Menu
Name: Ava Rightmire
Birth Year: 2004
Current Team: 2004 Girls ECNL
Starting Team: Spirit United at the age of 6
Years with Club: 11
College: Penn State University, Class of 2027
Position: Defender
How Long Have you Been with the Club? I started playing with this club (when it was Spirit United) at 6 years old!
Have you Had Any Setbacks Along the Way? One year, I had a coach who didn’t believe in me. I was playing out of position and lost confidence. My team got a new coach at the end of the season, and things turned around immediately for me. He believed in me and helped me to believe in myself again. Ultimately that coach has made me a better player and helped to motivate and inspire me to reach my goals.
What Do you think Sets FC DELCO Apart? This club will support your development as a player and push you to your max potential to make you the best player you can be.
What Advice Would You Give Younger Players? Never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something because you 100% can!
“Playing for FC DELCO has been an experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world. Throughout the years, I have had so much support from my teammates and coaches to help me reach my goal of playing at a Division 1 level in college.” – Ava Rightmire
Name: Gabriella Neal (Gabby)
Birth Year: 2004
Team: ECNL ’04 Girls
Years with Club: 4
College: Lasalle University, Class of 2026
Position: Goalkeeper
What Do You Like About DELCO: We are a family here at FC DELCO — and I love that about this club! Coaches work hard to make training as enjoyable as possible, and they really want to see you succeed.
What Do You think Sets our GK Program Apart? Everyone works really hard in our goalkeeping sessions. We all challenge each other and push each other to be better. Coach John pushes us a lot and gives us specific technical details on what needs to be fixed and improved. The goalkeepers here at FC DELCO are a family themselves.
What Advice Would You Give Younger Players: Push yourself to be the best you can be, and never give up on yourself. You’re going to make mistakes — learn from them and keep going.
“Everyone works really hard in our goalkeeping sessions. We all challenge each other and push each other to be better. Coach John pushes us a lot and gives us specific technical details on what needs to be fixed and improved. The goalkeepers here at FC DELCO are a family themselves.” — Gabby Neal
CONSHOHOCKEN, PA, – August 9, 2021 – The region’s premier soccer club, FC DELCO, is proud to share that Liam May, a member of the club’s 2005 MLS NEXT team received the first-ever MLS NEXT Golden Ball presented by Adidas. This award is presented to the player of the year for the 2020-2021 MLS NEXT season in the U16 age group.
“FC DELCO is very proud and happy that MLS NEXT has recognized Liam’s hard work and success this year,” says Jeff Zaun, Technical and Academy Director of FC DELCO. “Since Liam’s arrival to FC DELCO in 2017 from Chestnut Hill Lightning, his neighborhood youth club, Liam has been a role model on and off the field. He scored big goals all season, helping his team reach the MLS NEXT semi-finals. With his talent and work ethic, Liam has a great future ahead of him,” adds Zaun.
May and his nationally ranked team went undefeated this year, and made it to the semifinal round of the MLS NEXT Cup, before falling in penalty kicks.
FC DELCO surprised May with the award last week at The Proving Grounds. May was surrounded by his family and more than 100 club players.
About FC DELCO: As Pennsylvania’s premier football club with deep roots in the community, FC DELCO offers an unprecedented playing experience that fuels a love of soccer and empowers players to awaken their talent. Our nationally recognized program has won eight national championships, countless region, and state titles, and has placed more players in NCAA collegiate programs than any other club in Pennsylvania. Additionally, we have multiple alumni playing in the MLS and professional women’s leagues. To find out more, visit fcdelco.org
About MLS NEXT: MLS NEXT provides the best player development experience in North America. Founded on a collaborative approach to governance and a commitment to innovation, MLS NEXT players have access to the highest levels of competition and to training and personal development opportunities that will prepare them for their futures, both in soccer and in life. To find out more, visit www.mlssoccer.com/mlsnext/about.
Birth Year: 2002
Current Team: ’02/’03 Boys MLS NEXT
Starting Team: 2002 Boys ECNL
Years with Club: 4
Position: Midfield
Fun Fact About Gavin: Gavin is going to Rowan College next year. Gavin’s dad also played for the same school and won a national championship while there!
What Do You Like About DELCO: I really like the family aspect of our club. These past two years, FC DELCO has become a second family to me. My team is close. We are not only there to win games, but we are all there for each other too. I really love my coaches, as well. They have helped us become the best we can be. Every day they push us to be better.
I also like DELCO because they give you a lot of recruiting tools. You as a player take ownership of your recruiting process, but the club and coaches support you along the way.
How Did the DELCO Pathway Prepare You For MLS NEXT? I played with Coach Ptah last year, and I was on the younger side. Because of that, I was smaller than some of the other older players on the team. Everyone was bigger, faster, stronger. Coach Ptah pushed me to be physical — and that really prepared me to move up to MLS this year.
What Advice Would You Give Younger Players: Always work on your craft. Every player has something that he/she is good at. Figure out what you are really good at, and hone in on that — because that’s what makes you the player you are!
(note: we call that a player’s “secret weapon!”)
“I have had a really good experience at DELCO these past four years. I wouldn’t trade it for anything else!” — Gavin O’Neill
1950 Butler Pike #266, Conshohocken, PA 19428
