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Nicholas Murray

@njemurray.bsky.social

3.1K followers 530 following 5.3K posts

Sr. Director of Editorial, USL. Cambridge United fan. Fancies himself a writer. Don't mind me.

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Nicholas Murray @njemurray.bsky.social · Dec 24

This was incredibly kind of Matt - @usltactics.com is much smarter than a yutz like me - so with much trepidation I've attempted to put together a starter pack of folks you can follow around the #USL ecosystem.

Let me know if you'd like to be added?

go.bsky.app/KQY4fzT

Matthew Doyle @mattdoyle.bsky.social · Dec 22

I think @benwright.bsky.social has a local MLS coverage starter pack? I don’t want to just start listing folks b/c I’m afraid to leave someone out.

For USL, start with @njemurray.bsky.social & @usltactics.com and go in whatever direction they point you.

Diakena @diakena.bsky.social · Dec 22

Do you have a good 'list' of the local people you follow for specific clubs/regions? I follow Greder and Marthaler for the Loons, but it's easy for substacks/blogs to slip under the radar, especially for USL stuff, which I'm just getting into. An archive of peeps of some sort would be helpful.

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Reposted by Nicholas Murray

Alexander Abnos @anabnos.com · 27m

Hello! The Guardian is expanding our American soccer coverage. In the US, we're hiring:
• Reporters
• Asst. editor
• Audience editor
• Social video producer
• Sports biz reporter
These are all full-time, permanent, union positions.
www.theguardian.com/gnm-press-of...

The Guardian announces plans to expand its global soccer coverage ahead of 2026 men’s World Cup in North America

Combination of seven new roles, including six in the US, spanning sports and business coverage, visuals, video and more

www.theguardian.com

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Nicholas Murray @njemurray.bsky.social · 36m

He's featured prominently on @bhmlegion.bsky.social's home kit design.

Birmingham Legion defender Phanuel Kavita in the club's Vulcan Kit.

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Reposted by Nicholas Murray

Kickback Committee @kickbackcommittee.bsky.social · 23h

We’re in Maine this week! The home of @heartsofpine.bsky.social

Get involved!

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Nicholas Murray @njemurray.bsky.social · 1h

Sarasota Paradise has announced the appointment of Mika Elovaara as the club’s Head Coach and Technical Director as it enters #USL-1 in 2026.

Elovaara joins the club having previously served as Head Assistant Coach at the @richmondkickers.bsky.social.

www.uslleagueone.com/news_article...

Sarasota Paradise appoints Mika Elovaara as Head Coach and Technical Director

Richmond Kickers assistant to lead Paradise in inaugural professional season

www.uslleagueone.com

Reposted by Nicholas Murray

Jason Davis @davisjason.bsky.social · 2h

Come hang out for @mkickaround.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=FofG...

MK Live! MLS retirements, New Rowdie Owners, UFL invasion, + more

YouTube video by Morning Kickaround

www.youtube.com

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Nicholas Murray @njemurray.bsky.social · 2h

We used to use total wins, which is still the tiebreaker in USL League One. Gainbridge Super League uses goal differential.

Each league gets to set its own rule.

Nicholas Murray @njemurray.bsky.social · 2h

If they all ended up on the same total, it would go to a three-team mini-table and Hartford would lose out under that scenario.

NCFC - 2-1-1, 7pts
IND - 1-1-2, 5pts
HFD - 1-2-1, 4pts

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Nicholas Murray @njemurray.bsky.social · 2h

Unlike a lot of leagues, the #USL-C uses head-to-head results/goal differential as its first two tiebreakers.

So, because NCFC went 1-0-1 against Indy Eleven - currently in the cutoff in ninth - it's clinched a berth via head-to-head. After Hartford went 0-1-1 vs. Indy, it needs one more point.

Nicholas Murray @njemurray.bsky.social · 2h

So, you might be looking at the #USL-C Eastern Conference standings this morning and wondering, "wait, why has North Carolina FC in fourth place clinched a playoff place, and Hartford Athletic in third not?"

Well, it's because of the quirky tiebreakers the competition committee came up with. (1/2)

USL Championship Eastern Conference Top Four, Wednesday, Oct. 8.

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Reposted by Nicholas Murray

John Morrissey @usltactics.com · 3h

NEWSLETTER: What’s catching my eye from across the USL?

⚜️ On Devon Amoo-Mensah
💚 Small sample, big upside for Latif Blessing
🦉 Union Omaha’s shape
🦩 Resurgent Madison
⚔️ Lessons from Brooklyn-Jacksonville

www.usltactics.com/p/the-back-f...

The Back Four: Three Weeks Remaining

Featuring Latif Blessing, Omaha's shape(s), Brooklyn-Jacksonville, and more USL miscellany

www.usltactics.com

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Nicholas Murray @njemurray.bsky.social · 3h

And yet!

Nicholas Murray @njemurray.bsky.social · 11h

That's Hartford's first win after trailing at halftime away from home in the #USL-C since Oct. 13th, 2021, when it won 3-2 against Loudoun United.

Hartford Athletic @hfdathletic.bsky.social · 11h

Bringing home 3️⃣ points plus a trophy 🏆

Come see it for yourself when we return to Hartford this Saturday!

10/11 HFDvSAC | Gates Open 5PM ET 🎟️ hfdath.com/HFDvSAC

Nicholas Murray @njemurray.bsky.social · 11h

Game, set, match, @hfdathletic.bsky.social as Beverly Makangila ices it in stoppage time.

Hartford has now won six consecutive road games in #USL-C play, tied for the second-longest road winning streak in league history after Phoenix Rising's nine-game streak in 2019.

Nicholas Murray @njemurray.bsky.social · 11h

One Jagermeister hangover remedy later, @hfdathletic.bsky.social was feeling much more like itself in the second half. #USL-C

Oakland Roots vs. Hartford Athletic Second Half Attacking Statistics.

Sammy Davis Jr. advertising Alka-Seltzer.

Reposted by Nicholas Murray

Hartford Athletic @hfdathletic.bsky.social · 11h

𝘽𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙆𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙍𝙀𝘾𝙊𝙍𝘿𝙎 👊

Kyle Edwards scores his eighth goal off the bench, setting a USL Championship single-season record for goals as a substitute!

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Nicholas Murray @njemurray.bsky.social · 11h

He looked good against Monterey Bay, but it looked like he tweaked something late in the first half there and had to come off at halftime.

Might be trying to play through it a little, didn't look quite right tonight.

Nicholas Murray @njemurray.bsky.social · 12h

That's a record-setter.

@hfdathletic.bsky.social's Kyle Edwards scores his 12th goal of the season - setting a club single-season record - and eighth off the bench - setting a #USL-C single-season record for goals as a substitute - to put the visitors ahead.

Second assist for Panayotou tonight.

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Nicholas Murray @njemurray.bsky.social · 12h

@hfdathletic.bsky.social has shrugged off that first half and leveled things up in short order.

Josh Belluz rises highest to head home Jack Panayotou's corner kick to level things for the visitors in Oakland. #USL-C

Nicholas Murray @njemurray.bsky.social · 12h

The good news is they're still in it, and Oakland's been fallible when holding a lead at times this season.

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Nicholas Murray @njemurray.bsky.social · 12h

They've been on the road for about 11 days now - they went straight to Sacramento from their game in Colorado Springs to build-up to Saturday's final - so it's somewhat understandable.

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Nicholas Murray @njemurray.bsky.social · 12h

This may be the statistical equivalent of a real-life Jagermeister hangover. #USL-C

Oakland Roots SC vs. Hartford Athletic Halftime Attacking Statistics.

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Nicholas Murray @njemurray.bsky.social · 12h

Game of streaks in the #USL-C tonight, and at least one of them continues.

@oaklandroots.bsky.social Peter Wilson scores in his fifth consecutive appearance off Camden Riley's cross, he's scored seven goals in that span and is up to 14 goals this season in the regular season.

Nicholas Murray @njemurray.bsky.social · 15h

It's even worse than that.

I can't watch Obed Vargas because of Detroit's crummy weather.

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Reposted by Nicholas Murray

Dan Creel @dancreel.com · 16h

Nice hire for Spokane!

Nicholas Murray @njemurray.bsky.social · 19h

Spokane Zephyr FC has appointed Nicole Lukic as its new Head Coach, following her stint as Director of Talent Identification for @ussoccer.com YNTs.

Lukic previously led @mnaurorafc.bsky.social to remarkable success in its first two #USL-W seasons.

www.gainbridgesuperleague.com/news/2025/10...

Spokane Zephyr FC Names U.S. Soccer’s Nicole Lukic as Head Coach - Gainbridge Super League

SPOKANE, Wash. — October 7, 2025 – Aequus Sports, LLC. announced Nicole Lukic as Head Coach of Spokane Zephyr FC, bringing her proven record of leadership and success to Spokane, WA […]

www.gainbridgesuperleague.com

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Nicholas Murray @njemurray.bsky.social · 16h

When he signed with the New York Cosmos a decade ago in the NASL, Haji Wright was the precursor to what we're seeing regularly in the #USL-C now with young talent choosing that path for their careers and aspirations.

Great to see what he's doing now for Coventry City. #USMNT

Steven Goff @stevengoff.bsky.social · 16h

Haji Wright, the English Championship’s leading scorer at Coventry City, is making a play for a USMNT World Cup roster slot.

My story from camp in Austin …

sports.yahoo.com/soccer/artic...

From super-sub to starter? Haji Wright's Coventry form is too good for the USMNT to ignore

As he leads Coventry City's promotion push, the soft spoken L.A. native is turning his English revival into a World Cup audition.

sports.yahoo.com

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