18 Games and Counting

Liberty FC was founded by Dave McCaw, and was founded under the name Whitehall

Fields in 2023. In the fall of 2023, the name of the club changed from Whitehall Fields to

Liberty Football Club (Liberty FC), giving the team a more distinct location designation within

the Kansas City metro area. Dave proved to be a very insightful owner with tons of experience in owning a football club. He designed the crest tying into his Scottish roots. Even with his years of experience it proved difficult in recruiting players, securing a game pitch, and with other personal issues Dave stepped away from the club in late 2023.

The reigns were handed over to Geremy Grote in late 2023. Geremy was an active player

on the club and decided to take the club over keeping Dave as a shoulder to lean on. Geremy

had played soccer for numerous years, and with his experience, local knowledge, and contacts Geremy was able to sign a full roster to compete in 2024. The year was met with many hardships, mainly with getting players to show up to practices and games. Liberty FC was made up of older players, trying to relive their glory days. Liberty FC soon found out that being 40 something and playing against younger players was not positive. Liberty FC played short-handed most games which led to numerous losses throughout the 2024 season. Luckily, Liberty FC was able to garner some wins due to the other teams forfeiting games. This was a rude awakening for the club. Geremy stepped away due to personal reasons just over halfway through the season.

At this time Liberty FC was in dire straits, not only to have an owner but to finish the season. At that time, Philip Birkey, was a player on the squad, and he decided to take over. Philips main goal at the time was to play the remaining games and finish the season. Liberty FC was able to complete the 2024 season in 9 th place with minimal goals to their credit, and not a legitimate win to their name.

The 2024 season was complete, and the reign of Liberty FC under Philip Birkey was

about to begin. Philip decided that the club needed to change and move in a totally different direction. Philip, as owner, was approved by the League in September of 2024. Philip hit the ground running, spreading the word about the club and the league throughout his hometown of Liberty and surrounding areas. The Liberty FC board was born, and returning player Thomas Bellman was asked to join as their views for the future of the club were cohesive with those of Philip Birkey. Philip and Thomas began recruiting players, deciding that only 5 original players would be invited back to re-join the club for the 2025 season. Day after day, month after month, Liberty FC was slowly coming together.

More and more players started showing interest as the club and the League gained momentum and credibility. Philip took it upon himself to garner the support of the community, as one of his main focuses was community involvement. He walked around town, walking into every business in Liberty, talking to owners and staff alike, about the club and the league. Liberty FC was gaining even more momentum, people around town started talking, and slowly sponsors for the club came to fruition. Environmental Works out of Kansas City was the first to become a sponsor, then City Cement, then KSMO Orthopedics, and finally securing sponsorships with a variety of other businesses in the area. Still getting involved with the community Philip headed to the Liberty Fall Festival and Gladfest wearing a “sandwich board” walking and talking to all people, handing out Liberty FC scarves from the previous season. At the Liberty Fall festival, Philip met Shelly, Shelly being the executive director of In As Much Ministry Food Pantry. Numerous conversations later, they formed a partnership, and now Liberty FC’s home game admissions take in food donations, donations that are then donated to the food pantry. Philip now volunteers at the pantry on Thursday nights, even joined by some of his players taking groceries to vehicles further involving themselves within the Liberty community.

Liberty held a “live” video on social media to determine the chest and sleeve sponsors, holding all sponsors on an equal playing field. Philip’s goal was to keep all sponsors, both big and small, on an equal playing field. Once the video concluded, Taco Rico, an amazing little Mexican food joint had won the chest sponsor and Verts Dispensary had won the sleeve sponsorship.

Liberty FC was up and running at full steam coming into the month of November. Now

holding practices, scheduling scrimmages, and more players signing on. Liberty FC couldn’t have performed this season without the help from all the sponsors and support from the players and community.

Liberty started the 2025 season 0-2, with close losses to Olathe United and Southside FC.

Match Day 3, a game against their heated rival Northland FC, saw Liberty FC pull out their first club win, with a dominating performance! This performance by Liberty FC finally saw the

players becoming cohesive.

As an owner of a football club, there are many behind the scenes actions and positions

that occur, giving each owner their own set of hurdles. Being an owner is not for the faint of

heart, as it takes passion for the game, passion for the players, and passion to be successful, and funding from their own pockets. As the clubs and league grow over the course of this 2nd season, this league will be something to watch. Liberty FC is looking forward to a tremendous 2 nd season in 2025 and will only gain momentum from here on out.