environment has grown rapidly,” goalkeeper Lazaro Salais said. “We have a lot of youngsters on this team, but they want to get better with veteran players like myself. It’s just awesome to be with people that want to get better in the sport that we love.”

Defender Kevin Payne has been a constant presence with the Robins over the years. As one of their veteran players, ‘KP’ has played for Lansing since the 2022 season. 

“This was a club that gave me confidence,” Payne said. “They were there for me when I was at my lowest, and I’d say this is the best club in the world.”

For players like defender Jorge Loaisiga, who grew up in Lansing, being a part of this Robins squad has been a goal of his since the club came about. 

“I watched them [LCFC] when I was in high school,” Loaisiga said. “I always thought it was really cool seeing them play and now that I’m a part of it, I think it’s great.”

As a semi-professional team in the Midwest Premier League, the Robins compete in the Great Lakes West Division alongside five other teams from West Michigan and Indiana, playing in 10 league matches throughout the regular season. 

“It’s creating a pathway for other players to be able to be seen,” defender Damian Addai said of the stage that Lansing Common sets for its athletes. 

Former Robins have found success following their playing careers with LCFC. Some have gone on to play at the NCAA Division I level, some have gone on to play professionally, and others have found a passion for coaching. 

Current assistant coach Josh Rosendale played for the Robins as a forward throughout the first three years of the club’s existence. 

“I started here, and staying as a coach, it’s just an honor to be asked to be on the staff with these guys,” Rosendale said. 

Those relationships have grown to be the foundation of the club, with each player participating in something larger than themselves.

Regardless of the outcome of each season, the mission of Lansing Common FC remains the same: give back to the community and unite a group of people through a love of soccer. 

“At the end of the day, I am honored and proud,” Brent Sorg said of representing the Robins as head coach since 2022. “It’s [Lansing] a really good place to be.”