An Interview with Griffin Hemmendinger of the Annapolis Blues
By Chelsea Harrison
What does it take to be a professional (or semi-professional) soccer player? Since my 7- and 9-year-old soccer-crazed sons plan on becoming pro ballers, this is a discussion we have on a regular basis. It takes practice, dedication, hard work, making good choices for your body, being a good teammate, and much more! We talked to Annapolis Blues FC 2023 Goalkeeper and 2023 NPSL (National Premier Soccer League) Golden Glove recipient Griffin Hemmendinger to learn more. According to the NPSL, “Hemmendinger started 12 games for Annapolis Blues FC during the 2023 regular season, including the team’s three playoff games. He allowed only six goals for the team throughout the regular season.” Here’s what he told us about what it’s really like to live the dream! How would you explain the league to people unfamiliar with U.S. soccer leagues? [The Annapolis Blues FC] is in the NPSL. I would categorize it as a semi-professional league, so nobody gets paid, but it’s supposed to be a stepping stone into the professional world. On the American soccer pyramid, it would be 4th tier. It goes MLS (Major League Soccer), USL (United Soccer League) championship, USL League 1, then NPSL. Congrats on winning the Golden Glove! What did it feel like to win that award? Going into the season, I had high hopes. I knew it was an award that could be achieved, so it was a team effort, but it feels great to get that recognition.
Photo courtesy of Kimmy Stevenson
What is your impression of Annapolis? Did you enjoy your time here? I love the vibe of the town. It’s a great spot for a sports team to be kicking off. I wouldn’t mind living there at some point. The fans are really into it. It’s the most people I’ve ever played in front of. We knew it would be big, but we didn’t realize how big. “After the match, we interact with the fans. After that, we’ll go into the locker room, and they feed us. We relax for a little bit and shower. There’s a post-game speech from the coaches- what they saw, how we did.” The Annapolis Blues FC will be back in a big way for the 2024 season. Season tickets are available now and come with lots of perks! Single game tickets are also available. Come visit us! Annapolis Moms Media is hosting Kid’s Corner during Annapolis Blues home games. Kid’s Corner will be a great place to stop by with your kids, pick up an Annapolis Moms coloring book, and more goodies! Annapolis Blues FC Fun Facts: The 2023 squad included players from around the world! Japan, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, and Scotland were all represented on the team! Head Coach Colin Herriot also hails from Scotland. Over 38,000 total fans attended Blues games last year, with the average attendance per game clocked in at over 7,000! Annapolis Blues FC’s first ever game was a pre-season friendly against Philadelphia Union Development Squad on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
Photo courtesy of Kimmy Stevenson
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